A little different from the new grad posts, but maybe not so much:

I graduated 2018, secured a non-standard practice job which was always the goal, but then family/life circumstances took me to a different state away from friends (no family in the state), and I had to switch to GP this past July.

It’s in a decent practice with two other docs who are in to mentoring, but it’s like every week I dread going in. I’m so anxious I want to vomit, if not on a daily basis, at least every three days. There’s so many chronic cases, and so many call backs I have to refresh on the disease mechanisms, and tx options, and it takes me so long. I have kids at home, so it’s not like I can just go straight home and ignore my partner to do pure review. And the review takes me so long. I’m finally up to speed on getting out of rooms on time, but hell man. I never thought GP would be easy, but I didn’t think I’d want to run away weekly.

I just need someone to tell me from their experience it gets easier. I was good at what I did and people respected my work. Now I’m back to square two (at least not from one) and it flipping sucks.

clearly someone who is unqualified and under 18 can’t be helping in/witnessing surgeries and what not for work experience, so what are the best places to ask for work experience if you’re looking into a career as a veterinary surgeon? is it even worth asking vet practices anyway incase there are other jobs to do or should you go down an entirely different route such as catteries? open to any ideas!!!

Hi,

New grad with 9 months of experience. Started a new role at a private clinic and it’s only been 2 (and a bit) days.

It’s quite stressful as it always is.

Yesterday I saw two dogs for vaccination and the larger dog bit me quite swiftly on my chin. Admittedly, I didn’t realise the dog was giving me a “hard stare” and we were sharing direct eye contact (as I was facing the dog head-on and making sure he didn’t have entropion etc) for a few seconds before the bite happened. There were, of course, no other warning signs.

I have a few superficial cuts on my right chin but a deeper gash on the left which is probably gonna leave a nice scar….

I wanted to use this incident to remind everyone (especially new graduates) to approach all (but especially larger and more temperamental) dogs from the side, pat them on their shoulder to acquaint yourself and try to avoid direct eye contact initially by turning your face to the side. Always ask the owner if the dog has a history of aggression and make a note in the patient file as well. Direct eye contact is often a threatening/challenging gesture in the canine world. Above all, never be afraid to suggest using a muzzle or sedatives, Traz or Gabapentin where appropriate to keep everyone safe.

Hi all!

I'm from the Czech republic and currently in the 4th year for Veterinary medicine and would love to learn and gain experience at an Equine clinic in Ireland. I'm hoping to go for a month this upcoming summer and I'm currently looking into different options on where to go.

As I am very new to this however (I've never been to an international clinic like this), I could really use some advice, both Ireland specific and experience in general - what should I be looking at when picking a clinic? how do I best increase my chances of getting in? how do I go about looking for accomodations? are there so e specific sites and tools I could make use of? etc

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated! Thank you

I recently started working at an animal hospital. The other day someone called to report that their dog was repeadly throwing up large amounts of liquid/stomach bile and that she was extrmeely lethargic and no longer wanting to eat or drink. They made a comment on maybe her old age could be a factor on why she may be going down hill and how they are extremely concerned.

That being said, they made an urgent appointment to get the dog looked at.

The day got busy and finally slowed down just a bit. Mind you the two owners and dog were still in the hospital awaiting results. My coworker pulled me aside and said hey take a look at (blanks) charts. To my horror the owner of this dog reported she began giving her extremly diluted concentrate of cobra venom for homeopathic reasons! Like what in the actual F And of course right after she began showing signs of lethargy ect.

She said she was using it as a calming agent.

I've worked w/animals for around 5 yrs and have seen A LOT of ridiculous situations.... but this! This tops it all. I've seen extreme abuse cases like dogs who had boiling hot water thrown on them, to being ran over repeatedly w/a horse trailer. She was diagnosed with the following Splenomegaly Hypothyroidism Hepatic disease Monocytosis Neutrophilia And a fever of 105F

She was rushed back to the hospital today by the owners. Was DOA.

Can some please explain the reasoning or thoughts behind this?????

I'm so flabbergasted I can't even wrap my head around it.

