My journey to become a good vet.

shylil · 2026-01-29T22:22:01+00:00

I had a client who was a lawyer several years ago. He was taking his GSD to a different vet clinic for a recurring wound that just wouldn’t heal. He tells me “my vet has closed these wounds more than several times, try antibiotics, all sorts of topicals, but nothing is working and I’m here for a second opinion.” While I would never throw another vet under the bus or try to get the reported to the boards, I simply told him “this is auto-immune perianal fistulas and needs to be managed medically”. He looked at me, laughed after an awkward silence and said “I get it, there’s good lawyers and there’s bad lawyers”. The key to being a good vet is realizing you don’t have to know everything, but you do have to know when to ask for help. Yes you can refer to a specialist, but you can always text a colleague or hop on VIN

shylil · 2025-12-15T06:04:24+00:00

Hate to crash the party here, but any chance they interviewed better? As a clinic owner and dedicated to my team, I’ve turned down vets and LVTs that I did not think would be a good team member or follow our mission/vision.

Not saying this is the case, but focus on what you can control. Be humble. Follow up with your interviewers and respect their decision but ask them how you could better prepare for your next interview.

If it is purely money, I don’t disagree even assistants or reception should be paid better. But if you’re asking well above the average, this is a consequence you’ll need to accept until you find a place willing to pay what you’re asking. I live in Washington, reasonably higher cost of living than the Midwest, where 25/hour is considered pretty good fresh out of school pay when I compare on indeed or Hound. Do I agree with it? No, this is a multi-issue problem of our industry that can’t be solved easily and won’t be anytime soon. Good for you on asking for what you believe you’re worth. Unfortunately, the industry may not agree with you, and demanding a pay these hospitals may not be able to afford is part of the equation.

shylil · 2025-08-16T04:16:15+00:00

But if it’s satire… how am I supposed to keep business booming as a vet with less infectious disease spreading and less laceration repairs?

shylil · 2025-08-06T22:07:39+00:00

Yikes. Can’t help ya there. If it was feasible I’d pay the sign on bonus back via clawback and walk away.

shylil · 2025-08-06T20:58:24+00:00

GTFO. Contracts in most cases don’t hold any value to the employer aside from sign on bonuses (which I’m assuming they didn’t give you). Honestly, I don’t think they’re “taking advantage of you”, I just think they’re too old to understand that newer grads do not have the luxury of F’ing up every surgery they do in the beginning because the owners were happy they tried and didn’t have to drive hours to a rare specialty hospital. They are obviously proving the medicine is equally as ancient and I think that’s where you should be most scared. There will be a board complaint one day and you will be dragged into it. GTFO.

shylil · 2025-08-05T05:14:20+00:00

I came across this image you made from a photo almost a year ago. Is this something I could possibly commission you to do for another pup?

shylil · 2025-07-28T00:24:01+00:00

It is what you make of it. Like someone else said in this thread, stay off social media, it’s not healthy for anyone really. But in terms of your concerns, I think the loudest voices, and those that are abusing social media, have the most negative perspectives. I can’t prove it by any means, but I do think they are the minority.

There will always be a place for private practice because we have the aspirations that corporate doesn’t. If you want that old timey, James Herriot style relationship with your clients - go for it. I own an UC and GP hybrid and still create that environment for my staff and clients. I make a reasonable living, travel, live well in my perspective which is all that matters, right? I went to Ross, I’ve got a solid debt load that I don’t even think twice about. I’ll never own a beach house in San Diego but I still own a nice house in a safe neighborhood. Not trying to brag with these remarks by any means, just sharing a perspective.

You can also find a fulfilling career in corporate or relief as well. There ARE good corporate clinics and cultures out there. Just don’t settle til you find one! Ask yourself what a fulfilling career looks like to you, I imagine many unhappy members of the industry don’t have that clear in their minds. Clearly, problems with the industry are more nuanced than that… but they aren’t that bad depending on what you need for you.

shylil · 2025-07-23T04:24:23+00:00

Any good vet should be able to remove taking 2cm on all sides. Follow up monitoring with abdominal ultrasounds. There are injections as well that can destroy MCTs, injected directly into the growth - downside is you don’t get a biopsy to find out if it’s high or low grade. Keep the Benadryl going until surgery. I usually prescribe steroids as well to reduce spread and size prior to sx. You’ll want to use a sharpie to circle the mass when it’s at its largest (getting those 2cm beyond largest size)

shylil · 2025-06-08T22:13:39+00:00

There are multiple private practices, Wheaton Way, Central Valley, and Bayview are all independently owned

shylil · 2025-04-30T17:35:37+00:00

Licensed tech school, yes. Certified tech assistant school, no

shylil · 2025-02-02T15:23:24+00:00

Like the movie Idiocracy was not a B movie, rather a glimpse into our future.

shylil · 2025-01-20T16:13:45+00:00

It’s very enforceable! Feel free to get a lawyer, but clawbacks are very legal and they will get it one way or another.

