Had a 10yo MN DLH come in today for an “annual wellness” but the cat had been hyporexic for a few weeks and lost weight. No other medical history, indoor only, a few years overdue for vaccines. On exam was concerns about his breathing, on POCUS he had pleural AND pericardial effusion (no tamponade). Concerns for enlarged La:Ao. Concerned for CHF vs all the other possible causes. Discussed/recommended all the things to start (BW, CXR, sedated thoracocentesis, fluid analysis). Owner only had $200 and declined everything; owner also was not ready to consider humane euth. Sent home with Lasix and mirtazipine (this was all I could fit within her budget). Gave owner low cost options.

I just felt really sad and defeated after this and I’m worried I should’ve done more or something else. My hospital does have an “Angel Fund” but we only have a limited amount and another doctor had just used it.

I just can’t get over how sad this client was; I’m also worried that they are mad/frustrated with me. And I keep having an internal struggle of not having been able to provide the care and also frustration because it was not my fault that this person didn’t have any money and I feel like people continuously underestimate how much of a financial commitment pets can be.

Young DVM in Denver area, CO

i’m a jeans and scrub shirt kind of vet - lost track of that white coat many moons ago - picking up gp roo shifts - how much should i clean up? slacks and scrub shirt? full scrubs? can i get away with nice carhartts and scrub shirt???

I was extremely lucky to land a VA job at a wonderful private clinic, with no medical experience. Ten years of professional animal care/training/boarding experience. Im not going to lie, I knew nothing going into this job and made that very clear. They said my extensive animal experience, reliability and great personality was more than enough and they are happy to train me! So again, very lucky I even got this job. I have wanted to do this my entire life but the cost of education was my roadblock.

I am a little over a month in and still feel like a total idiot, and feel very slow. I have been reassured we aren't getting backed up because im slow, its just because annuals keep turning into sick/hospitalizations when theyre only allotted 30 min time periods, but I KNOW im slower than everyone else! I know having to hold my dumb little hand through the more complex (and sometimes really basic) procedures is a pain in everyone's ass!

Everyone has been super nice to my face but of course im catching the eye rolling, scoffing, whispering, etc. Apparently theyre saying awful things about me because there was a staff meeting specifically about bullying new people 😭 im used to it in this field but I feel really sad because at my last job I was THE expert everyone looked to for guidance, and was very respected. Now I feel like trash! Some days It has been VERY hard because I will be quite overwhelmed/backed up in appointments and on top of that, ive got my team pissed off at me because im asking questions or made a dumb mistake.

Some techs are really nice to me and others are pretty blunt. With some doctors I run like a well oiled engine (usually those that are kind to me and not freaking out themselves), but with other doctors who are not as forgiving, I make more mistakes because im stressing about not making mistakes/asking annoying questions!

One month in I am able to run the common tests (all snaps, UA, CBC/chems, pro BNP, etc) quickly and easily. I can draw blood but need a good holder and im not the best at it yet (started that two days ago), I can administer vaccines, I have already gotten an email from a client saying I was amazing with their pet as well as a massive tip (which i gave to the manager as a donation). They say i am a great holder for difficult dogs and Im starting to be saught out for that, just not the first choice. I feel like ive learned SOOOOOO much in a month. I still struggle with helping in simple invasive procedures solely because I dont know their routines or the names of all the tools. I definitely slow those down. I still struggle making estimates because a Dr. will tell me to make one for say, a hospitalization for uti/bladder crystals and I just have no idea what i need to put on that estimate because I haven't done that before!

Im so grateful for this job but feeling like an outcast is getting a bit tiring! I get along with everyone but I know people are pretty annoyed with me when I make mistakes especially a few in one day. I really want them to like me and know that a big part of it will just be me learning not to suck at my job compared to everyone. How long did that take for you?

Hi all, I'm thinking of applying for the GDP 2027 by Linnaeus and I'm wondering if anyone who's gone through it has any views on the pros and cons of their programme, e.g. how much support/guidance is provided. Any sort of common interview questions for these roles are also welcome!! Thank you!

