In the Literature
Williams R. How the cost of veterinary care impacts the wellbeing, learning and practice of early career vets. Vet Rec. 2025;196(2):e4597. doi:10.1002/vetr.4597
The Research …
When the cost of veterinary care exceeds a client’s budget, an otherwise treatable patient may be relinquished or euthanized. Clinicians can be emotionally impacted when clinical decisions are dictated by client finances, particularly if provision of the highest recommended care is important to their professional identity.1-3
This study examined how clinicians in the early stages of their careers are impacted by the cost of veterinary care. Veterinary graduates (n = 25) were interviewed up to 4 times over 3 years, with the first interview occurring before participants started their first job as a clinician. The interviews were qualitatively analyzed to identify key themes. Clinicians typically felt unprepared for the impact of client finances on clinical decisions, and some felt certain fees were unjustified, which resulted in emotional burden when clients could not afford the recommended care. An additional concern was that client finances could limit opportunities for clinicians to perform procedures and practice skills. Large animal clinicians did not typically feel that fees were excessive and perceived veterinary care as a justifiable business expense.
Over time, most small animal clinicians adapted to offer diagnostic and treatment choices tailored to client finances, better value their own expertise, and/or become more resilient by emotionally distancing themselves from client circumstances.
… The Takeaways
Key pearls to put into practice:
The cost of veterinary care can be a shock to veterinary graduates and clients. Practice managers can help by explaining how fees are calculated and how clinic income is allocated. Educational social media posts, waiting room posters, and/or a breakdown of costs on the bill may also help clients understand the rationale behind the cost of care.
Promoting preventive health care, weight management, and good dental hygiene can help keep some costs down. In addition, small animal clinicians have a role in educating prospective owners about breed-related health predispositions.
Optimal treatment and diagnostics are not the only acceptable options for care. Veterinary education should reflect the growing shift toward pragmatic care or spectrum of care, which combines clinical expertise and the best available scientific evidence with patient and client circumstances, helping to build a partnership of care between the client and the veterinary team that prioritizes patient quality of life.
Expert Views on Spectrum of Care
Adopting a spectrum of care approach does not mean abandoning the goal of excellence, being open to regulatory or legal repercussions, or leaving evidence-based medicine behind. It simply offers a more inclusive definition of what excellence means: meeting clients where they are, communicating without judgment, and using comprehensive medical knowledge to work with clients to provide the best care for each patient. Listen in as industry experts discuss spectrum of care in this roundtable podcast.
Veterinary practice presents many ethical dilemmas and conflicts, which can lead to burnout. A clear idea of one’s professional identity can be a useful moral compass during challenges and can be reassuring. A useful determinant of whether a day has been successful is to ask, Did I advocate for each of my patients to the best of my ability?4
A career in the veterinary industry can be hard on mental well-being. Find out how proven self-leadership strategies help clinicians put themselves first and reduce burnout in this article on Self-Leadership to Enhance Performance & Reduce Burnout.
You are reading 2-Minute Takeaways, a research summary resource presented by Clinician’s Brief. Clinician’s Brief does not conduct primary research.