04/20/2025
Just a little food for thought from someone with the hard truth.
Listen up general public. There are some things you need to know about veterinary medicine that no one wants to get real about....
1. 99.9% of veterinarians are not in this career for the money. Do I need to say that louder for the people in the back? Vet School is hell, and the crippling debt after graduation is even worse. Not to mention internships, residency, and being worked to the bone day in and day out once you've completed the above 3 steps. There are always bad ones out there. If you really think your vet is just in it for the income, find a new vet.
2. Vets are not "too expensive", medicine is. Trust me, big pharma is kicking our asses as well. Equipment is expensive. Medical insurance is expensive. Liability insurance is expensive. Medications are expensive. MEDICINE. IS. EXPENSIVE. Have you ever gone over an itemized statement from your doctor or surgeon? Yeah, I thought so. Guess what? We use a lot of the same medications and equipment without being able to charge your insurance out the ass and write off what isn't paid.
3. Did you know the average amount that a vet clinic is in debt due to outstanding/unpaid invoices? $80,000+. Wrap your head around that for a minute.... Do you know how it got that high? Payment promises. So your vet is an as***le because they want you to pay your bill and won't let you make payments? They HAVE let people make payments, and that's why they are in so much debt.
4. We understand budgets. We do. Really. Did you see any new shiny sports cars in the staff parking lot? Yeah, no. Most of us can't afford them. If you can not afford gold standard medicine and treatments, or have a certain budget, TELL US. We can go with option b, or c, or d. We will come up with a treatment plan that will work for everyone. Will it be the best medicine we can provide? No. Sometimes our own staff can't afford expensive/extravagant treatments for their own pets. We understand. But when you say, "Do all the things." and agree to the amount discussed for said treatment knowing you can't afford it, then waiting until check out to tell us you have no money makes you a thief and an as***le. The treatment and services provided were NOT free. Someone had to pay the overhead on medications and equipment and the staff it takes to work on your pet. This means that your veterinarian just paid to treat your pet. Don't be that person. Just don't.
5. Most veterinary staff make less than an employee at Walmart or McDonalds....yeah....We rely on significant others to help provide for a family or carry medical insurance. Single parent vet staff, y'all the real MVP'S. Same as above statement, don't be an ass, we don't make enough to put up with it.
6. Yes we know Chewy and 1800petmeds are less expensive. Remember #1 where we talked about getting screwed over by drug companies? Yeah, that. We can't even purchase these medications at the price those places are selling them for. Small businesses can not compete with corporate giants. So don't ask them to. However, these online pharmacies aren't going to come in after hours to see your sick pet, or return a text asking for medical advice, or be there for you and your furry friend in a time of need. Think about that for a minute. Your vet has. It honestly is a slap in the face when we bust our asses to help you, even after hours, and you take your business elsewhere? No vet will tell you that to your face, bc professionalism, etc., but I will.
7. Last one, I swear. I know what you're thinking, if veterinary medicine sucks so much, why do it? BECAUSE WE LOVE ANIMALS. Behind the scenes, we work through lunch, we curse, we cry, we laugh, we can't take fancy vacations, and the majority of our job involves bodily fluids...so...many...fluids, but we love pets. We want to educate owners. We aren't trying to make a buck, we are trying to keep your pet healthy. Prevention, vaccines, and diet are all things we need to discuss. Don't do the, "well you're just trying to make money by upselling us, the dentist/breeder/Petco employee/ google said the food you recommend is bad and medicine is poison". Yeah...so we make a hell of a lot more money on sick pets....just sayin'. And what the hell do you think petmeds, chewy, petco, and petsmart are trying to do??? Make. Money.
We knew all these things going into this job, and still chose to get up and go to work today. Not. For. The. Money.
Although, I've always looked better in scrubs...🤷♀️