Does anyone have any experience working for heartstrings pet hospice?

I've enjoyed learning about them through the interview process but I've been duped by charismatic interviewers before and just looking for any personal insight anyone might be willing to offer

4th year student here want to know more about what the real world look like!

Looking to get more proficient at doing surgeries. Was wondering if things like high volume spay clinics / charities exist in the UK that accepts vets to train there?

I know these programs exist overseas, but costs £££. Thanks in advance!

Hello fellow vet med humans! 🐾
(Posted on a few pages)
I’ve been working as a vet nurse/tech (I’m in Australia) for about 3 years now, and I recently moved to a new clinic after leaving my previous workplace.

My old clinic was a low-cost clinic, and unfortunately, the standard of care wasn’t always where I wanted it to be. However, the team was incredible. We were all really close, I fitted in so well, and I made some genuinely amazing friendships. I actually looked forward to going to work every day, and I really miss the people I worked with.

Ultimately, I decided to leave because I wanted to grow as a nurse, improve my skills and work somewhere with a higher standard of care.

Fast forward to my new clinic, and while the standard of care is much better, I’m really struggling. It’s a small, tight-knit team, and from the beginning I’ve found it difficult to fit in and build those same connections. I completely understand that I’m there to work and not necessarily to make friends, but when you spend so much of your life at work, I think having those relationships makes a huge difference.

The biggest thing I’ve noticed is how much my confidence has taken a hit. I used to consider myself a confident and knowledgeable nurse, but lately I find myself second-guessing everything I do, questioning my abilities and just generally feeling really down about work. I feel like I’ve lost the confidence I worked so hard to build.

It’s gotten to the point where I’m questioning whether I even want to continue nursing. I don’t know if I’ve genuinely lost my passion for the industry or if I’m just struggling to adjust to a workplace where I don’t feel like I belong.

Has anyone else experienced something similar after changing clinics? Did things eventually get better, or did you decide to move on?

I’d really appreciate any advice, especially from anyone who’s been through something similar. I just want to enjoy going to work again and feel like myself. ❤️

Hey guys! I’m a pre-vet student right now and am pretty convinced I’m going to vet school. I have a bunch of good stuff for experience and animal related stuff with a relatively good gpa for undergrad. But after Vet school I think I want tos pecialize to get more income to pay off my debt faster. I’m looking into neuro right now but I’m so lost on what happens after vet school to specialize. Can someone help me?

I’m literally just posting this because I need to rent somewhere where people will get it.

I’m an RVT and have been for 7 years. I work for one of the biggest corporations in vet med at this point, and we just got our vet tech week “gift”. It is a $16 coupon to OUR STORE. Like the store we can buy the corporation’s merchandise from. $16. Shipping is $9. And they’re sold out of everything halfway decent.

It just boggles my fucking mind that we work our asses off so hard every day, and the best thing this multi BILLION dollar company can do is give us $16 that GOES BACK into the company because it’s spend AT THEIR STORE.
One of the higher ups was like “and be thankful because this took a lotttt of convincing to get this because of everything going on”. What’s going on? What does that even mean. Be thankful for a $16 coupon that turns into $7 after we pay for shipping.
How are they not embarrassed.

We recently made a switch to Navetor. We are really struggling with some things and I was hoping someone out there is using it that would be willing to talk to me about how they have it set up. Their support team has been good but I feel like we need the help of someone in a clinic setting actually using it in an efficient way.

Any advice on how to handle making mistakes and treatment plans? I recently had a patient that had a heart rumor four out of six and was experiencing signs of decreased activity weakness and occasional coughing. I recommended an echocardiogram in the O’Hare could not go through with that diagnostic due to lack of funds therefore, I recommended we could try amended which I realize skinny mistake. I should’ve done chest x-rays out the medication the patient didn’t end up starting the medication, but I was approached by a clinician on how to handle the case. I feel terrible and I obviously don’t wanna do any harm.

