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

Summary

Dr. Bowden, a veterinarian, shares the emotional and professional challenges faced by vets, including long hours, high debt, and compassion fatigue. She highlights the importance of understanding the financial and emotional aspects of pet ownership, advocating for pet insurance, and annual veterinary check-ups. Dr. Bowden also addresses the alarming suicide rates within the profession, urging compassion and empathy from pet owners. Her goal is to foster better understanding and partnership between veterinarians and pet owners for the well-being of pets.

Takeaways

• 🏫 Becoming a veterinarian is a long and arduous process, often taking over a decade of education and training.
• 💰 The financial burden of becoming a veterinarian is significant, with the speaker mentioning a 'brain mortgage' of $286,000 from student loans alone.
• 👩‍⚕️ The veterinary profession is predominantly female, with 60% of veterinarians being female, a trend that has been growing.
• 🚶‍♂️ There is a concerning attrition rate in the veterinary field, with more veterinarians leaving the profession than entering, partly due to burnout and compassion fatigue.
• 🔫 A shockingly high suicide rate among veterinarians is highlighted, with 10% of those who have died since 2010 having committed suicide, particularly among small animal veterinarians.
• 🐶 The emotional toll of the job is immense, as veterinarians often have to deal with the death of pets and the grief of their owners, which can lead to mental health issues.
• 📅 A typical day in a veterinary practice is fast-paced and emotionally challenging, involving emergency cases, client interactions, and managing a full schedule.
• 💼 The role of a veterinarian extends beyond medical expertise to include counseling, education, financial advice, and team leadership.
• 💔 Negative client interactions can deeply impact veterinarians, contributing to feelings of failure and emotional distress.
• 🏥 The speaker advocates for pet owners to be proactive about their pet's health, including regular check-ups and financial planning for potential medical expenses.
• 🤝 The importance of a supportive community and open conversations about the challenges faced by veterinarians is emphasized, as well as the need for pet owners to understand the responsibilities of pet ownership.

Q & A

How long did it take the speaker to become a veterinarian?

It took the speaker ten years to become a veterinarian, which included four years of undergraduate work, two years of post-bacc studies, and three years of lecture and lab work followed by a rotating year in clinics.

What is the approximate amount of student loan the speaker took for their education?

The speaker took approximately $286,000 in student loans, which they affectionately refer to as their 'brain mortgage.'

What is the speaker's monthly payment for their student loans, and how long will they be paying it off?

The speaker's monthly payment is $1,100, and they will be paying it off for the next 30 years, with their last payment due when they are 62.

What is the current gender distribution among veterinarians?

60% of veterinarians are now female, breaking the 50-50 mark when the speaker was a sophomore.

What is the current attrition rate among veterinarians?

The attrition rate among veterinarians is about 5%, with more veterinarians leaving the field than entering it each year.

What is the suicide rate among veterinarians?

Since 2010, 10% of veterinarians who have died committed suicide, with 75% of those being small animal veterinarians.

How many of the speaker's friends, who are also veterinarians, have committed suicide since their graduation in 2016?

Three of the speaker's friends who are veterinarians have committed suicide since their graduation in 2016.

What is the typical work schedule for veterinarians?

The majority of veterinarians are scheduled for 50 hours of work a week, but they often end up working far more than that due to additional responsibilities like phone calls and connecting with clients.

Why do many veterinarians need second jobs?

Many veterinarians need second jobs because their primary job often requires them to work more hours than scheduled, and they may also need to pick up extra relief shifts.

What are some of the roles veterinarians are expected to play in addition to their medical training?

In addition to their medical training, veterinarians are expected to be counselors, educators, financial advisers, and team leaders. They are also the face and reputation of their business.

What is the speaker's advice for pet owners regarding pet insurance and financial planning?

The speaker recommends that pet owners get pet insurance or start a savings account for their animals to prepare for the inevitable medical expenses that come with pet ownership.

Why does the speaker discourage giving pets as gifts?

The speaker discourages giving pets as gifts because pets are a financial commitment and require time, love, socialization, training, exercise, and mental stimulation. They believe it's important for pet owners to be fully prepared for these responsibilities.

What is the speaker's suggestion for maintaining a proactive approach to pet health?

The speaker suggests that pet owners should partner with their veterinarian and see them every year for an exam, even if the pet appears healthy. This helps in early detection of diseases, which can be more treatable and sometimes reversible.

