19/05/2025
Be Kind 🩵
Why I Didn’t Answer Your Call: A Letter from a Veterinarian
By Dr. Geoff Carullo, DVM, Dip., PCCP, Dip., PCVS
There’s a quiet pressure in our profession—a subtle but constant expectation to be available around the clock.
As veterinarians, we carry the weight of our patients’ health and the trust of pet owners who, at times, forget something essential:
We are human, too.
Dear fellow vets, this is our shared truth:
There are moments when we don’t answer the phone.
We see the messages, the missed calls—sometimes after hours, during dinner with family, or in the middle of personal time—and we choose not to respond immediately.
And that choice is not wrong...
That choice is necessary.
1. You Are Not On-Call for the World
If your clinic isn’t a 24/7 emergency hospital, you are not obligated to answer every call at midnight or on weekends.
You’re allowed to rest. You’re allowed to take a step back and recover.
2. Texting Is Not a Consultation
A photo of a swollen paw sent at 10:43 p.m. isn’t a clinical exam.
A text asking “anong gamot diyan?” isn't a proper workup.
We were trained to investigate thoroughly—not to guess over Messenger.
It’s okay to wait until morning. It’s okay to recommend a proper consultation.
3. You Can Care Deeply and Still Set Boundaries
Choosing not to answer doesn’t mean you don’t care. It means you’re making space to care better when it truly matters.
Our emotional reserves are not unlimited. Preserving them is a sign of professionalism, not apathy.
4. You Deserve Your Time Off
Weekends, holidays, after-clinic hours—you deserve them.
Other professions have clear start and end times.
Ours often doesn’t.
That’s why it’s even more important that we create our own margins.
5. Boundaries Protect Everyone
Saying “not right now” protects your focus, your wellbeing, and ultimately, your ability to serve each patient with clarity and compassion.
Healthy boundaries don’t distance us from our clients—they protect our capacity to serve them long-term.
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To Every Veterinarian Reading This:
You are not failing when you step away.
You are not less compassionate when you say, “Let’s discuss this during clinic hours.”
You are not unprofessional for protecting your space.
You are a veterinarian—and that is enough.
Take care of yourself.
Because the best care starts with a well-balanced, respected, and whole you.
