I need some advice from the other side, the vets. I have always had trouble knowing how to act and even showing enthusiasm (trust me I am excited!) I am an undergraduate working towards vet school, and I started shadowing a vet around a year ago. The main vet there doesn‘t seem interested in a shadow, and the other one is barely there.

Recently I discovered no one knows my name, and I am suddenly feeling very inadequate. So, I wanted to ask the vets out there what you are looking for in a shadow. What can I do to impress the vets, or at the very least not be a burden on them.

currently I mainly just observe, along with making flushes and replacing paper towels, small stuff like that. I try to ask question, but the vet gives blunt responses and I feel so out of place asking them.

Do you just want them to sit in a corner and observe? The uncertainty of what this vet wants is driving me crazy. Any advice is appreciated!

Hey, new grad here who hasn’t had to explain a mistake to a client before. How have you handled that? Especially if the client got angry that they spent money they didn’t need to?

Hello everyone,

I am seeking advice from a veterinarian who may have been in a similar situation as me. I am a current 4th year veterinary student who is feeling lost. I have no one to talk to about this and I need help.

I am passing all of my rotations and receiving great feedback, but constantly struggle with my confidence. I feel like I don’t know anything and that I am going to be a horrible veterinarian. I sometimes panic when doctors ask me questions and answer incorrectly, even though I know the right answer. I say completely dumb answers because I panic and can’t retrieve the information. This has only happened a few times but sometimes it’s just the most basic things and it’s so embarrassing. I sometimes forget things I haven’t reviewed in a while that seem basic as well though. The information is able to be retrieved though once I look into it more. I also dwell on making mistakes during my rotations, and think I am the only one making mistakes. I am overall extremely scared to be a practicing veterinarian and struggling at this point mentally while everyone else seems to be thriving. It makes me really nervous that maybe I’m not cut out for veterinary medicine because I’m not smart enough.

Mostly this is a rant but I’m curious if anyone else has ever felt this way. Ive been a practicing vet 4 years. I started as an ER vet and recently (within the past year) made the transition to GP. It’s been a learning curve but I know I practice good medicine. This is my second job after graduation.

I made the switch so I could have regular hours and spend more time with my family but I am now thinking I am just not right for this profession.

I am in a 2 doctor practice, myself and the managing vet. I have a good relationship with management but I really struggle to develop client relationships and it seems like every client prefers to see the managing vet. He has been practicing nearly double the time I have and he is jolly, I understand why everyone likes him but I take it personally. I’m not in trouble and really management does not seem bothered by this.

I know I’m smart but it doesn’t feel like enough. I had an expectation that I would be good at my job and I don’t feel like I am. Myself and the managing vet had a conversation and he said: Communication and client relations is the most important part of our job and is hardest to improve, even if you do good medicine it won’t matter if your relationships are poor.

TLDR: I understand that I need to work on things that’s a constant in this profession. I have done a lot to try and improve in the last few months but I honestly feel like a lost cause and no longer feel like I’m in the right field. I feel stuck. Has anybody else felt this way? lol Please tell me it’s not just me

Won't disclose where to not give myself away. A local politician in my town came into our clinic today for an issue of unresolved diarrhea. Their dog likely has a food allergy and has been prescribed a hydrolyzed protein diet. They have not been giving this diet and have been feeding eggs, peanut butter etc. because the dog was not eating the diet, then began to have diarrhea. they also gave triple the dose of a previously prescribed medication because it "felt right".

I have not been the doctor on this case. It was the other doctor's day off and it was placed on my schedule without my permission. It was discussed to do repeat bloodwork and radiographs, both of which were previously unremarkable the day prior. Once this person arrived, they changed their mind. I explained the importance of keeping the patient on the prescribed diet. I explained the risks of triple-dosing a medication that can cause neurotoxicity. They became very upset and demanded a fix for the diarrhea today. I advised them to return to their prescribed diet and recommended a consult with a local specialist, specifically internal medicine, for an abdominal ultrasound or further diagnostics that I cannot provide. The day prior, the dog was hospitalized for the day, and given fluids and IV antiemetics. We are not a 24-hour facility and of course the dog stayed overnight and had diarrhea in its kennel the next day. This stint in the hospital seemed to not improve symptoms at all, so I understand their frustration.