Outlines

00:00

🐾 Introduction to the Veterinary Profession

Dr. Bowden, a veterinarian, begins by discussing the lack of personal connections people often have with veterinarians. She outlines the extensive education and training required to become a veterinarian, including ten years of study, four years of undergraduate work, two years of post-bacc studies, and three years of veterinary college. She also mentions the significant financial burden of student loans, which she refers to as her 'brain mortgage.' Additionally, she highlights the gender shift in the profession, with 60% of veterinarians now being female, and the concerning attrition rate of 5%, partly due to compassion fatigue and burnout. The paragraph concludes with a shocking statistic: 10% of veterinarians who have died since 2010 have committed suicide, with a high proportion being small animal veterinarians.

05:00

🏥 A Day in the Life of a Veterinarian

Dr. Bowden provides a detailed account of a typical day in her veterinary practice. She describes the emotional challenges of dealing with a dying pet and the pressure of managing multiple cases simultaneously. She recounts a morning where she had to perform CPR on a dying pet while also managing a client's expectations and dealing with the logistical demands of a busy schedule. The paragraph illustrates the high-stress environment of a veterinary clinic, where veterinarians are expected to juggle patient care, client communication, and administrative tasks. Dr. Bowden also touches on the financial pressures faced by pet owners and the ethical dilemmas veterinarians face when treatment is unaffordable.

10:01

🚑 Emergency Cases and Emotional Toll

Dr. Bowden shares a poignant story about a cat named Ollie who had a life-threatening urinary tract obstruction. She describes the emotional and ethical challenges of discussing treatment options with the pet's owner, who was financially unable to afford emergency care. Despite the client's accusations and the potential financial repercussions, Dr. Bowden and her team decided to treat Ollie, saving his life. This anecdote underscores the immense emotional burden veterinarians carry, often leading to compassion fatigue and burnout. It also highlights the need for compassion and understanding from clients and the broader public.

15:04

🌟 The Importance of Client-Veterinarian Partnership

In the final paragraph, Dr. Bowden emphasizes the importance of a strong partnership between pet owners and veterinarians. She advocates for pet owners to be proactive in their pets' health by getting pet insurance or setting up savings accounts for veterinary care. She also discourages giving pets as gifts due to the significant time and financial commitments involved in pet ownership. Dr. Bowden stresses the value of annual veterinary check-ups for early detection of diseases and the mutual goal of ensuring pets live long, happy, and healthy lives. She concludes by expressing her hope for change through open conversations, empathy, and a better understanding of the responsibilities of pet ownership.

Keywords

💡Veterinarian

A veterinarian is a professional who practices veterinary medicine by treating animals for various health issues. In the video, the speaker is a veterinarian who emphasizes the long educational path and emotional challenges they face. The term is central to the video's theme, illustrating the personal and professional struggles within the veterinary profession.

💡Student Loan

A student loan is a type of financial aid that students take out to cover the cost of their education. The speaker mentions a significant amount of student loan debt, which she humorously refers to as her 'brain mortgage,' highlighting the financial burden that veterinarians often carry due to the extensive education required in their field.

💡Attrition Rate

Attrition rate refers to the percentage of professionals who leave a particular field over a certain period. The video discusses a high attrition rate among veterinarians, indicating that more are leaving the profession than entering it annually. This concept is crucial as it underscores the challenges and dissatisfaction within the veterinary industry.

💡Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is a state of emotional and physical exhaustion that can result from prolonged exposure to emotionally demanding situations, often experienced by healthcare professionals. The speaker mentions compassion fatigue as a reason for the high attrition rate among veterinarians, showing how the emotional toll of their work can lead to burnout and departure from the profession.

💡Suicide Rate

The suicide rate is the number of suicides per a certain number of people in a population. The video shockingly reveals a high suicide rate among veterinarians, particularly those who work with small animals like dogs and cats. This statistic is a poignant part of the video's narrative, emphasizing the severe mental health issues faced by professionals in this field.

💡Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is a type of insurance that covers veterinary expenses for pets. The speaker recommends pet insurance as a way for pet owners to be prepared for the financial burden of their pet's healthcare. This suggestion is part of the video's broader message about the importance of being a responsible pet owner and planning for the inevitable health issues pets may face.

