Lately it seems you just can’t get in to see your vet. A new study from Banfield Pet Hospital reveals an estimated 75 million pets in the U.S. may not have access to the veterinary care they need by 2030, with an important factor being a critical shortage of veterinarians.

This pandemic pet boom has overwhelmed veterinarians nationwide, so getting an appointment with a local vet has become increasingly difficult. 

So-- What is the leading cause of the veterinarian labor shortage? 

Healthcare workers and those in public service-facing roles have borne the brunt of this pandemic, and that includes veterinarians. While much of our attention has been focused on the COVID-19 virus and how it affects humans, it’s important to remember that animals never stopped needing medical care as well. Unfortunately, the pandemic accelerated an already worrying trend in this regard. Simply put, veterinarians are overwhelmed. According to National Pet Owners Survey, 70% of U.S. households had a pet in 2021 (approximately 90.5 million families.) Yet, there are only 86,000 licensed veterinarians. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics recently went so far as to update the 2020-30 job outlook for vets – at an incredible 17%. That’s almost 5,000 new veterinarians being added every year - just to keep up.

On this show, we speak with Caitlin Palmer, a veterinary receptionist at a busy practice in Mississippi to learn more.

Follow Caitlin @thedeskwench

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