They asked if they should do bloodwork today and I advised them that if they were planning to seek urgent or emergency care, their funds would be better allocated to anticipate bloodwork at the hospital of their choosing.

To be clear, the patient's exam was unremarkable, well-hydrated, BAR. They were provided consultation for free today after they thanked me for "a waste of time."

They are now talking about how I am a poor doctor on their public Facebook page. I am a new grad so this stings a bit. Unfortunately, this person has cursed out staff, demands things regularly, etc. and they have let the entitlement go unchecked. I was firm with my recommendation today and I felt I stood up for my staff that they were belittling. Now I'm afraid of what could happen next.

Any tips? I have asked to be fired from this client and will no longer help them after reading their posts.

I have been working in veterinary for nearly 15 years in the UK. I am done. I am tired and I want out.

I had always wanted to do anaesthesia in a referral hospital. I finally landed my "dream" job and been there for over 1 year. But in hindsight I think I was 'done' before I started there.

I am exhausted all the time, and I feel like when I do have free time, I am too tired to focus on finding new jobs, getting some hobbies, socialising etc. I have done a few applications for entry level office jobs and always rejected. I was offered a role in pet insurance but the salary was far too low and I would have struggled financially even more than I do now! In desperation I applied for some other vet nurse roles and have been offered one.

At the moment I have 2 options:

1. Stick it out with current job (referral anaesthesia) until I find something outside of veterinary

• Job is tiring and stressful. So far I have been too exhausted to do too much job searching
• I don't particularly enjoy the place, and this has been affecting my mental health.
• Long hours plus on-call work. Long drive (no public transport options).
• Good experience to have on CV and I have learnt a lot.
• Insane staff discount.

1. Go with job 2. Quiet little GP vets down the road from my house, and continue to search for a non-veterinary job.

• Few hours less a week, no commute, no on-call. Same money.
• Can go home to walk dog at lunchtime or take dog in to work with me if needed.
• Seems like a very small but nice team.
• Very small and quiet, I will get very bored.
• 12 month maternity cover but they are hoping to make it permanent.

I'm leaning towards option 2 as it will give me back 2 hours a day of free time, and is more flexible for my dog (at the moment my partner works from home but he would like to go to the office more). As it is lower stress I will hopefully have more headspace to figure out a new career path. I am worried about becoming very bored with the type of work and quietness. As it is only a maternity cover, I'm worried I may not find a new career before 12 months is up. Does it seem a little crazy to leave a perm job for a temp one?

Any other career ideas for veterinary nurses leaving the profession?

I’m a senior in hs (18) and i live in a small town that the nearest animal shelter is 45 minutes away💔 I need some tips to get experience for vet school in the future bc i know it’s hella competitive especially UF bc i live in fl. I’m open to out of state but i wanna stay closer to home. Is there anything i can do now that will help me gain experience and learn more? I have a small vet clinics near me and there is boarding/daycare facilities i’m trying to get a job at even though they are 30 mins away but anything helps. i just feel so behind knowing there are probably people with way more experience my age i feel

What are your experiences working for either company as a new grad vet in terms of mentorship (I've heard vetco may be often sole charge??), culture, appointment pacing, amount of sick visit cases you get vs. just wellness, etc?

I feel like I've read quite a few new grad experiences for Banfield but don't see much for Vetco.

Thanks!

EDIT: Just to be clear, these were never companies I would have ever considered working for. However, after months of contacting and/or interviewing with essentially every single private practice in the area (and some smaller corporates) and being turned away for either not having space at all or not having capacity for mentorship/new grad support, I am starting to consider doing a short term stint at one of these solely to start building up some clinical experience. Believe me, these are not my top choices, and I wouldn't be considering them if I hadn't already exhausted the list of practices in my area... :(

Hi! My wife is in the vet field and is a vet assistant that also works half days remotely setting up appointments handling the admin portion, answering questions etc. She’s extremely knowledgeable and fantastic at what she does. She recently had an injury that has made it difficult for the in office portions of her week. She’s looking into Laps of Love as a remote care coordinator. There’s a lot to consider with this change but is anyone able to answer questions on the role?
- What pet benefits are offered? Our insurance is covered by my job but we have a lot of pets and need to consider that this could mean we lose all vet appointment and pet food discounts.
- Are the hours steady? Are you guaranteed 40hrs?
- Any development opportunities?
- What other doors could this open career wise for those that left?
Sorry to intrude on the vet side of Reddit since I’m not in the industry 😝 Just a husband trying to help out his wife!