I am under the impression you obtain these hours either through line of work such as assisting or RVT, or by shadowing under a DVM, in which you'd have to already have rapport somehow with that DVM for them to offer shadowing.

I have been unemployed since May and am having a damn hard time getting another job in the field. My vet med work experience consists only of reception. I am ok with another reception job, but really wanted assisting for the sake of getting these hours. I'm also obviously going to need to get to know some DVMs well enough to have anyone who will write up letters of recommendation for me. I really don't want to get an irrelevant job when I'm trying to start putting together my requirements for applying to a DVM program but I really need an income, like, now, and I'm also worried stepping away briefly will further affect my ability to get back in in the future - like if I went to go bag groceries instead I imagine I'd get asked why I switched my field and that it won't look very good to say "well no one else would hire me." And I don't imagine I can work in retail or food all the way up until finishing school, either.

So I guess I'm wondering is there another way to get these hours and also is it going to hurt me if I briefly fall into some other line of work so I can keep paying my bills? I'm a medical foster for a cat rescue so I have no concerns regarding the "animal experience" but thats just volunteer work. I don't know why I can't get a new job, I guess maybe the "staffing crisis" really only applies to those with credentials of some kind. Probably isnt much of a market for reception right now and it seems impossible to get an assisting gig without already having assisting experience.

Burnt out and hating being in school. I’m in my third semester rn (2nd year) and am absolutely exhausted. This whole semester has been awful. 23 hours full of knitty details and hard tests. I’ve felt exhausted from the start but I’ve done much poorer than any of the other semesters. Like 15-20 points lower average on tests than first year. I know everyone struggles more second year but I handled 2nd semester’s classes really well and often did above average on almost every test in most classes. This semester I do below average in most classes. How is it possible that I succeeded so well in first year but now I can’t breathe? I haven’t been motivated since the beginning of the semester- I’m sick of school. The “wow I’m finally in vet school and learning” rose colored glasses have worn off. I hate sitting in class and I hate studying. It’s hard to force myself to study adequately anymore because I’m tired of it. Every 2-3 days an exam on a ridiculously insane amount of in depth information. It’s the end of the semester and I’ve now gotten a D and an F these past 2 weeks. I’m burnt out. I watch all my college friends and my partner begin their careers, seeing their fancy dinners and weekend social gatherings. And I’m here, with $50 in my bank account and a couple bottom of the class grades to show. If I’m bottom of the class grades, then will I be bottom veterinarian? Should I have stayed a technician and focused on succeeding as a tech? I absolutely loved being a technician and I find it very rewarding and enjoyable, especially busy emergency clinics. I’m even working part time at our hospital. How can I burnt out of the profession with little interested in medicine at 22? How can I stop being miserable and gain the slightest strength and motivation in me to study some of these classes? I cannot memorize any more bacteria. Or literally anything for that matter anymore.

CBS News Colorado: Local News, Weather & More -CBS Colorado

I think it was well done to show some of the dangers Prop 129 would bring if it was passed. Just wanted to share in case anyone in Colorado would like to share on socials while elections are going on.

I believe this would be a very dangerous precedent to set for other states as well if passed.

Hello! I have worked in the field as an assistant/tech for years and have recently been given the opportunity to manage a newly opening small clinic. This is my first time acting as a practice manager and I’d love some advice from others! Particularly I am trying to figure out the rules/process for disposing of sharps containers and if I need to have a separate BioWaste (the old clinic I used to work for did not but that was in a different state). I’ve tried researching online but just keep getting a lot of vague information. I’m currently on the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii. Thank you all for the help!

Hi all, I'm looking for a career change and have been looking into becoming a vet nurse. Done some research and can see that if I'm not employed in an RCVS practice, I'll have to do a year of placement unpaid!! Is there any way around this? I know I could try to get a job in a practice first, but what do I even apply for? Can I apply for a job as an apprentice or something? A year unpaid for me is just not feasible as a 28 year old in London, but would also hate jf that was the only thing stopping me! I've wanted to do this my whole life. Any insight would be so so appreciated

Hey y'all. I'm a 22yo struggling to decide how to continue my education/career. I work in a specialty clinic as a receptionist, and greatly enjoy the few glimpses I see into the clinical side of my workplace. I've been thinking about going back to school and pursuing a DVM, and maybe even a specialty certification after. I'd ideally love to work in a cat-only clinic, or a research type position, but who really knows what I'll enjoy once I get further in.

