Do I Miss Being a ‘Real’ Veterinarian?
It has been several years since I last practiced veterinary medicine in the traditional sense—seeing dogs and cats in a clinic, performing surgeries, and yes, even expressing anal glands. Though I’m no longer in the clinic, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue helping pet parents like you through this platform. This shift has allowed me to reach and educate a far broader audience than I ever could have in practice alone.
The Aspects I Miss
Do I miss the hands-on part of being a vet? Absolutely. The face-to-face interactions with pets and their owners, the personal connections we built in the exam room—those are irreplaceable. I recall many wonderful clients from my practice days. Just recently, I saw a former client whose dog I had cared for from puppyhood through to its final days, including performing a home euthanasia. Those moments are profound, and I cherish those memories deeply.
I’ve also found myself reminiscing about the thrill of surgery. Before the rise of specialists, as a general practitioner, I had the opportunity to perform a wide range of procedures, including orthopedic surgeries. There’s something uniquely exhilarating about being the ‘big surgical hero’—like saving an animal hit by a car or repairing a diaphragmatic hernia. Seeing a heartbeat through an open chest—these are experiences that stay with you.
The Challenges I Do Not Miss
On the flip side, there are aspects of veterinary practice I definitely do not miss. Managing a practice and dealing with staff dynamics can be incredibly stressful. The politics within a small team can create a tense environment, which was often the most challenging part of my job. Also, the late-night emergency calls were taxing. Being on call for emergencies, in addition to regular daytime duties, can wear you down over time, impacting your ability to function well in both your professional and personal life.
So, do I miss being a practicing veterinarian? Yes, for the meaningful interactions and the excitement of surgery. But I do not miss the administrative headaches and the disruptive emergency calls. Today, I am fulfilled by being able to share my knowledge with you all, discussing natural remedies, and teaching lifesaving techniques like the Heimlich maneuver for pets.
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Thank you, Dr Jones, for all that you are doing to help people and their pets and standing tall to share the truth on the holistic side of veterinary medicine!
BRAVO!!!
Thank you so much for everything you do. I love the way you are with all of the animals. You are a true hero! You are very handsome ? ??
I am a dog trainer and started in the 70’s. I started out in 4-H and continued to show. As an adult I eventually started teaching obedience classes. I can fully understand because after years of people showing up to class every week, the group ready to move on to the next task, there were always the few that didn’t practice at home or only practiced the day before class. They held up the class because their poor dogs had no idea what was going on. The owners didn’t bother to teach the dogs to sit, to heel or to stay and come. I got paid either way but for some reason, I felt like I was wasting my time. I stopped teaching but at some point but had several people ask about me taking their dogs for a 2-3 month period and training them.I finally agreed to try. I did several dogs over a year and even put them in a few obedience trials and placed in the top 3. These dogs had no training at all prior but many bad habits. I trained their owners, sent them home with reference material but within a year, after checking in on the dogs, they were wild and unruly. The owners thought that once the dogs were trained they would magically stay that way. They were tossed in the backyards and became ornaments again. Again, I wasted my time and I gave up after that.
I focused on teaching 4-H kids,judging 4-H dog shows, stewarding AKC shows and showing or doing sports with my own dogs.
Up until recently, I had 5 longcoat European German Shepherds. 2 of them are imported. 1 female, I had planned on doing dock diving and FastCat with her. I did obedience training, she passed her CGC test but she was showing promising traits for a Service dog. I had her evaluated, I started training her with a coach and she became a Certified Service dog. I gave her to someone who needed her. Now I’m down to 4 dogs. Less grooming!!
So anyway, I understand how sometimes, doing something you love but changing the method is hard but rewarding. I loved teaching classes but teaching 4-H kids was far more rewarding. I didn’t make money but I know that some of the 4-H kids grew into adults knowing that a pet is a lifetime commitment that you make. They learned how to take care of their dogs, groom them and train them. To me, that is so much more important than just teaching dog classes for money.