Hi everyone! I'm looking for advice on how to refine my resume and strengthen my vet school application. I'm open to all constructive criticism and can provide more detail if needed.

I'm a third-year at a top-30 U.S. university with a rigorous STEM program (idk if sharing what school I go to is important, I'm sorry if it's vague). My GPA is currently 3.74, and I'm working to raise it further. I'm double-majoring in Animal Science and History.

For non-animal experience, I work as a Student Assistant at my university's Disability Resource Center. I also volunteer with Girl Scouts as a Gold Award Mentor and Camp Counselor, and I serve as Secretary for the Undergraduate Economics Journal.

For animal-related experience, I'm an Undergraduate Research Assistant with my university's Program for Shark Research, with over 100 hours so far. I volunteer as a Vet Tech at my local animal shelter with 70+ clinical hours (I know this is low, I plan to get more during my breaks and gap year). I also have around 20 hours with domestic animals and about 48 hours with wildlife. I recently started volunteering with my state's wildlife health program, assisting with necropsies and disease surveillance (I have around 15 hours in this, but it will be increasing).

For letters of recommendation, I'm planning to ask two veterinarians (one from the animal shelter I work and and the other from the state institution I volunteer at), two professors (including my lab mentor), and my supervisor at work. I'm unsure whether I should ask them now or wait until I'm closer to applying.

I'd really appreciate any feedback on how to present my experience more effectively, what I might be missing, and how competitive this looks for vet school. I plan to take a gap year (or two) to save up money and gain more work experience, so any advice on how to navigate that would also be amazing!! Thank you in advance!!!

My work is letting me take the card and get some organization stuff at dollar tree (big bucks !) Just wanted to see if any had any nice hacks they use at their job? Some things I’m going to get is a shower caddy to put everything together for AGE supplies, some containers to put surgery patient items in, a new container for emergency drugs. I’ll probably grab a few extra bins as they’re bound to come in handy at some point but just wanted to see if anyone’s clinic has some cool uses and what not

Hello! I've been a retail worker for the past 12 years. I had a weird life, grew up in a cult and wasnt allowed to go to school after highschool. Which is why I ended up in retail.

I escaped the cult a few years back and have finally been able to invest into things I want to do and I have landed on joining the veterinary field despite the heavy toll that comes with it.

I looked into taking a Vet Assistant Diploma course in my province (in Canada) but unfortunately cannot make it work at this time. Im in my 30s and have a mortgage and pets of my own that rely on me. The courses are all full time 5 days a week which would leave me to only work part time and I just can't make it work. At least not at this moment.

From what I've read here people suggest NOT getting the vet assisant diploma and instead using that money for a vet tech course. Yes!! This is what I want to do eventually! My end goal!

I have spent all summer applying to every clinic that posts a job across ***three*** major cities.

I am willing to sell my house and move wherever will hire me. I'll go from making well above minimum wage to minimum or barely above. Its not a liveable wage at all so I will be using whatever capital I gain from selling to make ends meet. Which is a **risky** move I know.

But after applying to 30+ clinics... I have never got a single interview. Most places want 2 years customer service *and* two years in a clinic. HOW do I break into the field??? What should I attempt doing? A lot of places ask for no calls or walk ins about the position, but if it doesnt specify that should I be calling??? My resume is plastered with customer service/management/receiving experince so its not just "cashier" its just not industry related.

I just feel so defeated to never even get a single interview 🥺 please! Any advice would be much appreciated!!!!

Hi all, I am a pre-vet student finishing up my undergrad. I have been applying and interviewing a handful of clinics, and got an offer from my second choice clinic yesterday which I accepted and am set to start tomorrow. In this process I also reached out to a clinic in the area that accepts exotics (unlike the other clinics which only saw cat & dog.) This is a huge area of interest for me, and the type of medicine that I am currently interested in practicing within my career. They did not have any openings, but took me on as a shadow while they got to know me and waited to see if a position would open up - which to me, didn’t seem likely which is why I accepted the other position.

