Is the vet profession, changing for the worse

Possibly related, I've noticed that vets don't say, "Your dog needs to lose weight" anymore. I assume it's because they've lost business that way. Also possibly because the dog's labs are perfect.

Dashonthedash wrote:
I've had a number of vets over the years, and most of them have genuinely loved what they did, and truly cared about the animals and the people (one did get fed up with the business and quit). I fully understand the problems that new vets (and new graduates in any position) have with student debt. When I went to undergraduate college, tuition ranged from $1200 to about $2000 per year. I graduated owing $6000 in student debt (around $7200 including interest). The same college now charges almost $50,000, just for tuition. Obviously, starting salaries have increased in 45 years, but nothing approaching that. I wish I could understand why the cost of education has increased by so much, but I can't imagine having to start a life owing debts already in six figures.

First thing that comes to mind is the unnecessarily high salaries paid to so called administrators.
Secondly those folks who don't speak up about the high salaries and keep on sending their kids to theses schools.

I've had a number of vets over the years, and most of them have genuinely loved what they did, and truly cared about the animals and the people (one did get fed up with the business and quit). I fully understand the problems that new vets (and new graduates in any position) have with student debt. When I went to undergraduate college, tuition ranged from $1200 to about $2000 per year. I graduated owing $6000 in student debt (around $7200 including interest). The same college now charges almost $50,000, just for tuition. Obviously, starting salaries have increased in 45 years, but nothing approaching that. I wish I could understand why the cost of education has increased by so much, but I can't imagine having to start a life owing debts already in six figures.

I guess corporate medical care for humans, now corporate care for pets. Not an advancement if you ask me.

I feel very fortunate here in upstate New York...the only corporate vet office I see is Banfield at PetSmart and most people around here don't like them.
Our vet is in an office of 5 vets, the original owner has just taken on new vets as his practice grew.
We have a couple of lady vets that specialize in cats, single practices that are very busy.
I know it's expensive but I don't feel unjustly so...the equipment and staff to take care of our babies is pretty expensive to set up and to stay up to date it doesn't ever get cheaper for the vets.
I've only witnessed one lady being pretty rude to the receptionist and I realized as I listened that it was more about fear, this lady didn't have the money to save her dog...in the end my vet assured her they would work it out.
Euthanize a beloved pet over lack of current funds, not at my vets.
I dread the day that I see the corporate world take over our local vets.

Sher

winnietrey wrote:


I guess her whole surprise was when she got into private practice, how little respect she got as a Vet. That could just be her perception, or a function of the places she has worked, just sounded like to me, the management expected her to but up with abuse, rather than fire a patient. That lack of control would drive me crazy as a Doc

Here's another thought: she's young, sweet, and female. There ARE people out there who are unhappy with life in general, and it's a lot easier to take that frustration out on her, rather than the senior male Vet (or a crusty old broad like me....LOL!)

I'm not blaming her - I'm blaming the management. As management, if you don't protect your employees, you will lose them. And good people can be hard to find

I guess I'm very lucky to have a great vet in McPherson KS and in Ely MN where the seasonal is at.

I wonder if people in larger cities are under more stress now and take it out on service providers. To me smaller cities tend to be less stress.

mike-uswest wrote:
In the thirty years, I had very little problem with the clients. I only had problems with two that I can remember that were fired and asked to not return. Some people are hard to get along with, but that is just learning as how to handle them. They sometimes turn out to be very good clients, if you want them or not. I will admit, from just being in the market place today, there are some that shouldn't be allowed out in public.

Mike

Yeah I don't know, my experience is much more like yours, fired maybe 6 or 8 in thirty seven years.

But to me, she seemed professional, easy to get along with, and had good people skills . At least as a patient in my office. But of course, as we both know folks are different on the "outside".

I guess her whole surprise was when she got into private practice, how little respect she got as a Vet. That could just be her perception, or a function of the places she has worked, just sounded like to me, the management expected her to but up with abuse, rather than fire a patient. That lack of control would drive me crazy as a Doc

In the thirty years, I had very little problem with the clients. I only had problems with two that I can remember that were fired and asked to not return. Some people are hard to get along with, but that is just learning as how to handle them. They sometimes turn out to be very good clients, if you want them or not. I will admit, from just being in the market place today, there are some that shouldn't be allowed out in public.

Mike

I think Part of the problem is old Doc's look at it through our older eyes, we forget sometimes it was not easy for us to get going. I think the young kids will actually do fine. It just sounds like way to much work at our age.

I remember we started our own practice in 1981, had my own practice prior to that inside another practice, paid him a percentage. For use of bldg. equipment and so on.

With the restrictive covenant thing, had to move 5 miles from that location.
Borrowed like 30K ( princely sum in those days) Had the patients not followed us we would have quickly gone broke. Also 1981, was a pretty good recession.

None of that ever worried us. Boy it would now. I get tired just thinking about it. And all that work.

So I think the kids will do fine, I just believe it is a bit tougher now. WE forget they are full of energy and excitement.

What surprised me though, was when she stated she was treated with such a lack of respect, by the fur parents in these large practices. Stated they are just supposed to put up with it. As it seems the dollar trumps all. I admit we did put up with some pretty mean patients back in the day, but not to the degree she related

Us old guys, you beat up on the front desk or me, you are going to be looking for a new Doc like yesterday!!. It would be very unpleasant to be forced to deal with folks that were abusive in my opinion

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