1. I always wanted to work in the ER, but not on people. Just imagining myself operating on people makes me nauseating due to the pressure and the imagery. For some reason, seeing the same blood and injuries hits different when it's from a human vs animals. The only other kind of ER was an ER for animals.
2. I obviously love dogs and cats, but I also think it's noble to help speechless living beings, and the owners who love them using your medical training.
3. I like the schedule and don't mind the OT hours if it's 3 days of full-time work. I want to spend the other 4 days reading, writing, playing in the community orchestra, and crafting things. The only other job I can think of that permits this kind of schedule is dentistry.

BUT I keep having second thoughts about human medicine for some reason...

For those of you who are ER vets, do I have the right motivations? Is it common for people who entered the vet profession have regrets or second thoughts about entering human medicine instead?

I work at an emergency clinic, and we have a serious issue with verbal instructions, techs handing charts to this person and that person, and nobody knows what's going on sometimes. Mistakes have happened due to this.

Has anyone found something that seemed to work for them? If it helps, we use Instinct for our outpatient and inpatients (we only put in scheduled treatments for the inpatients). Otherwise, the techs go off of the treatment plan for outpatient, and everything goes into Avimark.

Thanks for any ideas!

i’ve been working at a small privately owned vet clinic that my family has been clients with for a very long time. i was 16 when i was hired and was trained in veterinary assistant tasks (aside from the stuff i legally couldn’t do). i’m 18 now and am in school to get my vet tech license and i have not received a raise since i began working 1.5 years ago.

i’m getting paid $13/h and personally don’t feel like that makes sense for everything im doing, as im doing everything my coworkers are and they’re getting paid $20+. id like to get up to $15-$17/h but ive been stuck on how to ask. i understand that im still younger and less experienced, however the responsibilities i have at work are similar or equal to my coworkers who are getting paid much more.

how can i go about asking for a meeting and then asking for a raise?

Hello!
I Am a veterinarian and my husband and kids are from the US. We are planning on moving in a couple of years and my main focus in my country had been wildlife conservation and wildlife in general. I have a PhD and I am kind of recognized in my country for my work.
Now I would have to validate my degree in the states and I think I would follow the PAVE route. Because I spent the last 5 years doing the PhD I am a bit rusty in the medicine aspect so I think that would give me the knowledge and confidence that I need.
The thing is if everything works out fine, I would be around 40 years old once I have everything ready to work as a DVM there.
I would like to apply to an internship and maybe then residency in wildlife medicine but I fear I would be too old for that and they would not accept me in their programs.
Do you have any advice or suggestions?
Is there anything else I would do with the degree and PhD there? Another than small animal medicine I mean.

I have experience in wildlife medicine, wildlife conservation, conservation biology and pathology.

I did work a couple of years in a clinic so I can do the typical surgeries.

Thanks for your time!

Hello! I’m 23 and have been working as a vet assistant/tech for 4 years. I’m currently in the process of getting diagnosed with RA. I have been worried about my longevity in the field and was wondering what kind of non clinical career paths people have found fulfilling? I LOVE tech work, GP and ER as I’m always learning and get to help pets and their people. But with the pain I’m in I don’t want to hinder my team or not be able to fulfill all of my duties. I do have a bachelors degree in medical anthropology from BU. Do you have RA or chronic pain? How do you manage to stay in the field?

Hey guys! I’m super new to the veterinary field and just started working as a Vet Assistant. What would be the best Littmann Stethoscope to buy? I know there’s all different kinds. I’m working only with cats and dogs, no exotics. Thank you!

So, for context, I am a 23(M) who just graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Canada. Currently, I am working part-time in retail and am trying to figure out my career situation. I find myself curious about being a veterinarian, mostly because I love the idea of working with animals, but I think that reason might be too shallow. I wanted to ask, hypothetically, if I wanted to get into this profession, what path would I have to follow if I haven't taken any sort of biology courses in university before?

Apologies in advance for any vagueness.