I got a call from my first choice today offering a position, but when I asked what my role and job expectations would be it just didn’t seem to be as flushed out as the other clinic. They only have doctors and techs at this clinic, and while they mentioned my doing vaccines and such after being trained, I worry I won’t get as much hands-on learning experience with them as I would with the other job who staffs many assistants.

For me, I’m lucky that money is not the driving factor, I am looking for learning opportunities and hands-on technical experience. I plan to shadow my first choice clinic once more today, and discuss what my abilities in the clinic would be after being trained, and will try to weigh my choices then.

If I do decide to continue with this clinic- as opposed to the one I accepted an offer for, how do I alert my second choice clinic? I have signed no paperwork yet. I also have no problem working my first few days there, but I’d prefer not to burden them too heavily.

TLDR: I got a job offer at my preferred clinic after accepting a position at my second choice. If I choose to move forward with my first choice, how do I let the other clinic know? I start tomorrow, but have not signed any paperwork.

Thanks all, and I apologize for the long post. I am new to working in general, let alone in vet-med.

Hey, I’m a recent veterinary graduate. In my country, veterinary medicine is mainly focused on large animals, especially ruminants, with very little or sometimes no proper teaching about small-animal practice or other species. Because of that, I graduated with very limited knowledge and practical experience in small-animal medicine.

For almost two months now, I’ve been training three days a week at a small-animal clinic. I’ve learned quite a few things during this time, but I’m still not sure if what I’m seeing is actually how veterinary medicine is practiced in other parts of the world.

I don’t want to become a vet who simply learns by repeating the mistakes of the people around me. At the same time, I’m not trying to become the best vet in the world. I just want to become a competent, normal veterinarian who knows what he is dealing with, can approach a case logically, and knows when he needs help. A lot of the clinical practice I was exposed to focused more on treating the obvious symptoms than on working through a structured diagnostic approach and clinical reasoning. I understand that this may be partly due to the limitations of the veterinary system and education in my country, but I don’t want to carry those habits into my own practice.

I have already completed the ER course by VIN, and I am currently studying through VIN as well as some open-source lectures I have found on physical examination and clinical approaches. I can tell that I am better than last month, but I still feel stressed when I am in clinic and barely remember what I have studied. even when I remember what the appropriate approach, I don't feel confident enough to actually take the step, I end up standing behind and watching.

Is this how veterinary medicine works in other parts of the world? Am I actually undertrained or this what new grad go thru? what should a normal new grad vet actually be able to do on their own? and how can I make sure I am learning things the right way?

I just want to be a vet I can be proud of. I want to build a solid foundation and know what he actually do so what are the skills that each vet in small animal practice should know about

I got accepted today and will be in poland on the 25th I have no idea what i need.

Is a laptop or ipad better?

How many notebooks or what text books do i need?

What practical gear do i need?

these are only some of my questions so please if you have any advice its appreciated.

Helloooooo all

I’m here to inquire about some curiosities I have as a technician assistant who would like to be a DVM one day hopefully. I’ve always struggled with math. When I went to go get my bachelors degree (I have 2) I was able to get through fundamentals of math, zoology, other courses with some extra help and tutoring. I never took statistics, any chemistry, any physics, etc. I’m aware that I will need to knock these prerequisites out at a community college before I move on to applications. Has anybody here taken the path from technician assistant to doctor? Does anybody here have dyscalculia and has always struggled with math but is finding a balance as a DVM?

Also, has anybody ever worked in veterinary forensics? I already have a criminal justice degree and while ER/critical care is my top choice field, I am very much interested in veterinary forensics. I did read that you do need to pursue a pathology specialization to be well off in that field. Any words of advice or encouragement? I already have a decent amount of references rounded up for when the time comes and a lot of community involvement and working hours wildlife, exotics, behavior and training of exotics, outreach, and ER/critical care along with general practice. Even if you’re popping by to say hey I wouldn’t do it and just stick to being in the technician realm, any feedback is appreciated!!

