How a Facebook Hack Reminded Me What Helping Pets Really Means
Do I Miss Being a Vet? And What a Facebook Hack Taught Me
Ever wonder if I miss the long hours, the surgeries, and the hands-on work with dogs and cats? Or how I handled losing 500,000 Facebook followers overnight? In this story, I share the highs and lows of nearly 20 years in veterinary practice, why I left the clinic life behind, and how a Facebook hack reminded me that helping pets is bigger than any platform.
Try Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Canine Advanced Plus Health Formula for Dogs
If you’re serious about giving your dog the best care possible, check out Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Canine Advanced Plus Health Formula. This all-in-one supplement is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants designed to support your dog’s digestive health, immune system, joints, and skin. It helps improve mobility, maintain energy, and boost overall vitality—perfect for dogs of all ages, from playful pups to senior companions. With consistent use, you’ll notice a happier, healthier, and more energetic dog ready to enjoy every day by your side.
Try Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Feline Health Formula for Cats
Cats are natural athletes with unique dietary needs, and their health relies on a balanced blend of nutrients. Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Feline Health Formula is crafted specifically for cats to support their delicate digestive system, strengthen immunity, promote healthy skin and coat, and maintain lean muscle mass. With essential vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids, it helps your cat stay active, playful, and resilient, while also supporting long-term wellness. It’s the perfect daily boost to keep your feline friend feeling their absolute best.
Do I Wish I Was Still a Vet? + The Facebook Hack Story
Welcome to story time with me, Dr. Jones. Lately, a lot of people have been asking, “Dr. Jones, do you miss being a real veterinarian?” You know—the one who sees real dogs and cats, uses a stethoscope, maybe even does surgery.
And then, recently, our Facebook page got hacked. That brought up a lot of thoughts I wanted to share. Stick around, because this isn’t just about a hacked account—it’s about what it really means to help pets.
My Veterinary Journey: From Clinic to Online Education
I graduated in 1992 with my DVM—Doctor of Veterinary Medicine—and practiced for nearly 20 years. I saw real clients like you. Dogs, cats, doing physical exams, figuring out what was going on, making diagnoses, giving the right treatment to help them get better, and providing urgent care when needed. I even did surgery.
I had a fairly big practice, saw a lot of clients, worked long hours—including many weekends—and spent hundreds of nights on call. On top of that, owning a practice meant managing a lot of staff. I loved seeing animals and most people with their pets, but I wasn’t exactly thrilled about all the staff management.
Now, my work looks very different. I’m not sending pets home with antibiotics or steroids. Instead, I’m educating pet parents like you about natural remedies and alternative care for your pets. Some people think only clinic work counts as “real veterinary work,” but I’ve learned otherwise.
Do I Miss Being a Vet?
Here’s the truth: I don’t miss the 14-hour days, the high stress, or the financial pressures. I don’t miss seeing clients who couldn’t afford treatments, or having to euthanize animals for reasons beyond my control.
Sure, it was a privilege to practice medicine, but it was also incredibly hard. In the clinic, I felt I was impacting a small number of pets and their owners in a big way—but I also knew there was so much more I could do, if only I had the time and resources.
What I do miss is the hands-on connection with animals. There’s nothing like seeing a puppy or kitten walk into your clinic. There’s satisfaction in diagnosing correctly, treating an injury, or performing surgery to repair a fracture and watching a dog run around again. Yes, I miss that—the real-life, tangible work with pets.
The Facebook Hack: A Modern Challenge
About a month ago, I was contacted by someone claiming to represent Katie Couric for a Facebook Live podcast interview. Everything seemed legitimate—they even scheduled a tech setup call to “make sure everything worked.”
During a short Zoom call, they asked me to share my screen. From that, they managed to log in as an administrator and remove our Facebook page. Overnight, we lost over 500,000 followers. A few days later, the page came back—but the followers were gone.
It’s shocking how fast years of effort can disappear. Social media can vanish overnight. But here’s the thing: our work, the knowledge we share, and the community we’ve built is bigger than one platform.
Connecting the Dots: Clinic Work vs. Impact Online
Just like you don’t need a clinic to be a veterinarian, you don’t need 500,000 Facebook followers to make a difference. Helping pets live healthier, happier lives is what really matters.
I’m grateful we still have multiple ways to connect: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, our blog, and our newsletter. The platform doesn’t define the impact—the community does.
Final Thoughts: Do I Miss Being a Real Veterinarian?
Yes and no. I miss the hands-on connection with pets and seeing real-life transformations. But I don’t miss the long hours, the stress, or the limitations of a traditional practice.
What matters most is helping your pets live better lives, and that’s exactly what we do here. Social media followers are nice, but they don’t define the work. What truly matters is our dedicated community—pet parents like you who care deeply about holistic pet health.
Thank you for following along, in whatever way you do. If you haven’t yet, click to subscribe to Veterinary Secrets, hit the bell for notifications, and check the link below to get a copy of my free book.
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Try Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Canine Advanced Plus Health Formula for Dogs
If you’re serious about giving your dog the best care possible, check out Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Canine Advanced Plus Health Formula. This all-in-one supplement is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants designed to support your dog’s digestive health, immune system, joints, and skin. It helps improve mobility, maintain energy, and boost overall vitality—perfect for dogs of all ages, from playful pups to senior companions. With consistent use, you’ll notice a happier, healthier, and more energetic dog ready to enjoy every day by your side.
Try Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Feline Health Formula for Cats
Cats are natural athletes with unique dietary needs, and their health relies on a balanced blend of nutrients. Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Feline Health Formula is crafted specifically for cats to support their delicate digestive system, strengthen immunity, promote healthy skin and coat, and maintain lean muscle mass. With essential vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids, it helps your cat stay active, playful, and resilient, while also supporting long-term wellness. It’s the perfect daily boost to keep your feline friend feeling their absolute best.
Dear Dr. Andrew,
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you from my heart for your beautiful book and the wisdom you share. Your words have touched me deeply and given me so much guidance in caring for my dogs and my cat. Living in Dubai, as anywhere, there are times when the traditional veterinary way doesn’t always feel like the best path. What I love about your work is that you don’t judge or make things “right or wrong,” but instead offer gentle, practical, and holistic ways that truly work. I’ve used so many of your suggestions and they’ve made a real difference.
Because of your inspiration, I’ve found myself creating a small community of like-minded people here. Many of us care for street animals, and I’ve even started a little cottage project of making fresh food for the dogs I meet every day on my walks. It has brought me so much joy and feels like the true meaning of community and connection.
I also really appreciated your article about not letting those who try to bring you down on social media stop your light. Please know that there are many of us who value your voice, your work, and your kindness. You’ve already made your mark, and we’re grateful you continue to share.
As a holistic healing therapist myself, I run The Reiki Shack, which I also open to animals—dogs, cats, and beyond. In many ways, your work has helped me step further into that path, and for that I’m so thankful.
Sending you gratitude, admiration, and blessings,
Joanna