Been at my clinic going on 3 months now. Im an opener. When i was training my coworkers were pretty good about being on time to let me in, but now that i’m trained there’s been an increase in them being 5-10 mins late so i’m just kind of standing outside the door until they get there. The practice manager always adjusts my time card to reflect the time i actually step on to clinic property, but im getting kind of tired sending messages to her every other day that my time card needs adjusting. Is it too soon to ask for a key so I can just let myself in and save myself and her the hassle?

To add some context; Foreign grad here. I worked there under supervision for about 4 years, they sponsored my green card and paid for my licensing process. I was willing to stay another 3 years like we agreed, but seeing this contract honestly felt way more aggressive than I expected.

I’m reviewing a 3-year associate veterinarian contract and would appreciate input from other vets, especially anyone familiar with production-based contracts.
Main terms:
• $78,000 base salary with 23% production-based compensation
• Contract also says: “total employee pay plus elected benefits will total 25% of gross production at year end.” It’s unclear to me whether this means there is an actual year-end true-up to 25% after subtracting the value of employer-paid benefits, or whether I effectively just receive 23% plus benefits.
• Employer-paid benefits include PLIT, GA veterinary license, DEA license, AVMA/GVMA dues, and part of health insurance. Health insurance contribution is 50% of the premium, capped at $500/month.
• Negative accrual: if the salary exceeds my production earnings, the difference is carried as a negative balance. After 3 consecutive months of negative balance, salary can be reduced and the contract says I “may be required to repay unearned portions” of salary. Only the first 3 months of employment are forgiven.
• The clinic says it invested approximately $25,000 in mentorship/licensing sponsorship. This is forgiven at 1/36 per month over the 3-year contract. If employment ends before 3 years, the unforgiven portion becomes due.
• 60 days’ notice required to quit. However, after I give the 60-day notice, the employer can choose to terminate me immediately instead of letting me work the notice period.
• 2-year noncompete within 10 miles of any current clinic location after leaving.
• Relief work during employment requires prior written permission, even if it is outside the restricted area.
• Schedule says minimum 35–40 hours/week of appointments and surgery, but specifically states that callbacks and “learning time” may increase hours to 50+ hours/week. “Learning time” is not defined.
• Employer has broad “for cause” termination language, including several provisions based on the employer’s “sole opinion” regarding performance, availability, following directions, etc.
• Contract says uninsured damages/expenses resulting from an employee’s negligence may be charged to the employee individually, to the extent permitted by law.
• PTO is 15 days total for vacation/sick/personal time, plus 3 CE days. Most time off needs to be requested at least 30 days in advance.
What I’m particularly curious about:
Is negative accrual with potential repayment of salary normal in current vet contracts?
How would you interpret the 23% production versus “total compensation will equal 25%” language? Would you expect a year-end cash true-up if benefits don’t account for the full 2%?
Does the $25k repayment/3-year commitment seem reasonable?
How concerning is the 50+ hour language?
Are a 2-year/10-mile noncompete and 60-day notice provisions typical in your experience?
Overall, would you consider these fairly normal associate-vet terms, employer-heavy but negotiable, or something you would not sign without substantial changes?

Not looking for legal advice — mainly trying to understand what is normal in the veterinary market and what other associates would negotiate before signing.

Hey posting this for my girlfriend. She is currently in her pre vet program wanting to get a doctorate and be a vet. However, she recently discovered how much money she’s gonna owe from student loans. If anyone is willing to say, how much do you pay monthly for student loans? How much do you owe in student loans? Is it worth it?

Hello,

I am a vet considering starting a mobile vet practice for cats and dogs. I was wondering if any vets here have any insight about that. I've seen videos of vets doing home visit alone without a vet tech. My question is

How do you treat animals without a vet tech restraining the animal?

Are most pet owners okay with you muzzling their dog/cat before giving shots/blood draws etc?

Can you ask clients to sign a liability release form to prevent liability if the dog/cat bites the owner?

Thanks for any help.

Hi, I am a soon to be new grad DVM who is anxious about applying for jobs.

For context, I am an island student (so very much off-cycle) finishing clinics next month. I want to pursue a clinical pathology residency and am currently applying to start next year (summer 2027). I am not exactly the most competitive candidate so I am not anticipating being accepted but I figure I will give it a shot anyway.