However, I'm physically disabled. I can't stand for long periods, and I cannot handle heavy objects the way I used to be able to. I don't know what the future really holds for my health, but there's a good possibility I will continue to decline and eventually need mobility aids like a wheelchair. I already deal with pretty significant chronic pain just from this current desk job, which is what's causing my hesitation. (That and the cost of schooling in the US of course.)

I was hoping for some insight/advice from folks in the clinical side already. I understand I may just not be able to do this, but wanted to see if there's anyone out there who has. Or any tips, of course. Thanks in advance.

Help! I am a new grad small animal DVM, been working for about a year. No internship, straight to private practice. I am lucky to have great mentorship, but they are also my employers, which I've learned is not a straightforward dynamic.

Despite being in a practice with 30 minute appointments that are not packed back to back (I probably see an avg of 10 patients a day), I'm so inefficient it's impacting my QOL. Typically I stay 2-3 hours after my shift ends for callbacks and records. Recently, as I've been busier, it means I'm completely behind on the records from the last 2-3 days and working on my off days. I've gotten out at shift-end once in the last year. On some level I'm okay with this because as a new grad I believe that I need to put in the time and effort if I want to be a better doctor. On another level I'm starting to worry about burning out.

I know I'm pretty slow in general. I've been described as very thorough and detail-oriented. I hate the feeling that I'm leaving a client before they've had the chance to get their questions answered, so I usually spend at least 15 minutes exclusively talking to the petowner every appointment, usually more depending on their personality. I'm aware my records are unusually meticulous (at least ~5 sentences in the "Plan" for every sick visit). But...I don't feel like it's excessive so I'm not sure if I'm willing to compromise on that.

I have one assistant recently assigned to me. She's a new hire, so I do all my treatments and blood draws. She pretty much just helps me hold. She also takes histories but I've been wondering recently if that's making me less efficient instead of more. Sometimes I can pull one of the front desk staff to help with treatments so I can type, and they're always nice about it, but it makes the front desk short-staffed or empty which...isn't ideal.

Initially I was okay with the behind-the-scenes work bc I wanted to work on my venipuncture, but now I am not so sure it's sustainable. On busy days I haven't yet been extremely behind, but my paranoia of running late means I am rarely able to stop and type anything between appointments. Any blocks I have (2 hours total including lunch per day) are mostly doing callbacks + researching for my callbacks, and somewhat unsuccessfully trying to catch up with my paperwork. When I sit down my brain is often still "going" and busy and I find it hard to re-focus on just writing SOAPs.

What do I do? Recently I've asked for a clock to be added to my room directly above the client's chair so I can try to close up shop if I know it's taking too long. I thought I would be faster with time, and although that's been true with more routine things (ear infection, diarrhea, etc.), my schedule has been getting busier with more sick things recently too. I also feel sad since I worked through my day off today. Any tips would be appreciated and thank you for reading my ramble.

Hi folks. I’m starting undergrad soon and going to major in biology. Academics aside, what should I do to help my chances into getting into veterinary school after graduation? Or at least, what else can I be doing in the meantime until then?

For reference, I am American, 21, been working as a veterinary assistant for years from late high school up until now. I bounced around a few practices and now work at a nonprofit clinic that is a part of an animal shelter. (SPCA!) I have extensive small animal experience and references, and I plan to keep working throughout college. My concern is, should I volunteer or get shadow experience at other vets? Such as exotics or equine? How many hours would be considered competitive?

Thank you!

hello i’m currently going to community college and majoring in biology. i want to be a veterinarian for common household pets and possibly wildlife if i ever get the chance to travel to zoos or something. after community college what should i do? go to university or look into a vet tech school? i’m thinking over going to platt college which has a vet tech program of if anyone here goes there plz lmk know what you did, did you skip uni? also the cost :3. i’ve done some vet related stuff at my high school. i was in a vet science class and a a FFA team that offered veterinary stuff so i was able to give medicine to real animals bc we have a farm as well.

