What Being a Veterinarian Really Takes | Melanie Bowden, DVM | TEDxCoeurdalene

[alyssabaratta-martin]

"There is nothing more soul-crushing in life than having the skills and ability to help something helpless and you can't do it because someone can't afford treatment." This is exactly it, thank you.

[chickenitis]

There's literally hundreds of careers that pay the same/better than vet that are a fraction of the stress. No one goes into this field "just for the money."

[ryntintynvin]

Both my parents are vets and when I was little it was all I wanted to do. As I got older and watched them get repeatedly barraged at 3am, on holidays, on their few and far between days off, by clients demanding free or discounted work, calling them greedy, calling them horrible things, I decided I couldn’t handle the profession, and I didn’t pursue it as a career. I cannot tell you how much money my parents have spent out of their own pockets giving “free” and discounted work over the decades. I’ve watched them lose loyal clients they’d helped for many years because another client lied about them. You would be shocked to hear the many, many stories vets could tell you. Please, please, please be considerate of your veterinarians.

[cheyennequithrochenpedroso]

I am veterinary student. This talk crushes my heart. But this talk really made me 100% sure that I want to be nothing but a Veterinarian.

[jessicameadows]

I’m a pre-vet student right now and this video was so insightful and struck me. I know it’s not going to be easy. I know that I’m at high risk for suicide because of the profession I’ve chosen. But I also know that I love animals and want to help them.

[Spidey]

I don't know about you guys, but I'm writing a card to my vet immediately

[Nailsbywendy]

wow definitely changed my view of the veterinarian profession as a pet owner. thank you to all of my vets.

[kimberleyherron]

As a small animal veterinarian, this is a beautiful and honest talk.. nothing hits us more than when a sick pet, who can’t afford treatment, say words about how we don’t care.. we have devoted our life to animals, their care, letting them a quality life, and when the time comes, humane euthanasia... I love my patients, it hurts to let them go... we truly spend so many night, after a long day, for the ones we can’t see. Thank you for your talk, and I am going to share it ❤️

[envytee]

Honestly, from my experience, it seems like the reason so many people are surprised at a Vet's life is because to this day, people fail to understand that Veterinarians are Doctors, as much as an MD or DO is a doctor.

We both study the very same systems, drugs, processes... the list goes on. The difference lies in that while MDs learn specifically about Humans, Vets learn about everything from fish to our closest relatives, the chimpanzees. I genuinely believe a Veterinarian is more capable of treating a human than a Medical Doctor is capable of treating our pets. To a vet, a human is just one more species. To a md, a dog or cat is a whole new world of muscles, bone structures and medications they may have never heard of before.

Respect your vets. Society and, unfortunately, even some doctors see vets as our dumber, second cousins but the truth is far from that. I have no greater respect for anyone than I do the vets and vet colleagues I know from my time in medical school, till now.

[Hidden_Destinations]

My daughter is a 28 yr old vet. I am so proud if her. She asked me to watch this. I had no idea what she goes through. Thank you for helping me understand. Greg

[BloodyBrain]

I'm a vet, and I'm a suicide attempt survivor, this talk hit me so hard

[twerpylou]

What we're asking is for people to take responsibility for their actions. Don't get a pet if you can't afford treatment, and if you do, don't blame the vet for when your bad decision and inability to properly care for the animal is the primary problem.

[kathykaz]

Really great job Dr. Bowden. I'm a veterinary oncologist and I was stressed re-living that day with you. Sometimes I want to scream, "I am just one person"

[Colbykins]

As a kennel attendant, I have never thought about a veterinarian’s day being like this. The vet I work for isn’t always the nicest, but I think I can understand why a little more now. Thank you for your beautiful words and for allowing me another point of view. I hope as many people as possible can see this.

[soothingsoundsi]

This is so horribly sad. As someone who paid anything and everything i could to save my pets, I have never blamed the vet. I always suspected that it is heart breaking to be a vet

[Senseii]

I am now a 4th yr student in veterinary medicine in the Philippines. And, most people (not saying all of them) here dont really appreciate vets, they always say that being a vet is easy because they only take care of dogs and cats... But they dont know the whole truth... I am so proud to be a vet student.. And so proud of all the vets all around the world...

[marinamoosha]

My dog has a vet appointment in an hour. Glad this popped up on my recommended videos.

[eringsgrace]

I’m speechless.

We have a close family friend who’s a vet. He always seems so happy. I can’t believe he could be going through this and no one knows he’s struggling. I’ve hidden my struggles before and I would never wish that on anyone.

[crumpsyjay]

Thank you for sharing. Vets are heroes and humans need to respect that.

[erinxchen]

Pet insurance is literally $10 for me. Most large companies do this. For the people gilt tripping the vet, please do your research.