16/05/2025
Public Defamation is Punishable by Law. The Social Media is not the right venue for your issues.Talk to your vet honestly for your concerns!
When Vets Become Targets:
The Rise of Vet Shaming and Digital Mob Mentality
By a veterinarian who’s seen both sides of the consultation table
By Dr. Geoff Carullo, DVM, DPCCP, DPCVS
In the age of virality, one misunderstood moment can destroy reputations built over years.
And unfortunately, veterinarians—professionals trained to save lives, alleviate pain, and protect public health—are no longer exempt from public shaming.
Lately, we've seen a disturbing trend: veterinarians being "vet-shamed" on Facebook, often through one-sided narratives, edited videos, and misleading captions.
Influencers and content creators sometimes jump on the bandwagon, not to seek truth, but to gain clicks, shares, and ultimately—money.
What Exactly Is Vet Shaming?
Vet shaming is the public condemnation of a veterinarian—usually over a clinical decision or perceived mistake—through social media posts, call-out threads, or viral videos.
These posts often lack full context and fail to consider the medical, ethical, or situational facts behind a case.
It’s usually not about accountability.
It’s about outrage—and worse, entertainment.
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The Anatomy of a Social Media Attack
1. Triggering Event
A consultation didn’t go as expected. A pet passed despite efforts. A clinic enforced a policy a client didn’t like.
2. Online Post
The owner posts about the incident, often with emotionally charged language and sometimes incomplete or distorted details.
3. Virality & Influencer Involvement
pages, YouTube vloggers, and TikTokers pick up the post. Some use it for "exposés"; others simply want views and engagement. The vet is not contacted. The clinic is not heard.
4. Trial by Comments
A torrent of hate, threats, and defamation floods the veterinarian’s page. Staff are harassed. Reputations are damaged. Clinics lose clients—even if no wrongdoing occurred.
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The Consequences No One Talks About
Veterinarian Mental Health:
Vets are already in one of the top professions globally with the highest rates of depression and su***de.
Vet shaming worsens this silent crisis.
Professional Silence:
Due to client confidentiality and ethical protocols, most veterinarians cannot defend themselves publicly, even if they are falsely accused.
Misinformed Public:
One-sided posts make it seem like complications = malpractice. This erodes public trust in science-based veterinary care.
Weaponization of Grief:
The death or illness of a beloved pet is painful. But when grief turns into a tool to destroy, it crosses into cruelty.
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What Can Be Done?
For the Public:
Pause before you share...
I said pause...
Ask: is this the full story? Has the vet been given a chance to explain?
Understand veterinary limitations. Not all diseases are curable. Not all emergencies are preventable.
Seek dialogue, not drama.
Constructive feedback should be sent to the clinic, not broadcast for clicks.
For Influencers:
Vet your content. Don’t exploit pet grief for engagement.
Check facts and context. Interview both sides before posting.
Use your platform to educate, not incite.
For Fellow Vets:
Document everything. Always get written consent and keep accurate records.
Know your legal rights. Defamation is punishable under Philippine law.
Seek support. Connect with colleagues, veterinary groups, or legal counsel.
Speak up—but wisely. When possible, issue a calm, factual statement without violating client confidentiality.
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Final Thoughts
Veterinarians are not perfect. But most of us entered this field with one goal: to help animals and the people who love them. Public shaming over incomplete narratives, amplified by people who have no medical background, is not justice—it’s a digital witch hunt.
To clients who are grieving, we hear you. We are with you. But let’s build a culture of dialogue, not defamation.
And to our fellow vets: hold the line. Your integrity, your empathy, and your hard-earned knowledge are worth more than the noise.