I’ve worked very hard in this profession and others for decades. Kind of hate to go out like this but really - why not.

I just really want to retire asap. I’m emotionally done.

Colon carcinoma with carcinomatosis. Age 13. I was hoping for more time.

Really miss her.

*Proposition 129 (my bad!)

1. If it passes, do you think it is possible/legal for a clinic to require their employed veterinarians to supervise a VPA? I could see how it could be written into company policy - which to me personally would be grounds for quitting - but then I thought more about vets who may not be in a position to quit, bc of financial reasons, a non-compete or just life circumstance in general. The idea of being forced is worrisome to me.
2. If it doesn't pass, could someone explain why anyone might choose to seek out (and pay for) a VPA qualification? CMU has expressed that they will move forward with developing their program no matter the vote (which feels worrisome too. Are they so sure it will pass?)

Any thoughts are welcome and very much appreciated!

Has anyone who graduated from an EU university gone through the process of getting their veterinary license or approbation in Germany? How long does this process typically take? I read online that it takes 3-4 months, but I wanted to ask if anyone here has actually done it and how long it took for you. Thanks!

Good-evening everyone,

ER Vet.

I am unfortunately dealing with severe burnout and have felt this way for the last several months. I recently placed my notice but I am already at my wit's end. After giving notice there's a significant period that you must continue to work (not just two weeks). I have not eaten in days even after having a week off. I dread each day that i'm off up to the point I start my set of shifts. I work, sleep, rinse/repeat frequently crying when I wake, at work, and when I go to bed. I believe I need help and I think stepping away from my job and taking a break is the first step in the right direction. I don't see how I can finish out my notice with how i'm feeling.

My contract: there's nothing significant besides stating that you must give X amount of days as notice.

There is a part that states that both parties may discontinue the contract based on what the company decides upon the expiration of X days. It still seems that I must finish X days even if I have a disability such as mental illness.

Things i'm worried about:

1. I'll have to finish X amount of days and i'm stuck.
2. If I see a mental health provider that I'll be barred from work for X amount of time as I do have bills to pay.
3. I'll have poor reputation with the company as they have several locations throughout the USA. This location I think is just poor via management. It doesn't help that I moved far from home to here in Raleigh, North Carolina.

For anyone that has personally experienced this, I am highly looking forward to your advice. Thank you so much for your time in advance.

Will I ever be good enough?

Hi everyone. I’m 27 and I graduated at the end of 2022. I’ve been working as a vet in a small practice that sees mostly cats (80%) and small dogs (20%) since March 2023. 2 months back I resigned my job cause I felt like I was not getting enough exposure and felt like I wasn’t seeing much growth in the amount of knowledge I was gaining compared to my peers.

Since then I’ve left and joined a larger hospital for a month now. There has been SO MUCH change for my brain to process.

1. Moving from a place with 5 employees to 40 employees was very difficult for me as an introvert. It took me and still is taking me a long while to get used to everyone.

2. I feel really really dumb. One of my juniors from vet school is working there as a vet and she joined the field the same time as me but her first job was in the hospital and she knows so much. I feel very stupid compared to all the other vets. I’m constantly overwhelmed by how much information I do not know and beat myself up over how I am not smart enough or good enough or efficient enough as these people.

3. The vet nurses/assistants are not the friendliest. They’re extremely judgmental towards the (newer) veterinarians who they think are not “smart enough”. They don’t respect you or treat you the same way as they treat the other veterinarians and it makes me feel worse than I already do. When I try to ask them questions, they give me side eyes as if to say “you don’t even know this, how are you a vet?”. People here generally aren’t very friendly and I’m unsure if it’s because I’m a new addition to the team and they are looking at me as an outsider.

It’s just a lot that I feel like I’m going through right now but I have an amazing boss (the owner of the hospital and the head veterinarian) who takes his time to explain and teach me things without any judgement whatsoever whenever I have questions regarding any case (which is most times as the cases here are extremely complicated to what I am used to in my previous practice) but at the same time I also feel pressured to make a good impression so I could get decent increments in the future.

