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Half of veterinary professionals ‘do not feel part of a respected community’
Client expectations were the main thing veterinary professionals said they would change about their vocation.
Survey finds client expectations are a particular problem  

Just under half of veterinary professionals do not feel part of a respected community, according to new research by VET Festival.

An online survey carried out in December reveals that while 53 per cent of professionals feel valued by their local community and respected by clients, 47 per cent do not.

Explaining why they felt this way, respondents frequently cited misconceptions about high fees, client demands and social media criticism.

VET Festival, which carried out the survey with Centaur Services, is an annual outdoor conference founded by Professor Noel Fitzpatrick.

The survey - which garnered responses from vets, nurses, rehabilitation professionals, practice managers, assistants and students - also revealed that around half of the respondents (51 per cent) felt their vocation in veterinary medicine had met their early expectations. Of these, 60 per cent had graduated over 20 years ago, while 40 per cent qualified less than five years ago.

Among those who felt reality did not match their expectations, the most common reasons given were low work-life balance, financial concerns and high demands from clients.

In addition, the expectations of clients were the main thing veterinary professionals would change about their vocation. One respondent said: “I feel as a profession our integrity is continually questioned in the public and in the media. There is a shift in client expectations above what we can provide and they can afford and this is perceived as vets being greedy.”

Nonetheless, 91 per cent of respondents said they were proud to work in the veterinary profession. The most important aspirations for veterinary professionals were cited as ‘making a difference to animals’ lives’, ‘a healthy work-life balance’ and ‘personal skill development’.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.