It's a pretty good time to be a vet in the U.S. As the American Veterinary Medical Association reports, there's no shortage of veterinarians predicted throughout 2030-2035. There will be enough new veterinarians coming fresh from colleges and not too many will be retiring in the next 10 years.

Demand for veterinary services is also pretty high at the moment. On average, U.S. pet owners spend a pretty penny on their four-legged friends' visits to the vet. In 2021, pet owners spent a whopping $123 million on pet care, and 28% of that was for veterinary care and products.

Growing demand for veterinary care also contributes to the rising costs of procedures and visits. The Bureau of U.S. Labor Statistics reported that the price of urban veterinary services rose by 7.9% from 2023 to 2024. USA Today Blueprint asked pet owners what they think about pet care costs, and 91% responded that they've felt some level of financial stress because of it.

Dr. David Lee, an associate dean and professor at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, explained to USA Today that vet visits involve unexpected spending for most people. The rising costs of pet care, according to him, are due to a shortage of professionals: some are retiring, and others are lured to specialty professions or emergency clinics.

As vet services costs are rising, experts worry that people might run out of affordable options soon. "We're very concerned that there could be as much as 35% of pet owners who will not have affordable access to veterinary care in just the next few years," Lee explained to USA Today. 

When we wanted to be veterinarians as kids, spending all day in the presence of animals was the most attractive factor. But a vet's job has many other advantages as well. It's a pretty stable and lucrative career, especially in today's economy. You can also live almost anywhere you'd like: whether it's a big city or a small town, a veterinarian's services will most likely be needed.

But it's also not that easy to be a veterinarian. The job can be physically and emotionally demanding, and only 27% of veterinarians aged 45 and younger would recommend young people pursue a career in veterinary medicine. As awesome as a vet's job sounds, many of the doctors struggle with mental health issues.

In 2022, the pet food brand Royal Canin surveyed Australian veterinarians and asked them about their mental health. Almost six in 10 vets said they had sought professional help because of their mental health. They listed pet owner expectations as one of the most stressful parts of their jobs.

Not every visit to the vet is as happy as you see in this list. Sometimes, veterinarians see tragic medical cases where they can provide no help to animals who have been in accidents or are very ill. The workload can get crazy too: veterinary technician Jess Feliciano explained to the BBC how sometimes, she works more than 80 hours per week. "The doctors are overloaded, too: I've seen nights when a single doctor sees 20 or more cases in a 10-hour shift."

One of the most tragic and sometimes even traumatic things a vet has to do is put a pet to sleep. Feliciano recalled how some owners don't want to see their pet's last moments and want to remember their good days. In those instances, the vet is the one who has to provide comfort to the pet, putting the emotional labor on their shoulders.

However, there's still so much joy in healing animals. "Imagine fixing a puppy's broken leg or making a sick kitten healthy again. That feeling when they get better because of your help? It's the best!" the vets at Purdue University's College of Veterinary Medicine write. Indeed, there's hardly a career as wholesome and versatile as being a vet!

It seems that there's never a boring day when you're a veterinarian. If any of you, dear Pandas, are pet owners who frequent the vet's office, be sure to share your experiences, and don't forget to add some pics! And if you'd like to see more wholesome goodness from veterinary clinics, be sure to check out our previous article right here and here!