Thursday, January 12, 2012

And a 3rd reality

My reality falls somewhere in the middle of the other two. I've always loved animals, especially cats and horses. I don't remember expressing the desire to be a veterinarian at any point as a young child, but I settled on it sometime in my sophomore year of college at a private (expensive) college. At that time (1999), I think that the salary of a veterinarian was somewhat balanced with the educational debt accrued. I was also clueless as to what the job actually entailed.

Despite working as a "technician" in several different veterinary offices, I never saw what being a vet actually  was. Perhaps I was just in the back, pulling up vaccines. For some reason, I never saw the financial counselor, shrink, priest, etc aspect of it. In fact, I was totally oblivious to that until I finished veterinary school.

As a student, I was a hard worker, but I still had no idea what was coming for me as a veterinarian.

Now, I have been a veterinarian for 4 years. I alternately love and hate my job. My debt load is around $140k, which is pretty standard these days. I make about $125k a year, but I also work emergency. I make a higher salary for my willingness to work long night shifts (15+ hours), weekends, and holidays. If I wanted to be a GP and have "normal" hours, I would have to take a significant pay cut in most areas. This salary is provided to me in return for services as a doctor, a mediator, a financial advisor, a psychologist, a manager of my technicians and other staff, and sometimes a bouncer.

Is it worth it? Depends on what day you catch me. If I've had some sleep and I've made a particularly great save on a patient, then absolutely! If I've been told one too many times that I'm a money grubbing SOB who doesn't give a rat's ass about animals, then no.

I don't recommend to aspiring students that they pursue veterinary medicine. Even if it's a passion - the pay isn't there in most instances (with the exception being ER), people often treat you horribly and expect free care, and you put yourself at risk of being seriously injured EVERY SINGLE day.

There is a glut of veterinarians, and there are no jobs. The economy is killing vets and making owners reluctant to follow even the simplest recommendations (regular physical exams, vaccines, and geriatric testing). Big online pharmacies and doc-in-a-box veterinary clinics are cornering the market and damaging the private practitioner.

On the other hand, there are days I receive heartfelt letters from grateful and happy clients, thanking me for caring for their pets. Some days, I make a difficult diagnosis or perform a challenging surgery and have an excellent outcome. Some days, I love going to work so much I can't stand it.

And some days I wish I was a pharmacist. But most days, I'm pretty happy with my chosen career. It worries me that only 4 years into it, I'm not happy every day with my choice. But maybe I'm lucky. Maybe there are many people who aren't happy with their job ANY day of the week. And I am. That's saying something.

18 comments:

  1. Wow, this is a side to vets I've never really considered... I'm surprised people tell you that you are only in it for the money and that you don't love animals... seriously. They are brining their pets to you so you can make them better... why would they curse you like that? Weird. Anyways, there are days people are going to love their jobs and days people are going to hate their jobs... you are blessed to do something you like doing on most days and you make a good paycheck while doing it. I would say, take that and run with it. Hope your bad days slowly get better :)

    LizAnn

    All4UrPet Representative

    http://all4urpet.com/



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  2. Pharmacists are getting robbed and shot and threatened with machetes for the narcotics in their drug safes. No longer the safe, clean, relatively regularly-houred work schedule job that we hoped for in school. Seriously Not Worth It.

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    1. Except for the one who shot back!! Bravo! F#@& Walgreens!

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  3. Ughh, I definitely would not want to be a pharmacist.

    Three days out of five are totally depressing for veterinarians, hence the development of this outlet, the VBB Blog. There has been an active devaluation of the veterinary profession for years. With the corporations, news groups and even our own AVMA actively making our services less valuable financially. This is extremely demoralizing. When everyone takes a piece of our practice, it becomes more difficult for us to exist. You have $$$mart trying to pass legislation that we cannot fill our own prescriptions, Consumer Reports (and everyone else) writing articles on ways to save money with your veterinarian--with awesome suggestions that can actually risk your pets' life and the AVMA selling out to big corporations.

    I am not alone in the prediction that the small animal practitioner will not exist in 20 years. There will be corporate vet offices and specialty centers. There will only be certain services available and the charges will have to be commiserate with human medicine to cover expenses (think $350 office visit).

    I am a practice owner and with the economic changes, my total compensation for 2011 was $24K. That relates to $7.50/hour or less. I am one of the more conscientious veterinarians in my area. I do not rape people financially but when I charge you for something, it may be expensive because it is just plain expensive. For my single doctor practice, I have to pay around $60K per month in expenses. The bulk of that is to drug companies for products that we use and sell.

    I try very hard to offer excellent, personal, friendly care for pets but I cannot compete with the low cost spay/neuter clinics, vaccine clinics, online pharmacies and the cheaper, less consciences veterinarians like Nat. Geo's Dr. Pol. I am the vet who will spend the night in my clinic to care for your critically ill parvo puppy, I will come to your house to euthanize a beloved pet, I have been known to carry my baby patients in my arms for lunch (to administer necessary affection), and I am ahead of the curve in usable vet information. I, and my colleagues, are the vets you want to support.

