09/03/2026
As someone who studied veterinary nursing for 2–3 years and worked in the industry for several years before leaving around 6 years ago, I feel like I understand both sides of this conversation.
Veterinary medicine is incredibly expensive behind the scenes. Many medications, diagnostic tools, and equipment cost clinics an enormous amount just to purchase. For example, when I was working, a bottle of Apoquel could cost the clinic around $300–$400 just to buy. That’s before it’s dispensed, handled by staff, prescribed, and managed under veterinary care. Surgical equipment, diagnostic machines, lab testing, medications, and running a clinic all add up very quickly.
At the same time, I absolutely understand why pet owners can feel shocked or overwhelmed by veterinary bills. For many people, their pets are family — often treated like children. With the rising cost of living, those bills can be confronting, especially during emergencies when emotions are already high.
From my experience, there are both sides to the industry. There are some clinics where business targets and financial pressures become part of the environment, which can be disheartening for people who entered the field simply because they love animals and want to help them. That feeling is part of why some nurses, including myself, end up stepping away from the profession.
However, there are also many incredible vets and veterinary nurses who truly care about animals and their owners and go above and beyond every day. The compassion and dedication many of them show is something people don’t always see behind the scenes.
One thing that also isn’t talked about enough is the abuse veterinary staff receive. The example shared in this video is honestly only touching the surface of what some staff experience day to day.
When I was a very new nurse in my first job, I had a situation where a client became extremely aggressive and threatening. It was just me and the vet working at the time. I stepped away to speak with the vet, but in that moment I also locked the clinic doors to prevent the person from accessing the back of the clinic. I told the vet on duty what was happening and he handled the situation from there while I stayed away from reception.
It was honestly a very frightening experience, especially as a young nurse, and situations like that happen more often than people realise.
I will always have a lot of love and respect for this profession. If I ever found the right clinic and environment, I would absolutely consider returning as a veterinary nurse. And if I ever had the opportunity and resources to open my own clinic one day, I would do it in a heartbeat.
It’s a little disheartening because working with animals was always something I dreamed of doing long-term, but life sometimes takes us down different paths. Maybe one day our paths will cross again.
In the meantime, I think it’s important that we have honest conversations about veterinary costs, transparency, and accessibility of care — especially as times change and the cost of living continues to rise.
But abuse toward veterinary staff should never be part of that conversation.
At the end of the day, most people in this industry are simply doing their best to care for animals and support the families who love them.