💡Euthanasia

Euthanasia is the act of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering. In the video, the speaker discusses euthanasia as a difficult but sometimes necessary decision in veterinary medicine. The term is used to illustrate the ethical and emotional challenges veterinarians face when treating pets with severe or terminal illnesses.

💡Burnout

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. The video describes burnout among veterinarians, often resulting from the demanding nature of their work and the emotional strain of dealing with sick and dying animals. This concept is integral to understanding the challenges that contribute to the high attrition rate in the profession.

💡Veterinary Confessionals Project

The Veterinary Confessionals Project is mentioned in the video as a support system where veterinarians can share their experiences and feelings, particularly related to compassion fatigue, burnout, and suicidal thoughts. This project represents a form of community support that is crucial for the mental health of veterinarians.

💡Responsible Pet Ownership

Responsible pet ownership involves taking care of a pet's physical, emotional, and financial needs. The speaker emphasizes the importance of responsible pet ownership, advising pet owners to be proactive about their pet's health, consider pet insurance, and understand the commitment involved in owning a pet. This concept is central to the video's message about the role of pet owners in supporting the well-being of their pets and the veterinarians who treat them.

💡Pet as a Gift

The idea of giving pets as gifts is criticized in the video, as it overlooks the significant time, financial, and emotional commitments required for pet care. The speaker argues against this practice, highlighting that pets are not just gifts but living beings that require ongoing care and attention. This point is part of the broader discussion on the responsibilities and considerations involved in pet ownership.

Highlights

Veterinarians often lack personal connections in their profession.

It takes ten years of education to become a veterinarian.

Veterinary education involves undergraduate work, post-bacc studies, and clinical practice.

Veterinarians face significant student loan debt, often amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

60% of veterinarians are now female, breaking the gender balance.

The veterinary profession has a high attrition rate, with more leaving the field than entering.

Compassion fatigue and burnout are leading causes of veterinarians leaving the profession.

10% of veterinarians who have died since 2010 committed suicide.

Female small animal veterinarians have one of the highest suicide rates.

Veterinarians often juggle multiple roles, including counselor, educator, and financial adviser.

Veterinary work schedules are typically 50 hours per week, often extending beyond that.

Many veterinarians require second jobs to manage their financial commitments.

Veterinarians face criticism and legal action for not meeting client expectations.

The emotional toll of euthanizing pets due to financial constraints is immense.

Veterinary medicine is working towards addressing the mental health crisis within the profession.

Public understanding and support are crucial for the well-being of veterinarians.

Pet owners should be proactive about their pet's health and financial planning.

Pets should not be given as gifts due to the significant commitment they require.

Annual veterinary check-ups are essential for early detection of diseases and better treatment outcomes.

Transcripts

Transcriber: Eunice Tan Reviewer: Tanya Cushman

As I mentioned before, I am a veterinarian.

And it's been my experience

that most people don't personally know a veterinarian in their own life.

They may have one that they go to for services,

but they don't have one as a friend or a family member

or something like that.

And as such, I found that very few people can relate to what I do for a profession

and really understand me as a person.

So to get us all on the same page,

I wanted to start by just going through some facts

about the veterinary profession.

It took me ten years to become a veterinarian.

That includes four years of undergraduate work,

two years of post-bacc studies

while working as a veterinary assistant to gain clinical hours.

I then enrolled in WSU College of Veterinary Medicine -

"Go Cougs" -

and there did three years of lecture and lab work

and then a rotating year in clinics,

where you get to practice with animals, under supervision.

$286,000 is approximately the amount of student loan that I took

just for WSU alone.

I affectionately call this my "brain mortgage."

It equates to $1,100 a month for the next 30 years of my life,

and I will make my last payment when I am 62.

60% of veterinarians are now female.

We broke the 50-50 mark when I was a sophomore,

and so I'm really excited

to be able to be a female representative of veterinarians today.

We have a problem within our industry

where more veterinarians are leaving the field

than coming in every year.

It's about 5% attrition rate right now.

Some of that has to do with the fact that baby boomers are leaving,

but it also has to do with a lot of compassion fatigue and burnout

that's happening amongst my colleagues

and the fact that they're choosing to leave

because they just can't do it anymore.

This next statistic

is hard to transition to in any type of gentle way.