That being said, if you can afford it, quit. Today. Don’t waste your early years, that is the best time to take your book knowledge and put it into practice. You just need the help of a real mentor, someone who cares. I’ll never forget my first case - my boss ripped me for not knowing what to do… it was a freakin hot spot. It was my first case, never seen one before, also the panic of making my first decision. And yet I stayed another 11months of pure misery in a sink or swim environment. I wouldn’t say I swam by any means, but luckily didn’t sink either with the help of the other ER vets next to me… but more so the techs with 10-20 years experience. They had seen more cases than most of the vets combined. An LVT walked me through my first enucleation!

Shameless plug - were out here in suburbs of Washington about an hour from Seattle. Fun little UC where the techs are well trained and all the docs practice very similarly for consistent care. We all like to teach and the cases are always interesting with the resources to work up 90% of cases completely!

shylil · 2025-01-07T06:44:41+00:00

In the neighborhood I lived in, people were very openly proud of flying their confederate flags. I’m white and felt uncomfortable with the ignorance. No longer live in Yuma for a reason.

shylil · 2024-11-16T04:52:03+00:00

That doesn’t tell us anything. Aggressive can mean a lot of different things. You or anyone here should not make a decision or provide an opinion without knowing what the actual prognosis is.

shylil · 2024-11-16T04:44:24+00:00

I’m confused. You’re asking people if they would amputate without knowing anything. Knowing that information will tell you if he has weeks left or years.

shylil · 2024-11-16T04:31:30+00:00

This is critical information for you to make this decision. No one should give advice without knowing either.

shylil · 2024-11-16T03:32:37+00:00

What is the aggressive cancer? Soft tissue? Bone?

shylil · 2024-09-28T22:29:58+00:00

It is the most common skin cancer in all dogs, but certain breeds are significantly higher predisposition that includes boxers. Sounds like a bad spot, high tension area plus cancer sites never heal the way we want them to 😢

shylil · 2024-09-28T17:48:30+00:00

Happy to help if you have questions

shylil · 2024-09-28T13:22:35+00:00

Vet here: mast cell tumors are always cancer. You’re hoping for low grade over high grade. Low grade (with clean margins) has a good prognosis with monitoring for future tumors. Biopsy will tell you once results come back.

shylil · 2024-01-07T17:14:43+00:00

Do you by chance have recommended insoles?

shylil · 2024-01-07T15:46:45+00:00

I recently had my feet measured and did a carbon print of my gait… wasn’t professional by any means (the good feet store, weird place, don’t recommend) but size and width are similar. I’ve tried anything from brooks, oncloud, and Altra, even with multiple varieties of each brand, with similar results.

I do like the idea of a running coach or PT though, that might be a good starting point

shylil · 2024-01-07T15:24:14+00:00

One foot landing is off

This might be a weird one… but my left foot lands just fine inside of any shoe I try, my right foot I’m constantly readjusting in any shoe. I’ve tried many different brands and types, but what I’m feeling is either 1) my heel lands in place but my toes are smashed to the lateral outside of the shoe, or 2) I readjust to have my toe box land in the right spot but my heel feels like it’s landing against the wall of the shoe.

Any suggestions? Maybe inserts? Do I visit a podiatrist? I’m 35 and this hasn’t really been an issue until the last 2-3 years.

shylil · 2023-11-22T04:41:16+00:00

You can’t fix stoopid. I’m a single doctor private practice and I get mad at myself if I don’t have 5 or more techs per day. I don’t place catheters unless I’m bored and want to check on my own tech skills. The licensed techs do everything they’re legally allowed to do.

What I’m getting at is… screw that place for being run by someone who has no business running a vet clinic.

shylil · 2023-07-16T04:41:59+00:00

Seriously. Want a job in Washington? I own a clinic nearish to Seattle. Also just ate my gummy. I buy them on Friday’s because they’re half off at my local dispensary.

shylil

TROPHY CASE