Veterinarians and Money

Pet peeve: People who say they want to try holistic alternatives (by which they seem to really mean "home remedies") because "vets are just in it for the money."

I worked for seven years for the world's largest veterinary database. I have worked with literally hundreds of vets. With almost no exceptions, none of them was operating out of anything other than genuine concern about the animals in their care. Just as with any group of individuals of any profession, there was sometimes incompetence, lack of common sense, denial, "getting in a rut," and burnout.... but there was very, very little greed or selfishness, and no malice.

Just like human medicine or any other profession, including my own, there is an overwhelming majority of vets who are just barely competent. That is how life is, and it has nothing to do with veterinary medicine. They are no more likely to be greedy or uncaring than members of any other profession, and probably less so, as veterinary medicine is a very difficult field and (contrary to popular belief) it does not pay very well. Most vets enter the profession out of a love for animals, so if anything, I'd say you get a better class of people than in a lot of other professions.

There is a saying... "Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." Most of the bad vets I've seen in my life have simply been not the brightest bulb on the string, or were in a rut and weren't keeping up with their profession, or were somewhat arrogant and didn't like having their ideas or methods questioned or challenged. These are common human failings and in no way specific to the veterinary profession.

The good vets were smarter than average, somewhat "workaholic," and had an active curiousity about their profession.

The great vets were extremely intelligent, very well trained, kept up with their profession, and had brilliant intuitive minds. Some of these had terrible bedside manner (at least with the owners!), some of them were indeed quite arrogant, but as long as they retained an objective scientific approach to new ideas, that never held them back. In fact, sometimes that confidence is what pushed them to achieve more in their field, not less.

So many of us select our vets because of their bedside manner (we like them and like the way they interact with our animals), or because of their prices, or their hours or location, or because they really listened to us and thus were able to help an animal. But while these things all matter, they don't make the vet a good or a great vet. A vet with a wonderful facility, convenient hours, reasonable prices, and a way with animals and with us, can be a poor or mediocre vet.

Again, this is just a fact of life and not restricted to the veterinary profession. I could say this about hairdressers, golf pros, MDs, car mechanics, and editors.

I have had my share of bad experiences with vets, and I have no doubt my name appears on a number of blacklists at several veterinary practices in Northern California. But I have also been privileged to know, and had my animals benefit from the expertise of, some of the finest vets in the country, both holistic and allopathic.

There are vets who, if they told me the sky was blue, I'd run outside and look up, but I feel that way about the guy who fixes my car, too. We can't let normal human fallibility and the law of averages - or an unwillingness to pay what it costs to provide good medical care to our pets - poison us against an entire essential profession.

Comments

[Travis]

Very good points, Christie. I try to remember that few people are malicious, in nature. I think the thing that scares me the most about having animals IS the vet bills, and not having enough money to truly take care of them without worry in the event of illness. Heck, without health insurance, I wouldn't have enough money to take care of myself and my doctor bills. But, I am blessed with four wonderful animals, and I pray each day that they are healthy and happy, and take care of them to the best of my ability. I'm not sure I'll get more animals after these are gone though, the daily worry about their health and their lives can be very draining.

Travis

[pat]

Thank God someone out there has a brain.
I am a vet and I'm glad to see someone who doesn't believe I'm in it for the $$
For the record, I've spent 10 years in college, ammassed $120, 000 in student loans and currently make about $50,000 a year. Do the math...I can't pay my student loans and eat.
Would I ever give up my job.....no way. I love the animals and am proud to be an advocate for their well being. I honestly feel I am very lucky to LOVE my job!!!
Thanks for the support