I’ve met many who loved relief work and others who hated it. It’s not for everyone but I am going to attempt to shed some light on reasons why someone would want to make the change and become a relief veterinarian.

The goal is not to persuade anyone to become a relief veterinarian, rather, it is just to give some context to what happens when someone does decide to try and figure out a better way to practice veterinary medicine while also being able to tend to the demands of life that come outside the work.

I’ve spoken to people who’ve been completely terrified to step out as a relief veterinarian. If you’re in that same boat this should provide not just a good picture of what you’re getting into, but also some steps that you will want to consider taking if you go out on your own.

One of the greatest cons is that there is no promised consistency to your schedule or location. There can be inconsistency with the availability of shifts, inconsistency with how each practice operates (policies, procedures, methodologies, etc), and inconsistency in where you’ll be driving every day. For some, this variability is welcomed, as they love change. For others, this constant mode of change causes much anxiety. It doesn’t provide a natural, consistent pattern in their lives and can frustrate them enough to just want to say no to being a relief veterinarian altogether.

Some relief vets have been able to create some rhythm within their calendars and narrow down their schedule to work at only 2 or 3 practices. They schedule 1 practice on Mondays and Tuesdays, 1 on Thursdays, and the other on Fridays and Saturdays. Some veterinarians travel the United States while working at random practices.

The second-largest con is that you’ll need to learn how you should get paid. You’ll need to get with a professional to find out if you should open a limited liability company, a professional limited liability company, an S corporation, etc, to run your income through. Certified public accountants (CPAs) are usually the go-to people for this kind of advice. However, I will warn you that finding a good one can be difficult. Once you have your entity opened for your income to run through, you’ll also need to decide how much you’re going to pay yourself in a W-2 and learn how to pay your taxes on any distributions you will make/take from the business. This kind of advice is all over the map, from what I’ve seen. You can ask 10 different CPAs the same question and get 12 answers.

The best part of being a relief vet is that there aren’t any benefits paid by your employer since you are the employer. I know what you’re thinking: “That doesn’t sound like a pro; that sounds like a con.” This is where I will say that the best thing you can have is the ability to craft your package. Usually, when your employer is paying for your benefits, you are at the mercy of getting only what they are willing to pay for. Most of the time that I’ve reviewed compensation packages they’ve been decent, but they haven’t been the best for all employees. I believe this is partially because employers often assume that the best group packages for the employees are the most expensive and because the employer has to pay for these packages to be available to everyone, generally speaking, employers provide basic insurance coverage and basic retirement plans. These plans provide some benefits but may not match the level of quality you are wanting.

When you can craft your benefits package, you will find that the less expensive things can sometimes offer more benefits or even that you can craft an amazing 401(k) plan for yourself that provides much better flexibility and benefits to your retirement plan than any other employer could or would provide you.

The second pro I will mention is the obvious one. It’s the opposite side of the same coin that I mentioned earlier in the cons: Inconsistency in your calendar also means that you are in a lot more control of your calendar. You may find that you love this way of planning because you’ll be able to move dates around with a lot more ease. You don’t need anyone’s approval to go on vacation. You don’t need to put energy into wondering if you still have vacation days left with your employer. You are now in complete control of when you work and when you don’t, and that can be a benefit many wouldn’t want to pass up.

Securities products and advisory services offered through Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS), member FINRA, SIPC. OSJ: 4200 West Cypress Street, Suite 700, Tampa, FL 33607, 813-289-3632. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. The individuals associated with Florida Veterinary Advisors do not maintain specialized licenses or qualifications for the financial services provided to veterinary professionals. Florida Veterinary Advisors is not registered in any state or with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a Registered Investment Advisor. Florida Veterinary Advisors is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. 2024-173493 ex 4/2026.

Articles

Relief veterinary medicine offers control and diverse experiences but weighs the stability and benefit trade-offs.

