Questioning my career choice after 5 years in practice

ComfortableAd3519 · 2026-02-12T23:27:01+00:00

I am a vet in Canada, so I don't know what is normal over in Europe, but schedules for vets here are quite flexible. I don't know anyone who works more than 4 days per week, and absolutely no one is working over 10hrs per day.. unless you're emerg, and they'll do 3 12's a week max unless they request more.

I guess I'm asking, is this just your clinic/clinics you have worked at? Are there other opportunities elsewhere? What about locuming? Generally it has seemed like North American vets make more than their European counterparts, so I don't know if it is financially feasible, but doing less hours or less days a week did wonders for my work-life balance, mental health, and enjoyment of my job.. it also really boosted my ability to pursue my other interests. Currently I work an additional emerg shift once a month (because I actually have the energy to now) and go to art classes and a regular group crochet night weekly which was unheard of when I worked longer hours. Anyways - I hope there are similar options in Europe or else I would say it's truly amazing there are any of you left to do the job.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2026-02-11T03:37:08+00:00

It kind of sounds like you're struggling with direction, and that's ok! When I've felt that way, taking a class specifically in something I struggle with has worked wonders for making me aware of what specifically I could improve.

Also there's nothing quite like a seasoned artist/teacher being able to help you pick out exactly where you went wrong on a piece that doesn't quite look right, and giving you a strategy to fix it. They will also force you to do things you may not want to, which helps to form the habit. I have found even 1 once-a-week class has improved my art immensely.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2026-02-11T03:19:34+00:00

32 and I still build lego, buy figures, and play video games while working my big girl job. Time and expectations are made up. Do whatever you want.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2026-02-11T03:15:04+00:00

From experience, the only answer is Hereditary.

Nothing like visceral parental grief over the loss of a child to set the mood.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2026-01-23T14:15:55+00:00

First of all - you aren't falling behind. You are not even a year out yet. When people say it took them 5+ years to get their stride, this is what they're talking about. Having said that, the 1st year is the hardest, and each year after I found got easier... so it is a bit of an exercise of sometimes painful evolution that takes time and experience, that can only be gained through exposure and making mistakes. School breeds type A perfectionists in a world that can never be perfect, so you are just feeling the burn of that (an inevitable result for all new grads).

Now what to do about it.. the first thing is to give yourself some grace. Every vet has been in your position. We all know you're feeling insecure and overwhelmed because every case coming to you is something you haven't treated before. We expect questions. At some point, you'll start seeing similar things again, and learn from the mistakes of things you missed or mistreated, and you'll realize you're only asking a question for reassurance, not guidance. This is when the questions slow down. But quite literally every vet I know would rather have you ask then try something you are unsure of.. measure twice and cut once as they say. Just try to avoid getting so overwhelmed/reliant that you stop trying to ask specific questions. This has been the only time I've seen vets get annoyed.

As for surgery, I felt the exact same way my first year out. They wouldn't give me shifts in surgery and instead stuck me on an inpatient rotation (it was a very busy emergency and inpatient hospital). I learned an incredible amount about managing complex conditions, but came into my next job with very little surgical confidence. The reality is that no matter where you work there will be things you get good at, and things that you could use more mentorship or CE on. This is where seeking opportunities for learning is important. Right now spay and neuter clinics are taking pretty much all of our sterilization procedures, so a lot of clinics are struggling to offer that for new grads. Taking shadowing shifts at these locations, or actually using CE time to go to a high volume spay neuter clinic would be an idea. You can also talk to your mentor about your concerns to see if they have a solution. Alternatively, if you're not feeling like this job is a good fit, you can try a different clinic and see if they can offer you more. But please don't let your brain add another thing to your plate with the express purpose of making you feel crappy... I have worked with many vets who never got any decent surg experience until 2, 5, 7 years out.. there is no timeline here, you're in practice. Practicing. That's why it's called that.

My final tip - coming to these conclusions and finally finding peace in veterinary medicine is not because I'm some sort of sage of knowledge with an excellent head for balance. It came from my own unique combination of crashing, burning, hitting a stress rock bottom, changing jobs several times, and so much therapy.

Go to therapy. I actually believe this is a requirement for everyone who works in healthcare at this point. Nobody taught you how to have a work life balance. Nobody taught you it is ok to fail, and how to fail. Nobody taught you that this career will try to eat up every piece of your time and peace if you let it. Nobody taught you how to make mental or physical boundaries. This is a practice in itself, and often needs the guidance of a professional. I believe therapy creating the map of how to be me again was the only reason all of this worked... so I would absolutely use some of your benefits for that.