Of the veterinarians who have died since 2010,

10% have committed suicide.

Of the veterinarians who commit suicide,

75% are your small animal veterinarians that work with dogs and cats.

Three is the number of my friends who are veterinarians

who have taken their own lives since I graduated in 2016.

All of them were in their first five years of practice.

And then there's me.

As a female small animal veterinarian with a high debt load,

I represent one of the highest groups for suicide rate in our country.

And my profession is ranked number two,

just behind police officers,

but I am three and a half times more likely to take my life

than anyone else in this auditorium today.

I'm sure that was really shocking for most of you to hear

and not what you expect when you come to hear a veterinarian talk.

(Laughs)

The vast majority of people I introduce myself to

picture me doing something like this.

And they're not wrong.

There are definitely great moments in veterinary medicine,

and I love what I do.

But usually I am snuggling a dog like this

because I just dealt with a case like this.

So I'd like to take you through a day, a typical day,

at my veterinary practice, right now.

It's going to come at you pretty quickly,

and that's okay - that's how I experience it myself.

On this particular morning, about two or three weeks ago,

I arrived at the office around 7:45.

I like to get there a little early

so I have time to review my schedule, what's coming in that day.

On this particular day, I was met in the parking lot by my technician:

"Dr. Bowden, you've got to come in right away.

There's a pet here; the owner's crying. I don't know what to do - it's dying."

I was like, "Okay, I'm coming."

Ran into the back, assessed the pet, turned to the client,

and turned and gave her my poor prognosis

that the pet really wasn't doing well.

She turned to me, and she said,

"But Dr. Bowden, you have to save her."

And so I turned to my team,

"Guys, we need to place a catheter and start fluid boluses.

I need monitoring on this pet, blood work, X-rays, stat.

Let's get going."

They're rushing around, trying to do this stuff.

Everybody's dropped what they're doing to focus on this pet.

And while we're initiating treatment, the pet's heart stops.

And so we start CPR,

but she dies.

And the client's bawling in the back with us,

and so I turn to offer her a hug, and I'm consoling her.

But I'm distracted

because up over her shoulder is my other technician, Sarah,

and she's popping her head around the corner,

obviously trying to get my attention.

And so as [gracefully] as I can,

I transition from my hug and embrace of this client

to go figure out what's going on with Sarah.

So I walk over, and Sarah says,

"Oh, Dr. Bowden.

I don't know if you know, but it's 8:20.

Your first appointment's at 8:00.

She's waiting, livid; she's late to work.

She said if you're disrespectful of her time,

she's going to leave, put it all over Facebook."

I said, "Okay, no worry. I'll go in right now.

What is she here for?"

"She has a new puppy; they need vaccines."

Great.

So I walk up to the door,

and I take a deep breath to compose myself.

(Breathes)

I put on my best, award-winning smile,

I open that door, and I say,

"I am so sorry, Mrs. Smith, you have my complete attention.

Oh my gosh, who's this cute little puppy?

Where did he come from?

Congratulations on your new family member!"

And our day progresses from there.

In the next room, I had a dog that has chronic allergies.

The client was upset because she spends so much at our practice,

so I printed all of her invoices to show to her, for the fifth time,

that if she paid for the allergy medication,

it'd be a lot less expensive than seeing me all the time.

In the next room, we had a dog that had a bum leg.

He blew out his knee; he needed orthopedic surgery.

Put that on the schedule for next week.

Then I had a couple of wellness appointments, thank goodness.

Those go quicker: they just need vaccines.

Then, I was pulled aside by another technician, who said,

"Dr. Bowden, we have a couple of drop-offs here."

For those of you who don't know,

when a veterinarian's schedule is completely booked -

there's no more availability, but your pet is sick -

we offer a drop-off appointment,

which basically means

the small shreds of time I have in between appointments,

I'm going to see your pet

and make sure that they get the care they need.

So I pop into the back

to assess these animals that weren't on the schedule.

One had gotten into the trash.

It was vomiting, diarrhea all over the house - big mess.

Weren't sure if it had a foreign body or maybe it just had dietary indiscretion.

And we had a pet with diabetes that we were worried was really ill

and might be in a life-threatening condition

called diabetic ketoacidosis.

And a cat had been attacked by a dog,

and it had wounds that needed repair.

I triage these pets, give my technician the treatment plans, tell her,

"Call the clients, get it approved. I'll talk with you later."

