07/09/2025
Why are so many of veterinarians, veterinary techs, & veterinary staff “unhappy”?
It's not just "playing with puppies and kittens all day." Behind the scenes, we carry a huge emotional burden every day. We see animals in pain, we help families say goodbye, and we face moral stress when treatment just isn't affordable.
Many of us graduate with massive debt, work long hours, and face unrealistic expectations and sometimes harsh words from people who forget we're human too or have never walked a mile in our shoes.
We have the unrealistic expectation to be “everything” to our patients & everyone involved in their life. Unlike human med, we don’t have the luxury to say, “go down the hall for X-rays & then you’ll get scheduled for surgery with the surgeon”. We work the back office, front desk, basically every role you can think of, and still have to be as close to perfect on our technical skills and knowledge.
It's compassion fatigue, financial pressure, and isolation, all wrapped up in a job we do because we truly love animals.
So if you love & want to support your vet & their clinic, be KIND or learn to be kind. Be patient & understanding - there’s only so many of us 😉. If we all quit, it'll be harder and harder to find care for your pets.