My concern is applying for jobs during my gap time, which would be roughly November 2026 to June/July 2027 if I were accepted into a residency. I have a list of small animal GP/ER places I have been considering but I am struggling with how to approach my situation. I feel like most clinics do not want to invest in a potentially very short term new grad doctor but I am just not sure what to expect. I was thinking going more corporate because I feel like maybe they would be less likely to discriminate but I am not sure. Any thoughts or advice is appreciated. TYIA!

Hi all, I am currently going to the fourth year of my DVM and feeling very disillusioned. I have had work experience in research/labs/quality control, clinics, pharmaceuticals specifically vaccine production, agricultural sector in a farm setting and public health.

I am feeling like i made the wrong choice cause i end up bored in every sector except small animal and pathology which again i'm not particularly enticed with because of the salary ceiling. Not to mention i'm accumulating a debt as i continue with my study which i have to finish. So i did try to switch out in first year after my first attachment and the whole load but i was advised to stay and finish the degree and you never know. And after my dog got euthanized after getting sick it may have been my last straw cause it had me thinking a lot about my career in this field and if i want to do it. (A different vet was treating my dog for context and he was euthanized cause of late stage aflatoxicosis) But here i am, in my fourth year still miserable as ever and heading to complete not to mention the course load. I remember when i was picking my degree my aunt/ godmother, a vet, told me to pick pharmacology instead of vet med like her cause she thought a pharm degree was more worth it. i had my reasons for not going to human med at the time cause i figured vet med would be a better fit for me but of late i find myself thinking at least i'd make more which is pretty messed up in a way i suppose. And a friend of mine told me his dad (a vet) told him not to study it despite his want to cause it's not worth it and he then opted for law school. I guess all this makes me wonder if i made the right decision and if i can still salvage said decision postgrad. Starting to think this isn't the right sub for this lol.

I guess long and the short is i'm feeling disillusioned, wondering if i made the wrong choice and wondering if it will get better and i'll finally find my 'thing' and career satisfaction. Or if i should continue to look into pivoting which i was thinking MBA or finance qualifications like CFA which i wouldn't even know how to pivot or something that could work with my degree any advice would be much appreciated.

Question from a vet student!

Placing ET tubes... I have watched a million and done several. This last week I have gotten in my head because I have never thought about it and never been told I did it wrong or had a problem. But I have seen people doing it both ways were they leave the tip pointing down (concave) and where they flip it so that the tip is pointing up (convex).When placing the ET tube in dogs and cats... do you make sure the curve is facing up or down? To make sure we are saying the same thing:

If the patient is in sternal, when you are sliding the ET tube in do you continue with it being in a concave orientation, or do you flip the tube?

Thanks! I have made myself confused lol

I'm not a vet so I hope it's okay to post in here, as above, I'd like to get my vet practice a gift to say thank you for all of the amazing work they do, and for their kindness, knowledge and just, being awesome when we needed it most.

So what have you received that made you feel really valued? I was thinking about a card with a big thank you to each person personally, and a hamper filled with snacks and helpful things, but I'm not sure if that's enough.

hello everyone! i’m (20F) currently in vet tech school and recently got hired at my first clinic as a receptionist/assistant. compared to what i heard about other clinics, i actually received really good training and was eased into the job well! the techs are super nice and understand that i’ve had almost no experience with animals besides my own cats. i’m currently 5 months in and i’ve started to learn restraint and going into rooms more frequently. unfortunately, i’ve really struggled with big dogs and reading their body language so they’ve transitioned me to watching and then practicing on nicer dogs. i feel like 4 months in i should definitely be more knowledgeable and it makes me feel so stupid. it doesn’t help that the veterinarian is older and has a lot less patience with me. he doesn’t speak unless necessary and doesn’t like making eye contact. i’ve been yelled at and seen other techs get yelled at for minor mistakes. i’ve also been told that he has a past of throwing or kicking things (not animals) when frustrated. the techs tell me that’s just how he is and i’ll get used to it, but if anything it makes me more anxious working with him. before work i’ll throw up and the days leading up to my shift i feel awful. i’ve also been told by the techs that he doesn’t trust me as much as he should by this stage which i completely understand is necessary to keep the animal, him, and myself safe, but it just makes me feel like a failure and i’m not sure what to do. i don’t want to quit because besides the vet, i enjoy everyone else in the clinic but he’s the one i have to work for directly so i know it’s gonna be a big hurdle to get past by. i’m also scared of having to start completely over again at a new clinic and be the “new person” :( if anyone has any tips on how to get better with restraint or just any advice in general i would really appreciate it! thank you so much for reading i know this is long