How do I improve myself? How do I become a better veterinarian? I work 6 days a week and I try my best to study on my off days but things that I have to do on my only off day catches up with me sometimes 🥲 despite that even at work, I’m always reading up things and ensuring I’m gaining knowledge and improving on my skills. I’ve also gotten into this mindset that I will be here only for a year or two to learn as much as I can before moving on with life (possibly sitting for the Australian Veterinary Exam to migrate) so that kinda helps a little. I’m not sure what I’m aiming to achieve by posting this but I’m just very overwhelmed right now with everything I don’t know. Any sort of tips or advice will be appreciated ❤️

Hi, I got a call today from banfield after interviewing with them on Thursday, and they are offering me a full time vet assistant job. Some of you may have seen my post about me losing my job at a private practice a few months ago, it was devastating, and I’m excited another clinic is giving me a shit, we don’t have many clinics where I’m from. But, I went down the rabbit hole and studied up on banfield….. y’all have me extremely terrified to work at banfield.😭 is it really bad? Do I need to worry? I know they got new staffing last year at my location. I’m just having a bit of anxiety wondering if I’ll get treated poorly like I did at the last clinic (got called the R word by the vets, when they knew I have really bad ADHD.🥲 and so much other things). I just need some advice, or maybe some cheer, idk. Just wanna see what I’m getting myself into.🥲

Hi, I'm fairly new to this sub but recently I've been very heavily thinking about my career path. I really want to go into something in the veterinary field because I love animals and want to be able to help them but I don't think being a clinical vet would be the best for me. Is there an occupation that would suit me better where I would be able to work with animals like maybe radiology or something? I'm sorry, I really don't know too much about everything and I kind of just want some perspective from people already in the profession. I can answer any questions! Thank you.

I'm sure you're all aware of the insane amount of time that we spend kneeling because of our patients. I ended up blowing a Japanese person off their socks during a traditional Japanese tea ceremony where I had absolutely no problem kneeling for about 25 minutes. I'm not particularly fit but apparently all of that kneeling is good for something!

I'm so happy!! I was so stressed but it was fine!!

Hey guys. I graduated in 2016 and got married right after. Due to a string of incidents, I had to stay home and never worked until now. My husband and I moved to the UK 3 years ago where I’m staying as a dependent while my husband is on a skilled visa.

The confusion for me now is do I look for sponsorship roles or do I stay on my husbands dependent visa. Dependent visa gives me the flexibility to move between clinics and would allow to me explore what kind of roles I would like. I’m quite intimidated and feel this would be the best option for me because I’d be at a graduate level despite when I graduated.

On the other hand my husband has recently stated that he wants to move companies (as he is working in a high stress environment at the moment) and that it would be safer if I moved to a sponsored role - just in case he needs to quit his current job and fails to find another job that will sponsor him. He is not a vet and jobs that will sponsor him are limited.

Thankfully we don’t have kids at the moment which will allow me to work full hours - but I was wondering what you guys would recommend?

Would you recommend that I explore different practices for the time being and find what works best for me while building up experience - which will increase my opportunities for sponsorship as my experience grows. Or would you recommend roles that would offer me and my family more stability but might tie me down to a practice.

I have offers for both sponsored and non sponsored roles at the moment and they are waiting on my decision. Help!

Trying to think of nicer ideas to do rather than catching up on paperwork or scrolling on my phone.

I have 12 hour days so I should get multiple coffee breaks if the caseload permits. I just feel I’m not using it productively or mindfully at the moment.

Hi! I personally am not a DVM or vet student, but my girlfriend is. She's doing her clinical rotations for her final year of grad school and getting ready to take the NAVLE in April. She is understandably nervous and it's clearly eating away at her. She's incredibly smart but struggles with studying, she's expressed multiple times that she just can't do it as the task is too daunting. I want to help out by making her a study guide or flashcards but honestly, I'm even less equipped to do so than she is. I hope if I can help her get the ball rolling, then she will get into the swing of it! Any and all advice that y'all could give me would be more than appreciated! Thanks in advance