09/25/2026
Vet med has just lost another bright light due to the stressors.
This is NOT only affecting the Veterinarians but EVERY SINGLE MEMBER of the team.
We survive the FB: Who can (fill in the blank) my pet “for cheap”, the mean rants, the mean Google ratings if people don’t get their own way.
Speaking for myself, (no, I’m not the vet), I was born to help animals, that is my calling. But, it is hard. People say to me, “I couldn’t do what you do and see what you see”. Believe me, I have stories that would haunt your dreams as they do mine. But, I get up every day and do it again, because someone has to be a glimmer of hope and love the unloved. It does have its rewards and for those we are grateful. As for me, I love all creatures great and small.
Please take a moment or two to read, really read below and share if you will.
Veterinary medicine needs some damn grace right now.
I’m saying this as someone who works in veterinary medicine. I understand cost restrictions. I know how hard it can be to find the money for veterinary care when an animal needs it.
But lately, it’s getting really hard watching local veterinary hospitals constantly get torn apart online.
We recommend diagnostics? We’re “running up the bill.”
We recommend vaccines, preventatives, dental care, or routine bloodwork? We’re “just trying to make money.”
We take a conservative approach and don’t immediately have an answer? Suddenly we don’t know what we’re doing.
We can’t win.
There is no magic wand in veterinary medicine. Our patients can’t tell us where it hurts, what happened, or how long they’ve felt crappy. Sometimes we NEED bloodwork, X-rays, ultrasounds, or other testing to figure out what is going on. Sometimes we have to rule things out before we find the answer.
That’s medicine. And medicine is freaking hard.
If money is tight, tell us. Ask what needs to happen today. Ask what can safely wait. Ask about different options. We understand financial limitations more than people probably realize.
But please stop assuming every recommendation is a sales pitch.
The people behind those scrubs care.
We worry about your pets after we leave work. We remember the hard cases. We cry with families. We celebrate the wins. And yes, some cases follow us home in our heads.
I know they do for me.
Ask questions. Advocate for your pet. Get a second opinion if you need one.
But before tearing apart a veterinary professional or hospital online, please remember there are real humans behind those scrubs who are trying their damn best.
And lately, we could really use a little grace. 🩵🐾