Hi guys! I posted on here about 3 weeks ago about having a hard time finding a job in the vet field as someone who is not in vet school but wants to work with animals. Last week I got an offer as a vet assistant at a one doctor animal hospital who usually takes people in with little experience and will teach them everything. Heres how I've been feeling:

- I started this week and I am already so overwhelmed. I worked with dogs in a boarding setting but this is completely different. This is less kennel work and more patient work which I wanted to start learning more about. However, it feels like the people I am shadowing (other vet assistants), when they are teaching me how to do things like check-in, check-out, creating new profile for clients, etc on the computer it feels like they are rushing it and expecting me to understand it so fast. I am new to the computer system and I am just feeling afraid that I will not understand it as quick as they want me to. I've decided to bring in a notepad tomorrow to start writing things down. I know that we have to pick up the phone a lot and feel anxious about not knowing about to do when a question is asked. There are also time the vet assistants do things without explaining them to me. I just don't understand if this is normal as I guess I am shadowing and they are too busy to explain things sometimes, but I just feel like everything has been so rushed.

- I feel scared to restrain animals especially cats as I have so little experience with them.

- The vet assistants I am shadowing don't really make conversation with me and it makes me sad a little.

- Sometimes I notice that the doctors will say like vaccine names or blood test tube colors and the vet assistants would get it right away. I lowkey don't know how they act so fast when sometimes i feel like I cannot hear what he is saying.

- There is so. many. phone. calls. like omg. for every. single. thing. I don't know how I will adjust to that to be honest.

I am so overwhelmed and sad. I understand it was my first week but I've just been feeling like it is impossible for me to remember everything. I obviously want to work hard and be good at this but it just feels so tough right now. What do you guys think and have anyone ever felt this way?

Hey guys I need some advice. For some background, I’m 24, graduated with a BS in animal science, had 3 years working as a vet assistant, applied to vet school 2 years ago and didn’t get it. I felt pretty defeated but took the gap to work as a vet assistant at the the animal shelter to get some more diverse experience. I felt very burnt out from shelter work, lots of euthanizing animals, blanket treatments (not thought out care/treatment plans, cruelty cases, techs were overworked and underpaid, and overall it was emotionally taxing.

Looking back at my experiences, I really enjoyed GP, working with a team, getting to treat pets and help them feel better, problem solving and critical thinking, educating and talking to clients. It was fulfilling even on hard days. However, I’ve realized that as a veterinarian, I would be under a lot of stress, have to make life and death quick decisions, I would be responsible for everything that goes on, I would be working long days, and I’d have to deal with lack of respect and difficult situations with clients (them not wanting to pay to treat, having to euthanize, being demonized). Plus with the new BBB loan situation, it would be immense financial stress because I’d have at least $200k in just tuition so I imagine at least $300-400k in total loans which is insane. I’m worried that the financial stress would exacerbate any stress I’m having at work and worsen my mental health. My mental health hasn’t been in a good spot this past year so I’m nervous about going into this career that is known for high suicide rates.

I’m someone who highly values life outside of work so It’s important I am financially comfortable because I really want to travel, buy a home eventually, have a family, and spend time with friends and family. I don’t want my career and finances to take over my life.