So, head into my next appointment.

So one of my favorite clients -

she's a little old lady,

lives at the retirement facility at the end of the road -

she comes in mostly because she wants someone to talk to.

She doesn't have family in the area - her husband passed away recently.

And her decrepit, old, ancient, cute cat

is her last remaining connection

to her husband.

And so she really wants Fluffy to just live forever.

And so after that appointment,

I walked into what we call "same-day access,"

meaning an emergent appointment that had to be booked that morning.

And there is a pet that can't stand.

Went to the bathroom, didn't come back in;

owners went out, pet can't stand up.

So I'm talking to them about it,

and the female client's like,

"Yes, Dr. Bowden.

Everything you say, we're going to do.

We'll go to WCU, see the neurology specialist.

We'll do back surgery, whatever it costs.

Money's no option."

And her husband's like,

"I don't know what she's smoking, but we're putting the dog down."

(Laughs)

So I have to bring them on the same page and advocate for what's best for that pet.

I leave this, and I go into a phone call slot.

Phone call slots are for what it sounds like: phone calls.

I have lab work to call people back on, medical records I need to do.

I need to call those clients with those drop-off pets

and figure out a plan for them.

I'm sitting down to do all this work, when my receptionist pops in.

She goes, "Oh, Dr. Bowden, so glad I caught you -

you're not doing anything.

(Laughs)

Mr. Johanson's up front.

He came in for that diet for his cat, about the crystals.

He doesn't know how it works.

I don't know if you know I'm really busy.

I have a whole line of people up front that I need to address,

so I was really hoping you could come up and talk to him."

And I said, "Of course, that's what I'm here for."

So I walk up front and talk to Mr. Johanson

and in doing so, know that now I'm not going to have a lunch hour,

because I was going to sedate that cat and do that.

I'm going to have to stay late and make all these phone calls.

And guess what time it is?

We're only at 11 a.m.

It's not even lunch yet.

(Laughs)

And that's a very typical day at a veterinary clinic.

It's not a bad one; it's not a stressful one.

That's just my day.

The vast majority of veterinarians are scheduled for 50 hours of work a week.

They often end up working far more than that.

They have to make, you know, phone calls; they need to connect with their clients.

And so a lot of times,

they end up having to stay late to do this after hours.

The vast majority of, you know, my friends and colleagues

also end up needing second jobs,

which I never thought I would need.

And so I pick up extra relief shifts,

and on weeks that I do that, I end up working close to 80 hours.

Being a veterinarian takes a lot more than just my medical training,

which is something no one told me in school.

I'm expected to be a counselor, an educator,

a financial adviser, a team leader.

I am the face and reputation of our business.

When we can't fit this impossible standard,

when we can't possibly fit in one more pet

without compromising the care of others

or compromising the health and well-being of my team by making them stay late,

we're often attacked by our clients for being incompetent,

for not caring,

and in worst-case scenario, they sue us.

There is this particular case that I will always remember.

It was a cat named Ollie.

And Ollie came in

because he'd been straining to urinate for two to three days

and the owners thought it was really painful.

We were really hoping -

it was at close, we didn't have time -

but we were really hoping that it'd be something easy, right?

Like maybe Ollie just had a urinary tract infection -

we could give him some antibiotics, and everyone could go home.

But, of course, it wasn't easy.

Ollie had a urinary tract obstruction,

which is when they develop stones,

they can't pee because it gets stuck when they're trying to pass it,

and they die.

And so I told this to the client.

I explained what was going on, and I let her know,

"You'll need to go to the emergency clinic.

This is beyond what we're able to treat today."

And she turns to me, she goes,

"But I can't afford to."

I told her, "Well, you know, this condition is life-threatening.

He's obviously in pain,

and there's no guarantee he's going to survive treatment.

There's no guarantee it won't happen again -

actually, in 50% of the cases, it does.

You know, one of our options before us today as well is euthanasia."

And she turns to me, and she says -

and I will always remember this in vivid detail -

"Dr. Bowden, you're going to make me murder my pet because I am poor."

And she follows up with,

"Why are you even a veterinarian?

You clearly don't care about animals."

And I should have said something rational,

like "No, I'm offering euthanasia because your pet is in pain and suffering

and will die."

But instead, I fled the room because it had struck a chord.