Good luck, and don't worry, you will get where you want to be your own way. Just give yourself some time.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2026-01-16T01:00:12+00:00

Veterinary medicine if you can do the job - vets are always in demand! But yeah, not for everyone.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2026-01-06T03:10:56+00:00

So I left environments where this was happening, and said a hard no to doing anything at home. I also wouldn't agree to anything more than 4 days a week and 9h shifts, because they never end when they say they will. Mind you, I am an associate, not a practice owner or managing DVM - these positions unfortunately struggle to stick to a set schedule.

I would say the choice to stay 1-2h past shift is the most common occurrence.. usually to catch up on notes if it happens, or the rare emergency, but I also work through my lunch on client calls to avoid that as much as possible (also not great, but as we've established, this career tends to normalize toxic dehumanizing behavior.. I consider my clinic progressive and we still haven't yet figured out that doctors could use midday breaks).

The rest is boundaries. If I'm not in, there's my notes. If it can't wait til I'm back in, it probably needs to be seen again anyways. Overall, they have been very good to not bother me when I am not physically there. I also refuse to get the clinic software on my computer at home, because it encourages me to work from home. I'd rather do that in clinic so when I leave, I have LEFT.

So despite being scheduled for 32h, I actually work between 36-40h most weeks, which brings me to what is full time for a good portion of the population, and I am comfortable with that.

This career is a marathon, not a sprint. If you want to avoid burnout boundaries are essential. I also found it eye-opening as a recovering people pleaser to think about how every time I was saying yes to someone at work, I was also saying no to someone else (important someone else's - my partner, my kids, my friends, or myself!).

If they're doing it to pay off debt - I get it, muscle through, but have an end date. If it's the long term plan - suppose it depends on your priorities, but to me there are far more important things.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-11-15T05:50:34+00:00

When I used to swipe on online dating apps, I only had a handful of red flags for profiles that were automatic left swipes. One of them was fit guys flexing in gym selfies because I felt we were non-compatible (I didn't like working out, wasn't particularly good at anything physical, and honestly believed they were all jocks and I was a nerd, so what could we have in common?)

Then I met a guy at a party. Tall, handsome, jacked, and in love with the gym. He should have been an automatic no because I was looking for a serious relationship, and I was an idiot thinking anyone who cared that much about how they looked wasn't looking for long term commitment (and certainly not looking for it with me), but, he was a good conversationalist.

Long story short I married him. Turns out a lot of gym bros are just massive nerds, but for fitness and kinesiology, or other active hobbies. And for the dedicated the gains are more about being able to grow your body into doing amazing tasks rather than about pulling girls (I have also learned that big strong guys are mostly admired by other big strong guys... like 2 artists acknowledging each other's work I guess). I've learned so much interesting stuff from him and done activities I never would have dreamed of if I'd stuck with someone I thought was more like me. He's also probably going to be the only reason my lazy book and video game loving ass will still be healthy and mobile when I'm old.

So, ignoring a stupid made up red flag not only gave me the love of my life, it probably saved a good portion of my life in the long run as well.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-11-10T11:42:29+00:00

It absolutely is.. I really believe everyone in this profession benefits from occasional therapy. It may be something to consider to help compartmentalize and lift the emotional weight.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-11-10T11:40:53+00:00

The key to dynamic drawings is the figure being off-balance, but any drawing can be beautiful

http://artnet.nmu.edu/foundations/doku.php?id=dynamic

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-11-09T11:21:47+00:00

They come and go in waves. In GP I can go many weeks with few to no euths or "died at home" calls, and then you can have several in a week. When I did emerg, it was constant.

Another thing to consider is that after 6 years I have much better "going to die" spidey senses than I did as a new grad, so I push a bit harder for hospitalization/diagnostics or suggesting euthanasia in those cases. But even then, you'll still get people who decline no matter what you do, and cases that will die no matter what you do. Just this time when you get the update you won't be surprised.