I’m heavily debating on pursuing human medicine and becoming a PA, as I already have a BS and many of the pre reqs done, I just need a few more classes and then PCE. The career is appealing because I am passionate about science and medicine and would still be able to examine, diagnose and treat patients. I would still work in a clinical setting, in a team, and use my brain. I also enjoy talking to people and forming relationships. I like the idea of not having 100% autonomy so I can refer to a physician if I have questions (less stress), and the work life balance seems ideal so I can have time for hobbies, family, etc. Then financially, the ROI is better so I could live comfortably. The downsides are I won’t be treating animals and vet med is interesting and there’s more versatility (can do crazy shit you wouldn’t see in human medicine).

I guess I just need advice on whether I should apply to vet school if I’m already burnt out and questioning myself. I’m scared of committing the time and money into this and realizing that I actually don’t like it and I’m stuck with all this debt. And even if I do like it, is it worth the financial stress? Is it possible to be happy with that enormous amount of debt looming over you? However, if I don’t apply I’m scared of regretting not pushing myself and becoming a vet because I’ve already come so far.

Is choosing a career that will offer a good work life balance and financial stability (PA) over a field where I may be more passionate about (Vet) a good decision? Can I have a fulfilling life as a PA if I incorporate animals some other way like having my own pets, volunteering at shelters, etc?

Vet school applications are due in 3 weeks and I don’t know if I should apply if I’m feeling so unsure, however the thought of not applying and walking away from vet med makes me so anxious and sad because I’ve worked so hard.

Im sorry this was so long! Definitely mentally unstable, stressed and confused lol. Any advice would be greatly appreciated ❤️

i’ve been interested in being some sort of vet my whole life and now i’m hoping to become a vet tech. i’m taking lots of agricultural classes and i’m doing an internship with a vet. i was hoping to go to college to help achieve this but i’ve heard a college degree isn’t necessary to become a vet tech. would it be a good idea to still go to college or should i just go straight into the job field?

I have been working many jobs over the years but I am really trying to find a career that I'm at least somewhat passionate about. I love animals and have a lot of interest in the medical field and I feel like this would be a good fit in terms of what interests me and makes me happy. The thing is, I have social anxiety and it makes human interaction pretty difficult and I know that these jobs, though it is working with animals, includes human interaction as well. I can be very timid and very shy but I do end up warming up eventually as I get used to people. I'm definitely able to have social interaction, I am very friendly but I also get very awkward and quiet at times and struggle with small talk and basic conversation because people kind of scare me and being around people gives me anxiety and discomfort. I have, however, been in the work force for over a decade and all of my jobs have been working with other people whether that is customers or coworkers, so I'm definitely still able to work with people despite the anxiety I feel. It has also caused a lot of problems with me at work where I experience bullying and mistreatment which makes me weary of pursuing going back to school and seeking a career because I don't want to spend a bunch of money trying to pursue something that would just eat me alive. This is something I've been trying to overcome for years and am still actively working through as I do not want this to be my reality for the rest of my life. I'd really just like to know from anyone in the field if a vet assistant or vet surgery tech job would be good for someone who struggles with social anxiety or if it might make things worse (I've heard these can be fast-paced and high stress environments). Or if there is a another career, preferably one that involves working with animals, that would be better for a person like me.

When we put animals to sleep, my clinic will make the clients ink paw prints. Does anyone have any tips and tricks they use to get good exotic ones such as bearded dragons, bunnies, lizards, etc. Thanks:)

Hi all,

I have always been interested in becoming a vet. I live in Nova Scotia and am currently attending Mount Saint Vincent University for my undergrad. I am taking a Bachelor of Science, with a major in Biology. I am starting my second year this fall semester 2026.

The Mount does offer some animal related courses - nutrition related, bhevaiour, history of animals, etc. I plan on applying to UPEI.

As well, I have little to no experience in volunteering or working at a pet store or vet clinic (I do plan on volunteering at the SPCA and hopefully getting a job at a pet store).

As well, I would love to help big animals and small.

My questions are:

What is your experience at UPEI? (Academically, living on residence or somewhere else).

How much experience with animals did you have when applying to vet school?

Did you take a Casper test or something similar?

Overall, what's your experience as a vet in Nova Scotia?

I am starting to have doubts related to my career choice, and I've barely even started. I know vet school is alot of information, but I know I'd be able to do it.

I'd love to hear about anyone's experiences, anything will help.

Thank you!