06/03/2026
I am a veterinarian.
I work very long hours. I work hard hours.
My hair is often pulled back. My clothes are often dirty.
I am on the floor to take my time and make my patient feel comfortable. I am standing tall and looking you in the eyes to ensure I will take the very best care of your best friend.
I am up early mornings giving 100% of my effort to stand by my oath and do what is right in some of the most difficult decisions. I am up late nights eating dinner on the surgery table giving 100% to come up with a treatment plan when I just want to go home and lay down.
I get praised. I get yelled at.
I know what it’s like to lose your furry friend so I open my heart and pour it out to treat you how I would want to be treated. Then I put on my best smile and rinse, wash and repeat for the next room.
Day in and day out I see suffering animals. Day in and day out I stand witness to the love and bond between people and their pets.
Sometimes I have to deliver good news. Sometimes I have to deliver bad news.
Sometimes I have to convince you to do diagnostics that you don’t think are necessary just so I can do my job.
Sometimes you don’t want to pay and I have to use my detective skills and still try and do the best medicine.
Sometimes you give me the reins and ask me to do anything in my power to save your pet when there is nothing left for me to do but pray.
Sometimes I have to take a deep breath at the surgery table and tell myself that I am capable.
Sometimes I walk out of the clinic feeling like a hero.
I am putting my feelings aside on a daily basis to put my oath for animals first.
I am a veterinarian.
I am a community of veterinarians.
I am a community of humans doing our best for animals and their humans.
I am standing up to say not one more vet.
Be kind to your veterinarian.
We worked our whole lives to be “doctor” but before that we were human and continue to want to be.
There is a crisis in veterinary medicine. The CDC reports that male and female veterinarians commit su***de 2.1 and 3.5 times more often than the national average, respectively. The above was copied and shared from a veterinary support group by a friend and I invite you to read it. I also ask that next time you visit the vet, to be kind and maybe tell them thank you. You may end up being be the bright light on a dark day.