It was the end of a long day, and I was going to cry,

and I didn't want her to see the impact that she'd had on me.

I went to the back, and I turned to my team and said,

"Look, these people really don't deserve our compassion,

but Ollie needs our care.

And so I need two people to volunteer to stay late and help me treat this pet."

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.

And in Ollie's case, we were able to save his life.

But I didn't do it for them.

I did it a little bit for Ollie,

but mostly I did it for me

because at the end of that day,

my mental health could not take taking that guilt home.

So I took the consequences.

I got berated by my practice manager the next day

for adjusting the bill to what they could afford.

My paycheck was docked for the difference.

But I'd saved a life.

And I understand and empathize with my colleagues

how on the end of a really bad day,

a bad shift,

they get to a really dark place.

And they sit at home, and they think about how,

cuffed by their student debt,

there's no escape

except to repeat this pattern of burnout and compassion fatigue

over and over and over again for 30 years.

And in my profession,

if a soul is suffering and there is no treatment option -

there's no other way out -

it's not only acceptable but compassionate to euthanize.

And we end up with headlines like one I read a couple of years ago.

I believe that veterinary medicine can be different.

Our profession is working really hard to take responsibility

for the part that is our own in this problem.

But profession-wide change is really hard,

and it's slow,

and it's unlikely to help someone like me,

suffering today.

And that is why I took this stage.

Because I believe the people that have the most impact on my friends

are all of you.

There are two groups available to us -

one's called Not One More Vet,

the other one's called the Veterinary Confessionals Project -

where veterinarians can reach out

and vent or talk about their issues

with compassion fatigue, burnout, and suicidal thoughts.

And the postings that I read over and over and over and over again

are those about how every perceived failure,

every time we have to euthanize a pet because we're unable to help,

every time we have a negative client interaction

or there's a bad review about us online,

it slowly chips away at our humanity

and our love for this profession.

But the posts that really scare me

are the ones where it alludes to the fact

that a really negative client interaction,

maybe like the one I had with Ollie's parents,

tip the scale,

and it made that day their last day.

You'll see hundreds of veterinarians post below that,

"Call me - here's my cell phone number."

"Reach out - you're not alone."

But they never respond,

and you just don't know.

And I bet you that that client

has zero idea the impact that their words made that night.

I believe that change is going to take open conversations like this one,

where we truly understand how we impact each other.

I think it's going to take

being more compassionate and empathetic as humans, in general,

and really listening to each other and meeting each other where we are.

But it's also going to take the general public

understanding what it looks like to be a responsible pet owner.

Because I guarantee you -

no veterinarian ever wants to be in the situation I was in with Ollie.

And if we could stop that from happening,

I'd be elated.

So every single client I see that comes in with a new puppy or kitten,

I recommend they get pet insurance

or they start a savings account for their animal.

Because that little puppy or kitten -

the one thing I can guarantee

is that it will grow up,

it will get older,

it will get sick,

and it will die.

And difficult decisions and discussions will have to be had

around not only what is medically possible for that animal,

but what you can financially afford

and what your lifestyle actually allows you to do

in terms of management of chronic disease in your pet.

I also believe that people should not give pets as gifts,

even to your own children,

because pets not only are a financial commitment

but one of time.

Pets need love,

they need socialization,

they need training,

they need exercise and mental stimulation

on a daily basis.

And I see far too many people coming in

and asking for sedation or tranquilizers or anti-anxiety medications

because their young Lab is bouncing off the walls

and they just can't handle it at home,

when really he needs a training class

and he needs more exercise.

But the biggest thing that you can do -

and I can't underscore this one enough -

is you can partner with your veterinarian

to be a proactive member in the health of your pet.

Whether or not your pet is healthy or sick,

needs vaccines or not,

you should be seeing your veterinarian every single year for an exam.

Through the detection of disease early on,

I can be my most effective for you.

Disease is not only way more treatable

but sometimes even reversible,

and it's less expensive,

and there are far more options available to us.

By partnering with your veterinarian,

we can get what we both are seeking.

You are in my office because you love that creature.

It means the world to you.

In many cases, it's your child.

I am there because I equally love that animal.

And both of us

want Fluffy to live the longest, happiest, and healthiest life possible.

And that is why I became a veterinarian

in the first place.

Thank you.

(Applause)