A letter from my vet
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Yeah, I get it. Times are rough these days.
But....
This is, to some extent, at least, a self-created problem. Getting into veterinary school is exceptionally difficult. Much more selective than medical school.
There are 32 schools in the US.
We've also seen the rise of "mega-practices" where there are one or two owners, and the rest of the staff work long hours for meager pay. VCA operates over 1000 franchised practices in the US. The young grads will happily accept a job at one of these places, but will soon realize that the corporate culture is not for them.
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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We used to take our dogs for boarding at the local VCA place. They shut down the boarding part of the practice soon after COVID hit, and show no signs of ever opening it again. I am unclear why. It seems like boarding is free money for them.
The neighborhood vet I used to take my dog to has wait times for appointments of a couple months, last I checked. I don't try to use them anymore.
I wonder how fast most vets get over whatever adolescent "love for pets" led them to that profession?
Education is extremely important.
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Yeah, I get it. Times are rough these days.
But....
This is, to some extent, at least, a self-created problem. Getting into veterinary school is exceptionally difficult. Much more selective than medical school.
There are 32 schools in the US.
We've also seen the rise of "mega-practices" where there are one or two owners, and the rest of the staff work long hours for meager pay. VCA operates over 1000 franchised practices in the US. The young grads will happily accept a job at one of these places, but will soon realize that the corporate culture is not for them.
@george-k said in A letter from my vet:
Yeah, I get it. Times are rough these days.
But....
This is, to some extent, at least, a self-created problem. Getting into veterinary school is exceptionally difficult. Much more selective than medical school.
There are 32 schools in the US.
We've also seen the rise of "mega-practices" where there are one or two owners, and the rest of the staff work long hours for meager pay. VCA operates over 1000 franchised practices in the US. The young grads will happily accept a job at one of these places, but will soon realize that the corporate culture is not for them.
Try to get your horse seen by a large animal vet around here. Just try...
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@george-k said in A letter from my vet:
Yeah, I get it. Times are rough these days.
But....
This is, to some extent, at least, a self-created problem. Getting into veterinary school is exceptionally difficult. Much more selective than medical school.
There are 32 schools in the US.
We've also seen the rise of "mega-practices" where there are one or two owners, and the rest of the staff work long hours for meager pay. VCA operates over 1000 franchised practices in the US. The young grads will happily accept a job at one of these places, but will soon realize that the corporate culture is not for them.
Try to get your horse seen by a large animal vet around here. Just try...
@jolly said in A letter from my vet:
Try to get your horse seen by a large animal vet around here.
Not too far from the Cheddarshack was a vet practice that did small and large animal care.
Just checked their website:
10 vets.
6 do large animal/horse care. Of those 6, two are founders of the practice (still independent) and probably close to retirement. Of the remaining 4, 3 have been in practice for less than 4 years.
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We used to take our dogs for boarding at the local VCA place. They shut down the boarding part of the practice soon after COVID hit, and show no signs of ever opening it again. I am unclear why. It seems like boarding is free money for them.
The neighborhood vet I used to take my dog to has wait times for appointments of a couple months, last I checked. I don't try to use them anymore.
I wonder how fast most vets get over whatever adolescent "love for pets" led them to that profession?
@horace said in A letter from my vet:
We used to take our dogs for boarding at the local VCA place. They shut down the boarding part of the practice soon after COVID hit, and show no signs of ever opening it again. I am unclear why. It seems like boarding is free money for them.
There have been major issues at Kennel's right now due to Kennel Cough. Even dogs that have been vaccinated are still getting it. One vet we know explained it as a result of weakened immune reactions since all of these dogs haven't been around other dogs in kennels and doggie day care over the last year.
If it's done this to dogs, you have to expect something similar in humans. Hearing a lot about summer colds and other ailments...
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@horace said in A letter from my vet:
We used to take our dogs for boarding at the local VCA place. They shut down the boarding part of the practice soon after COVID hit, and show no signs of ever opening it again. I am unclear why. It seems like boarding is free money for them.
There have been major issues at Kennel's right now due to Kennel Cough. Even dogs that have been vaccinated are still getting it. One vet we know explained it as a result of weakened immune reactions since all of these dogs haven't been around other dogs in kennels and doggie day care over the last year.
If it's done this to dogs, you have to expect something similar in humans. Hearing a lot about summer colds and other ailments...
@lufins-dad said in A letter from my vet:
@horace said in A letter from my vet:
We used to take our dogs for boarding at the local VCA place. They shut down the boarding part of the practice soon after COVID hit, and show no signs of ever opening it again. I am unclear why. It seems like boarding is free money for them.
There have been major issues at Kennel's right now due to Kennel Cough. Even dogs that have been vaccinated are still getting it. One vet we know explained it as a result of weakened immune reactions since all of these dogs haven't been around other dogs in kennels and doggie day care over the last year.
If it's done this to dogs, you have to expect something similar in humans. Hearing a lot about summer colds and other ailments...
Seeing a butt load of strep, RSV and head colds.
