Why can't your vet see your pet? You are not alone and we have a solution for you!

Can’t get in to see a vet?

You’re not alone. 

Booking an appointment with your family veterinarian has become an increasingly difficult task these days. In fact, many professionals are ringing the alarm bells and calling it a full-blown crisis. Between massive backlogs, cutback hours, and long waitlists, pet owners are wondering…

Why does there suddenly seem to be a massive veterinarian shortage? 

Let’s look at the statistics and hears from real-life vets to find out exactly what’s going on. 

What is the leading cause of the veterinarian labor shortage? 

Healthcare workers and those in public service facing roles have borne the brunt of this pandemic, and that includes veterinarians. While much of our attention has been focused on the Covid-19 virus and how it affects humans, it’s important to remember that animals never stopped needing medical care as well. 

Unfortunately, the pandemic accelerated an already worrying trend in this regard. 

Simply put, veterinarians are overwhelmed. According to National Pet Owners Survey, 70% of U.S. household had a pet in 2021 (approximately 90.5 million families.) Yet, only 123,472 American veterinarians are actively practicing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics recently went so far as to update the 2020-30 job outlook for vets – at an incredible 17%! 

Clearly, the math isn’t adding up.

But how did it get to this point? Let’s have a look. 

Reasons for the current veterinary crisis include: 

·      An increase in pet ownership

Do you know somebody who got a pandemic puppy? Lots of us do! The ASPCA found that “23 million American households acquired a pet during COVID-19.” This explosion in pet parenthood has put extra pressure on vet offices across the country as their number of patients skyrocketed, seemingly overnight. Even booking basic medical appointments – like spay/neuter, vaccinations, and flea prevention – must be done weeks, if not months, in advance. 

·      Pandemic restrictions / social distancing rules

In addition, vet offices face tricky new workflow challenges. There are indoor gathering limits and enhanced sanitization protocols. Adhering to these new guidelines means adding extra duties to a veterinarian’s already busy schedule, thus slowing down how quickly each patient can be seen. 

·      High turnover rates 

Thirdly, the American Animal Hospital Association claims 23% is the average turnover rate for staff in a veterinary work setting. Nearly a quarter! 

Positions such as: veterinarian, technician, assistant, receptionist, office manager, etc. all make up this percentage. In underserved areas, losing even one or two staff members can be a huge blow to the pet community. This is especially true if a single vet clinic serves a large population or is located in a remote setting. 

As we can see, the problem is complex.  

Despite veterinary school applications growing by 19% in 2021, there is still a dire need for more animal lovers to join the profession.   

5 Reasons why experienced vets are switching careers or retiring early  

Now we know the external factors adding to the overwhelming situations veterinarians find themselves in. But what about the internal side of thing.  We talked to vets to hear from the source.  

Many have chosen to hang up their scrubs because of: 

·      Burnout

·      Chronic stress

·      Long working hours

·      Emotional toll 

·      Poor work-life balance 

The takeaway? 

Finding a veterinarian to care for your furry family member is no longer an easy task. Hopefully, these overwhelming demands will ease as we approach the end of the pandemic. 

What is the solution?  You can use telemedicine!  

By definition, veterinary telemedicine is the remote diagnosis and treatment of pets, by means of communicating through technology. The year 2020 has been transformative for telemedicine, with the COVID-19 pandemic fueling a rapid shift in how people access veterinary care. 

Veterinary telemedicine gained a lot of popularity during the pandemic, and some pet parents prefer to continue with their visits this way. With many veterinary clinics booking out appointments several weeks– telemedicine is a great option for you! 

Petzey is a telemedicine platform allows you and your pet to get real-time advice from a vet expert immediately for only $20 per consultation. Just download the app from your app store and complete your profile and you can be connected with a veterinary professional immediately from all 50 states. 

How does it work?

With Petzey, you will talk to a veterinary professional via your phone or video chat and get real-time advice on what you should do or get you for your pet. This is a great option if you can’t get an appointment with your regular vet’s office.  

Please note: if your dog needs immediate attention, please bring them to the nearest animal emergency clinic right away!

Veterinary telemedicine is also a great option if your pet is scared of the vet and makes it difficult to go or if your pet doesn’t have any serious medical issues, and you just have some general questions, don’t put yourself or your pet through the stress of an in-person vet visit and try out Petzey.