Hey guys, fourth year vet student here! I'm about to take my NAVLE and plan on starting the job hunt seriously once that is behind me. How do people go about finding the best place to start out?

Mentorship and enjoying my experience is important, but so is proper compensation. I know the job market is good but I have NO idea where to start, just two general areas. Is i AVAM/Indeed/google search?

Also when should I aim to have a contract signed by? I have a few over-achiever friends that already have theirs, so I'm fighting the feeling of being behind.

Thank y'all so much for your advice in advance <3

Hi everyone!

I’m planning to study veterinary medicine (Germany). My big dream is to work with marine animals later, like dolphins, seals, sea turtles, stranded animals etc.

But the more I read about it, the more confused I get. So I wanted to ask if anyone here has experience with this in Europe?

Some things I’m wondering about:

• After vet school, are there internships or programs at aquariums, marine parks or rehab centers in Europe where you can go as a new grad?
• Are they usually paid or is it more like volunteering?
• Do vets also work with stranding networks or marine research teams?
• Does it matter where I study, or is it more about what you do after?

I know it’s a super competitive field, but I’d really love to hear from anyone who went this way or knows someone who did. Also open to hearing about alternatives if it doesn’t work out haha

Hi everyone,

​I am finishing my final (6th) year of Veterinary Medicine in Europe (Serbia). I hold Canadian citizenship, but I have never actually lived in Canada before. My plan is to move to the Kitchener-Waterloo area in Ontario after graduation.

​My plan is to study and pass the BCSE while practicing in Vet clinic in Serbia for a year after graduation and then move to Canada. Once I am there, I want to work as a veterinary technician for a while, mainly to learn how the Canadian veterinary system functions on the ground before getting my full license (NAVLE/CPE).

​I have read some brutal stories online about foreign grads struggling with this transition, feeling stuck, or facing friction in clinics. Since I have my citizenship sorted and some family support for the first few months, I wanted to ask:

​How hard is it for an IVG who has never lived in Canada to land a vet tech job in the Waterloo region without being a local RVT?

​Is going in as a tech a good way to actually learn the system, or will clinics just see me as "overqualified/awkward" and reject me?

​Any honest advice or red flags I should look out for when applying to clinics in Ontario with this strategy?

​Thanks in advance for any real talk!

Anyone else get a sudden notice from notice from moichor that they are immediately ceasing all operations?

I'm curious what happened and I haven't seen anything online about a shutdown or something, so I'm curious if anyone else knows what happened?

Throw away account- wanting to know how many people here quit because they couldn't handle it. I like the people that work there, which sounds lucky because the "I want to quit" posts usually involve a toxic clinic, but I don't know if this is something I want to continue doing. Between the stress, time on my feet, and obvious depressing animals that I see-- It doesn't feel like something I want to be doing/can handle but I feel like I'll be disappointing the person who hired me and my partner.

I’m a CVT, I’ve worked with her for about 2.5 years. She has a long commute and has a job offer for better pay at a clinic significantly closer to her house (along with some other minor reasons). She’s the only person at my clinic that I’ve been comfortable disclosing that I’m autistic to (AuDHD technically but I feel like ADHD is much more “socially acceptable”). I’m going to really miss working with her. Aside from writing her a card, I’m trying to think of something I can make/get for her as a little thank you token/present. I enjoy getting immersed in a project and I feel like homemade sometimes means more.

In my experience with receiving med related gifts, a lot are cheesy and not really useful. I’m thinking maybe a stethoscope cuff decoration thing, I really like the one I have on mine and it shouldn’t be too expensive. I don’t really know her taste in tea but i could get her a small package of one of my favorites. I honestly have no idea what to make though aside from a handmade card… I’d prefer to stay away from food since that can be weird. I feel like we all have so many mugs/cups/water bottles, at least at my clinic I usually get one at tech week and one at Christmas.

