Ask the Vet - A Day in the Life

We are learning in school about different careers, and I was wondering what a typical day in the life of a veterinarian is like.

The average day for a veterinarian who treats cats and dogs can be very hectic, but helping to make sick animals feel better and helping their owners understand what is happening with their pets make the hard work very much worth it. A typical day at my clinic goes something like this:

• The veterinary technicians and I arrive early in the morning and check on all the patients in the hospital. We examine them and give medications as needed.
• Then we call owners whose pets are patients in the hospital to let them know how their pets are doing.
• Next we begin our morning appointments (we usually see two to four patients every hour).
• In late morning or early afternoon, we begin surgery.
• After about 3 pm, we have afternoon appointments with new patients and patients returning for check-ups.
• At the end of the day, we return calls from clients who have questions about their pet’s treatment.

When we get a few minutes during the day, we catch up on paperwork, check test results, call owners with updates about their pets’ conditions, and coordinate with staff about the schedule for the following day. Some veterinarians also have “on call” hours, which means that they are available around the clock to talk to clients or return to the clinic to take care of pet emergencies.