    Sure there are some cheaper options but trust me, you may be choosing potentially harmful options for your pet. Find a vet that you like and try to support them. If something seems too expensive, discuss it with your vet. Most of us want to work within your budget. We want to provide you the best care possible and we want to develop a professional friendship. We are, for the most part, honest and helpful even when we do not profit from it. You should be aware of the dangers of low cost spay/neuters, low cost vaccines (especially with cats--YIKES!) and that "the same product you get from your veterinarian!" may actually be the Australian version that looks just like the American version but has half of the required medication to prevent heartworm disease here in the US--another, YIKES! So, going the cheapest route has some possible life-threatening consequences. Just make sure that you are totally informed before you decide the cheapest route.

    So, this is huge rock of demoralization that we vets carry on our shoulders every day. Add in the $100-300K in student loans that most of us have, along with the occasional crazy or just plain asinine client and you have a very questionable career. The animals *are* potentially dangerous but we know that and learn how to survive.

    So, if your vet is fighting back tears at your next visit...they may need a good hug.

    If you have a vet that you really like, support him or her as much as possible or they may, like many, close their doors and find another profession.

    PS I could make way more if I left Vet Med--I have two BS degrees with one in the hard, hard science (and one in math) and an incomplete MA in the same science before I obtained my DVM. I am working on an advanced medically degree as we speak, I do not know why.... So I am in my office everyday only for you an for your pet, dear readers.

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    1. Dear Fran,
      Perhaps rather than "...the charges will have to be commiserate with human medicine..." you meant to write "...commensurate with human medicine..."? Although I commiserate with everyone who has to pay human medical expenses, to compare them with veterinarian expenses we would have to see if they are commensurate.
      Peace,
      Granny

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    2. Totally agree with your post. I am leaving the DVM field too for many of the same reasons. I cannot think of struggling for another twenty years in a profession that is in a long, slow decline for many of the reasons you stated.

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  4. I'm not a vet. I'm the person on the other side of the table. And while I have never said anything to my vet, there have been times when my pet is significally enough ill that I get anxiety about them....and then the vet starts describing testing and treatment options, somewhere deep inside my brain I think "is this really what is BEST, or are they suggesting unnecessary tests/treatment for the money?" I think it is only natural to wonder sometimes, especially when you are already anxious about both the health of your pet, and whether or not you can afford the treatment. Certainly if I had excess disposable income, I would never consider it.
    Most of us understand. But sometimes it is hard to keep that little voice inside your heard under control.

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    1. Definitely discuss your thoughts with your vet--we want to know that you aren't so sure. Most of us will find a way to work within the budget. If there were no law suits and no license loss, we wouldn't be so driven to recommend everything "by the book." With that said, most of us try to practice the best possible medicine and we are happy to explain why a test would be useful.

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    2. Yes, please do bring those concerns to light. I NEVER have a problem with an owner telling me about budget limitations, as long as they are not just bitching about me being "money grubbing". Part of our job as vets is to make a partnership with our clients to consider everything - and yes, that includes budget - when creating a diagnostic and treatment plan. Most vets should be willing to explain why certain tests or treatments are necessary. I think something I find frustrating and I try to explain to people, is that medicine is rarely black and white. There are so many shades of grey and so many tests that may give good information, but often the information we get are just clues to figuring out the whole puzzle. I think alot of times clients expect a definitive answer after just one test, and while occasionally that happens, many times it does not.

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  5. @FranTick, that should be its own blog post! @BCM, no one would fault you for wondering -it's a reasonable thing to do. Hopefully you have a good relationship with your vet, though. I mean, we need mutual trust for the benefit of the patient.

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  6. I don't think I know you.....I don't think you are my vet. But I think my vet is the best in the world and I'm grateful for him everyday. I, fortunately, can handle any medical bills my pets may have, but my vet has never spent my money unnecessarily. I am a human health care professional so I understand (mostly, and he explains more when I don't) what he's thinking and what options are available. I would never go to a "doc in a box" vet clinic and if "my" practice gets bought out, I will leave. It's unfortunate the economy is affecting your profession as it is and I really don't understand how people can react to you as they do (but, again, I can well-afford to care for my pets). Anyway, thank you and all the vets out there like you. Some of us are very grateful to know you are there for out beloved pets.

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  7. Yo Unknown 1/13/2012 4:00 PM: thanks for the words of support. It means so much.

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  8. :) I hope so. "You" (as in all the vets who do their best, no matter what) have helped me through some very hard times with a terribly sick dog and have taught me much about patience and compassion. I enjoy this blog, though I'm somewhat disheartened to hear of the discontent in your profession. But, then I think of what I deal with in human medicine and realize my gallows humor, cynicism, and sarcasm is not much different. The blog I could write......

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  9. FranTick I hope you're wrong. I'm still looking for a "forever vet" in my new city but I would never go to a doc in a box. I totally understand where you're coming from but I just hope you're wrong.

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  10. I love my vet. He owns his single vet practise, and I've been a client there for 10 years. I'm also a tech, and my vet was the one who fostered my interest in veterinary medicine. He always finds a way to help me through a financial crunch, and he's always honest and upfront with me in regards to my pet's health. I really don't think I can find words to thank him enough for all the caring he's provided for my pets. He's the kind of vet I would drive an hour to see (and some other clients actually do!).

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  11. And that's why God made cows :) As a young practitioner (2009) the worst day in the clinic can always be brightened by jumping in my truck and heading out to work on my favorite 4 legged patients :) Granted, not all farm calls go well or smoothly, but perhaps the fresh air helps?

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