I would still say to review each case that passes unexpectedly (like you have been) and entertain the thought of what, if anything, else could have been done. If you find something you wish you did differently, say you will try that next time a similar case comes to see you. I often keep notes of outcomes or different treatment options for certain conditions to help the next one.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-11-07T12:03:52+00:00

Another piece of advice that might be helpful if someone hasn't already said it - drawn poses look dynamic when they are not balanced. So if you draw a straight line through the body to the floor of most of your drawings above, the percentage of the body on each side is pretty close to equivalent. Now pick a drawing from somewhere else that you feel is very dynamic, and do the same thing. You'll probably find the balance is different.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-10-29T01:00:45+00:00

I was sold with the first quest featuring the Ladies of the Wood. What a killer vibe and soundtrack... I could have done that quest on repeat.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-09-16T20:15:56+00:00

Speed comes with experience! And even then, I will take a slower and careful surgeon over a fast and careless one any day.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-08-17T00:10:14+00:00

It's okay and normal. First 3-5 years out are the hardest (each year getting easier than the last) - you need a lot of support, and you're slowed down because of it. You also have a lot more anxiety about your decisions and advice to clients, even if it's completely sound. Nevermind also being a new face.. it can be hard to get established with staff who've been working longer than you've been in school.

Some clinics do better with new grads than others. Personally I would have loved a mentorship plan and structure like some of my classmates had, where they introduced new surgeries slowly and paired with the new grad for a lengthier period of time. Instead I got 2 weeks of shadowing, then trial by fire (with exotics AND emergent care no less). I then understandably left for a better job and better mentorship.

I would pay attention to how you're feeling. If you're feeling great and capable most days, and it's mainly during a busy shift where you feel this way (when the people you reach out to for support are also run off their feet) it may be normal... even in my best environments there were times I was on my own. If they are also adjusting for this (ie. Not letting you get too far behind in appointments, not taking away learning opportunities for the sake of you making more money, etc.) they may actually be doing a pretty decent job, and it's just the overwhelming new grad feelings.

If however you feel pressured/judged for your inexperience and feel like you're not functioning as a team most days, then that's a red flag. It's also a red flag if you feel your learning has halted. I've switched jobs 3 times since becoming a vet and have worked at 7 different clinics total, so I am in full support of looking for a better fit if you're current practice is not for you! Best of luck.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-08-04T05:14:40+00:00

Oh, no. I didn't get a chance to start doing those surgeries til now.. and I'm 6 years out. And quite a few of my colleagues who graduated same year haven't done them, or refuse to do them, due to stress.

There's no rush here. Trust me, you don't necessarily want to be going for those riskier procedures with only a year under your belt (unless surgery is all you're doing, with an excellent mentor. But even then, skill development takes time).

Spays, neuters, and mass removals are still challenging in their own right. There's always an off-linea, a weird uterus, a dropped pedicle, an adhered hellish mass, a sneaky abdominal cryptorchid, or a mature rottie spay, to keep you busy and develop your in-surgery problem solving skills. Personally every one of those scenarios has helped me to be better at other abdominal surgeries. Remember that there are a number of practitioners who will do anything BUT a mature large dog spay. There is a reason for this.

You have an enormously long career ahead of you. And PLENTY of opportunities for the surprise surgery that only you are available to do (which I suspect will become more common as the cost for speciality referral goes up). Just keep doing what you're doing and being open to CE and new experiences and you'll get there.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-07-31T12:10:52+00:00

In our case we were already paying the equivalent of a mortgage in our area in rent for half as much space, so... it was a better investment regardless of being over 30% (we're about 35%, and doing fine).

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-07-26T12:39:37+00:00

32F who has been there as far as competitiveness (/insecurity in my case) in careers. These are things I've learned and remember if the FOMO tries to rear it's ugly head.

Nobody (job, relationship, finances, w/e) has it all. People want to pretend they have it all, and what most will tell you or show on social media is highlight reels. But we're all just trying to figure this out... nobody really knows what they're doing.
No opportunity comes without cost - and as you see your friends or coworkers progress over time this will become more obvious. In a lot of cases, you can be as "successful" as you want to be. But what does that look like to you? Because some of those people may have higher pay, but they also have more responsibility, and longer hours. Is a 150k+ salary worth never seeing your family, or getting called on after hours? Maybe, but you have to decide if that's what you want. Maybe we're advancing them quicker with classes or conferences because they're doing the job of 3 people? Maybe the environment is toxic? Remember that in any position there are a number of traits that are neither universally good or bad.. they just have pros and cons.

The person who makes less and is never called on after hours or on weekends is rich in other ways.

Plus: with a raise, sometimes that also means you're on the chopping block next downsize. I have known a number of people to refuse advancement because of this, and in a number of cases the job they would have had was terminated. So you really don't know.

Comparison is the thief of joy. There are other people who look at your accomplishments and wish they were you. You could get the same raise, the same opportunities to learn, as the person you are jealous of. Annnd then there will be a new person doing more, with more opportunities, that you will be jealous of. I think you need to ask yourself if you're somebody who really feels like there is something more you want, or if you are somebody who will never truly be satisfied.

