Local vet clinics are encountering some of the same labour shortages faced by other industries, limiting access to vet care in some areas, and affecting affordability for veterinary services.
Dr. Maggie Brown-Bury is a relief vet who fills gaps when existing vets get sick or take time off. She says vets and veterinary staff are encountering high levels of burnout due to demand and shortages in available staff.
That, she says, can make it difficult for pet owners to get veterinary care when they need it, and sometimes affect the cost of certain services.
Unfortunately, Brown-Bury says, you can’t just grow vets and vet technicians out of the ground.
“You can’t make a vet clinic magically appear,” says Brown-Bury who indicates that it takes up to four years of schooling to become a veterinarian. Lack of access then contributes to burnout and compassion fatigue for vets and veterinary staff who know there could be pets and clients out there suffering according to Brown-Bury.
She encourages students who are so inclined to enter the veterinary field, and if the marks aren’t there, consider alternatives to help fill other needs like administrative or technical positions in vet clinics.
