​​Veterinarians go beyond to care for animals

Becoming a veterinarian often begins as a cherished dream nurtured in childhood; a passion fueled by a deep-seated love for animals. This dream can transform into a rewarding reality, that truly changes the lives of animals and their human companions. Veterinarians get to witness the profound impact of the care they provide in-practice, on the farm, or at the stables. The profession also offers continuous learning opportunities (in an ever-changing field) and considerable job security.

Challenges in the veterinary profession

The rewards, however, do not come without challenges. Veterinarians have to navigate a complex landscape of emotional and unforeseen practical hurdles, every day. From the weight of making life-or-death decisions, to balancing the needs of a business, while supporting anxious and emotional animal owners – the profession's demands are vast. So much so, that many are considering leaving their chosen career, often citing work-life balance and their mental health as key reasons.ⁱ

“Most veterinarians chose their study because they love animals and want to help them as much as possible. Very few realize that they’ll spend most days dealing with pet owners who cannot pay, or sometimes – due to lack of information – might not allow us to give the best possible care. Veterinary teams will strive to do the best they can in this situation, but when the equation is sub-optimal for the animals and, as is often the case, not fully appreciated by the pet owners, stress levels rise.” Dr Ellen Van Nierop, President at Word Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).  

New data: How appreciated do veterinarians feel?

Without veterinarians, food safety cannot be guaranteed, animals suffer needlessly, and humans face a higher risk of exposure to dangerous infectious diseases. Despite this fact, a recent survey of over 1000 companion animal, livestock and equine veterinary professionals from six countries demonstrated that only 49% of respondents think that the veterinary profession, in general, is appreciated. Respondents also highlighted that their clients don’t always understand how far they push themselves to provide care. 

Digging deeper: What underpins appreciation levels?

Veterinary professionals do believe that their clients appreciate their “level of expertise” (66% of veterinarians surveyed), their “ability to deal with ethical dilemmas (including euthanasia)” (61% of veterinarians), and the fact that “they provide a large variety of care” (57% of veterinarians). However, and perhaps more importantly, of all respondents, 49% felt they were underappreciated by clients when it came to understanding the “resilience to stress and emotional exhaustion” required for the job, with 48% reporting an underappreciation of the fact they “work despite feeling physically exhausted” and the way they “trade-off their work-life-balance to help animals.”  

"It is hard to overstate how far vets go above and beyond to care for animals. At Streetvet, the majority of the team volunteer on top of their already demanding roles as full-time vets or veterinary nurses. We must all do our part to champion the amazing work of vets, to protect our animals and the wonderful veterinary profession as we know it!" Ailsa Milnes, Brand Manager, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health U.K., and veterinary volunteer at StreetVet.  

"Being at the heart of an industry that produces safe and sustainable food options is not just a job – it is a societal service and responsibility we take seriously. It is clear from this data that more needs to be done to recognize our care of vast herds and the vital work livestock vets bring to the world. We travel to far-flung places, get our hands dirty, and do everything in our power to keep farm animals healthy – and all with a smile,” commented Prof. Arcangelo Gentile, President of the World Association for Buiatrics (WAB).

Veterinary care

At Boehringer, we believe that access to veterinary care should never be taken for granted. That’s why we are collaborating with several leading veterinary organizations and charities, to launch the global campaign ‘Going Beyond’ to raise awareness of, and celebrate, the essential behind-the-scenes care that veterinarians provide for animals and communities worldwide. Aside from the survey, which was conducted together with Kynetec, we have also created a series of short films highlighting the indomitable spirit of veterinarians going above and beyond to care for animals, every day. 

Please watch our ‘Going Beyond’ videos and share them with your networks. Together, we can help veterinarians get the recognition they truly deserve.