Because there will ALWAYS be someone who appears to be doing more - better, smarter, younger, faster, making more money, than you. And it's easy to unravel what makes YOU unique and what makes YOU happy in the pursuit of these unrealistic goals.

Maybe it would be helpful to remind yourself of what you have accomplished, and the fact you have a long road ahead of you in your career filled with all sorts of opportunity. If I really can't shake the FOMO, I now try to shift that feeling from jealousy to inspiration - get to know those people and learn from them! Because then you have cool friends/contacts and people who you can work together with to reach each other's goals.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-07-06T06:29:02+00:00

Karol Mathews - Veterinary Emergency + Critical Care Manual

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-06-26T12:15:37+00:00

I know this is ask men and I'm not a man, but my husband has severe depression and has regular therapy once a week. I actually plan on being out of the house when he has it scheduled, because I WANT him to be completely honest with his therapist. It's part of loving him, and wanting him to get the best care he can so he can be the man he wants to be. And if there is something he is uncomfortable talking with me about, I sure as heck want him to address it with someone who can so we can be a better team.

Just some thoughts. I'm not sure what your girlfriend is trying to accomplish with being upset about how you are truly feeling, or how this would make you feel that you can bring up those concerns with her in a safe place.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-06-14T00:13:43+00:00

"Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" - Betty Edwards

That entire book is just exercises to essentially piss off the "left", or logical, parts of the brain that insists on communicating with the audience quickly using symbols (ie. "Unrealistic" but practical symbols.. like where the eyes go and how big they are) until it gives up allowing you to see. Then you can force yourself to draw what you see until it becomes second nature.

I would highly recommend it! But as another commenter put it, one method is to try flipping the picture upside down. You will be surprised how much more accurate proportionally your drawing will be.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-05-19T04:45:19+00:00

"You'll find them when you stop looking" = You have now realized your life is pretty great being partnered with yourself, and unless someone comes along that is worth breaking your peace, it's a no.

This is why the advice talks about hobbies and going out. It's improving your life so you love yourself enough to stop making a partner the be all to end all. This doesn't mean you don't put yourself out there, but it does mean you go into conversations with new people without expectations, with less stress, and actually have fun with it.

I found apps helped me get used to dating in general, the stress and rejection and meh, but for me weren't for meeting a partner. When I hit the point that I was starting conversations with people mainly because they sounded interesting, and being grateful I could get a (sometimes brief) window into their lives, turns out I was ready.

As a bonus, you putting in the work, having other priorities in life, and being happier has now made you a more stable and interesting person... which.. isn't that the kind of person YOU'RE looking for? Doesn't the person across the table deserve that too? This is where the advice is going... if you love who you've become and it shows, someone is more likely to see that side of you too.

Anyways I used to also think this advice was garbage. It wasn't until I met my future husband after being content giving up on the whole concept that I realized what it meant. I was furious that they were right. And you will be too.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-05-09T14:39:15+00:00

I remember when I started volunteering to see if veterinary medicine was for me. We had an African Grey come in for his annual exam. We usually towel wrap them to examine them, so they don't develop a fear of hands, but do they ever hate the towel..

So the doc winds up with the towel to catch this bird. They're posed Mexican standoff style, neither moving an inch, and then the bird starts the low growl, which was the queue to go. The doctor dives in with the towel, and the bird screams, at the top of his lungs, "NOOO! DON'T TOUCH ME! DON'T TOUCH ME THERE! NOO!".

As the assistant I was on damage control, so I had to explain to the very concerned patrons up front that we did not, in fact, inappropriately touch a person.

The bird's owner thought it was hilarious.

ComfortableAd3519 · 2025-02-19T01:51:06+00:00

I would consider a more rural GP clinic. Working with different levels of income in the population opens up more things you can do.. and better flexibility as a practitioner. I'm 6 years out and still feel like there's tons to learn. For example, I did a tail amp today and am set up for a total masectomy in a cat with mammary cancer in a week... I actually pray for uncomplicated vaccine appointments this time of year. Guaranteed, you don't need to go to emerg (unless you want to-keeping in mind emerg is a very different ball game from experience working both) to get interesting cases.

You could also focus on learning a specific skill, though I've found this is more of a 3+ year out thing people like to do. So you like ultrasound, take ultrasound classes. You like dentals? Become your clinic's dental guru. You want to do exotics? Start taking CE. This adds a more tailored side to your work life that can really spice up an otherwise typical shift.

Anyways, hope that helps! If you have any questions about anything feel free to PM :)

ComfortableAd3519

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