Anyone have ideas?

Hey all. I (29F) have decided to give up on vet school and pursue vet tech school instead. Whichever one I had gone with I knew I wasn’t going to be making as much as my human counterparts anyway. My biggest reasons for giving up on vet school are finances (tuition wise) and the pressure of being responsible for pets’ lives. Obviously nurses are too but in the end the ultimate decision comes from the doctor.

Anyway, for context, I have two bachelors degrees, and a masters degree, which have put me in about $160K in debt (and this isn’t including other debt from credit cards,etc.). I did all that extra schooling to try and make myself a better candidate for vet school.

I’ve been a vet assistant/CSR for 7 years now, making just as much as a starting tech without even doing any actual tech skills (my boss is just that generous thankfully). I’ve worked all these nurses for so long that I’ve come to admire the work they do.

My main problem is I’m too fascinated by this field to even consider doing anything else. I’ve been driving myself crazy these past few weeks trying to find something else I should pursue, but I just can’t. I haven’t known anything else. I know this is gonna ruin me in the end though. I’ll never been able to live a comfortable or barely even a sustainable life on a tech’s pay.

I’m wondering if anyone has ever pursued a main career but kept vet tech as a side job. For example, I go back to school to get a dual degree, the vet tech program and something else entirely. Then pursue the other path as my main career, while still doing vet tech on the side. I’m going crazy BECAUSE I don’t want to leave this field. I love seeing all the patients and cases that come in. I’d already feel FOMO not working as many hours if I were to pursue another career.

I don’t know what to do, it’s driving me to the point where I just wish I weren’t even here to have to make a decision (I do have depression and anxiety).

And I know no one here can make the decision for me, but different perspectives help.

Hello all, I really appreciate all of you and everything you do.

I've been trying to become a vet assistant after working at animal shelters, and other caretaking jobs for the past 9 years.

I landed a great role as a care assistant for an animal hospital that I planned to gain valuable experience. I was there for only 4 months when a coworker made the mistake of forgetting to remove a food bowl from the kennel of a large dog with severe resource guarding before I came back from walking him. I did not see the bowl quickly enough before the dog turned around and bit me. Per policy I had to report the incident. My coworker however decided to report me for "mishandling" the dog and told them I had given the dog the food in order to pin the blame away from herself. Because she worked there much longer than I did, the manager took her side without reviewing security footage and fired me.

This absolutely devastated me as I loved my job and the animals I took care of. I've been fighting severe depression every day since it happened while trying to stay motivated enough to search for another job.

In about a month I landed 14 interviews (4 shadow interviews) at various hospitals and veterinary clinics. Each one felt promising but due to my lack of experience I keep getting turned down. (Only 3 updated me with rejection emails, all others ghosted me)

Do you have any tips or advice for me to stand out during interviews, whether it's a zoom call or a shadow visit?

I'm motivated to learn and gain the skills needed.

Can you tell me about your previous experience and how long it took you to adjust as a practice manager in an animal hospital. Preferably those that didn’t have veterinary experience but management experience. It’s been a lot of information and it’s a different than I’m use to, just wondering how long it will take to really settle in and get the hang of things. I’m like this every time I start a new job lol!

I am a current applicant and already have a few acceptances under my belt. I'm almost 30 and have not left animal care/vet med, so I know this industry. However, one thing I obviously don't know yet is the experience of being the doctor.

As I've progressed through this app cycle, it's been sort of disheartening to see all the remarks online from vets/vet students about how much their hate their jobs. The burnout, debt, low pay, compassion fatigue, negativity from the public, corporate buyouts - the list goes on! I feel like I never see anyone express getting joy/satisfaction from this role anymore.

So for my own sanity as I prepare to embark on vet school and then the rest of my life, I'd love to hear from practicing vets (in any specialty) that actually still enjoy what they do. Just a little bit of positivity and balance in the narrative would help me sleep a little better tonight! Thank you guys!

is it worth getting the new book? or is the older fine?