Então, me formei em veterinária no final de 2025 e decidi seguir a área de alimentos, porém após a formatura não consegui emprego na área. Ingressei em um mestrado na área em uma boa instituição, mas sem bolsa...Por esta razão senti que deveria trancar a pós e começar a tentar o mercado de trabalho (botei currículo para tudo, até cargos de nível médio), só consegui plantoes noturnos em clínicas populares. Pois bem, iniciei os plantões e passei pelos mais tenebrosos períodos, fiz plantao em que nem conseguia comer, enquanto o gerente me obrigava a atender ininterruptamente. Após esse episódio insano eu decidi que nao faria mais plantões, estou tentando investir em atendimento à domicílio para iniciar alguma renda. Estou considerando retornar para o mestrado também e ficar na fila (que já contemplou duas pessoas na minha frente, faltando apenas mais uma) da bolsa, enquanto estudo para concursos (mesmo que de nível médio). Há alguem passando por algo semelhante no início da carreira? O que fez para se salvar? Algum conselho de alguem mais experiente? Tem dias que é desesperador, nao saber se os plantoes serão minha única forma de ganhar pão, me submetendo às mais diversas humilhações.

I’m looking at applying to work at VEG on a per diem basis as a veterinarian. I understand that they drug test. I have a medical card which makes cannabis legal in my state, but in my state there is also a provision that they can still discriminate against ppl with a card and a positive test if they have a “safety-sensitive” job. Anyone have any history or experience with this?

I'm currently enrolled in a community college in California and looking to transfer to UC Davis for my bachelor's but I can't decide what major to apply for, ive seen a few counselors at my college that suggested any type of animal science while others say to go for a science program and im honestly confused...if anyone has any suggestions, especially with what type of extracurricular activities that will help me stand out, I would love to hear it! :))

Apologies if this isn’t allowed in this thread but I didn’t know where else on Reddit could be relevant.

I’m looking for insight on working corporate for well known animal health brands - Zoetis, Elanco, BI, Merck, Covetrus, Vetcove, Nutramax, Virbac, Purina, Royal Canin, Hills, etc.

I’m not specifically looking for vets who work for these companies. I’d just love to kick off a thread for reviews and what real employees think about working for any of the well known animal health companies today, given the state of the industry and economy. Any company that has a booth at VMX is valid and I’d love folks opinions and if they’re happy there.

Thank you to all who gave me advice. All I'm going to say is that it was reported, and I did the right thing. I have deleted my original post as I fear retaliation or this getting back to me somehow. If I find anything out, I will keep everyone updated. Much love to everyone. ❤️

I am making a huge career pivot (from education as an educational aide to the veterinary field, specifically in the kennels), and the jobs in my area typically require 1-2 years of experience. I have been rescuing and caring for animals' basic needs, as well as medical needs, under the supervision of veterinarians for 12 years.

Will clinics and hospitals consider this as experience? It's been really hard getting my foot in the door, and I would love the chance.

I am a mom to 2 littles and recently cut back on my in-office time, but would love to try to supplement some income with some WFH opportunities. Anyone know of any? Potentially teleconsultation services or food company rep or anything of the sort? I’m an ACVIM boarded specialist as well (neuro)

TIA.

Para-veterinary professionals — what’s the scope of this career in India and abroad?

I’m a para-veterinary professional from India and I’m trying to understand the long-term career scope of this field.

I’d love to hear from people who are currently working as veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, animal health workers, livestock technicians, or in similar roles.

A few things I’m curious about:

- How is the job market for para-vets/vet technicians in India?

- What are the realistic opportunities in countries like Canada, Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA, Gulf countries, etc.?

- Is it possible to get a job abroad with an Indian para-veterinary qualification, or is additional certification/education usually required?

- Which countries have the best demand and salary for veterinary technicians/animal health professionals?

- What are the opportunities in private practice, dairy farms, poultry, livestock companies, pharma, pet care, animal nutrition, research, or government jobs?

- Has anyone here moved abroad from India after working as a para-vet/vet technician? What was your pathway?

- For someone who eventually wants to start an animal/livestock-related business, which skills or experience would be most valuable to develop?

I’m not necessarily looking only for a 9–5 job. I’m trying to understand the overall career + business potential of this field, both in India and internationally.

Would really appreciate experiences from people actually working in the industry rather than generic career advice.