Pros and cons of being a relief veterinarian

Bill Murray has 25 years of financial experience from the Bank of America Practice Solutions, financing division where he was most recently the senior vice president of the veterinary lending division. Murray wanted to provide more support to independent practice owners, and thus, founded Wicklow Healthcare Advisory to support practice owners with their exit sale strategy. According to a news release,

 Wicklow Healthcare Advisory is an advisory and brokerage firm specializing in the sale, purchase, and valuation of veterinary, dental, and medical practices and is now open for business. The advisory firm is based in Boston, Massachusetts but operates across the United States.

"The current healthcare environment and industry consolidation has brought many challenges but also many opportunities. Veterinarians need a trusted partner to help them navigate the maze of identifying and then acting on their practice exit strategy. We look forward to helping practice owners get the most value from their practice and find the best partner for the next stage of their life," said Bill Murray, founder and CEO of Wicklow Healthcare Advisory, in the release.

Wicklow is a full-service advisory firm that shares an expert opinion on the best sales target and whether that means selling to another doctor or a corporate buyer. Wicklow Healthcare Advisory services include:

 Wicklow can assess the market worth of each practice and provide specialized plans for owner departure.

Sell-side Advisory / Traditional Business Brokerage Services:

 Wicklow can handle putting the practice up for sale and directly reaching out to potential buyers within the company’s own network of contacts.

 Owners looking to buy a practice can also use Wicklow services for deal evaluation, financial analysis, and due diligence, and more.

To learn more about what a veterinary-focused advisor can bring to your hospital sale, 

 on the value this role has for your business needs.

Wicklow Healthcare Advisory launches healthcare practice sell-side advisory and brokerage firm for veterinary, dental, and medical practices. News release. Wicklow Healthcare Advisory. April 30, 2024. May 1, 2024.

Wicklow Healthcare Advisory was founded by Bill Murray and guides practice owners to ensure a smooth exit process from ownership

Sell-side advisory and brokerage firm for veterinary practices

The Association of Shelter Veterinarians (ASV) has announced the recipients for two of its most prestigious awards. Rebecca Fellman, DVM, was named the 2024 ASV Veterinarian of the Year, and Karla Brestle, DVM, is receiving the 2024 ASV Meritorious Service Award.

The ASV is a professional organization for veterinarians working in all aspects of animal sheltering. Since its founding in 2001, the association has provided a voice for veterinary shelter medicine, providing access to comprehensive, evidence-based resources and education for its members and shelters. The association’s awards aim to recognize “remarkable members of the ASV” who have made significant contributions to the field of shelter veterinary medicine and embody the ASV's mission to advance the health and welfare of animals in sheltering environments.

The Veterinarian of the Year Award was established in 2018. It recognizes individuals who have been outstanding in their role as a veterinarian to improve community animal health and wellbeing, according to the association. Established in 2010, the ASV Meritorious Service Award recognizes association members who have sustained contributions to the advancement of shelter veterinary medicine through leadership, public service, research, education, advocacy and/or clinical practice.

Photos courtesy of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians 

Rebecca Fellman, DVM, is being recognized for exceptional contributions and leadership in shelter medicine. “Her dedication to improving animal health and welfare, particularly in underserved areas, epitomizes the essence of this prestigious accolade,” according to the ASV.

A graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, Fellman has a background in small animal medicine and surgery. She has also played a pivotal role at the MSPCA-Angell in Boston, Massachusetts, “leading transformative initiatives, that have significantly enhanced access to essential veterinary services and positively impacted the lives of over 10,000 animals annually,” according to ASV.

Addressing medical barriers to adoption and establishing robust community outreach programs, she has used “visionary strategies” to evoke significant changes in shelter medicine practices. Notable, Fellman established a high-volume program in collaboration with Berkeley County Animal Center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, to trap, spay/neuter and vaccinate felines before returning healthy cats to their found locations.

Award recipient Karla Brestle, DVM, is the senior director of training and programs for the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance in Ashville, North Carolina, where she has practiced for more than 25 years. Brestle “is a distinguished veterinarian whose unwavering commitment and pioneering efforts in advancing high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter initiatives (HQHVSN) have left an indelible mark on shelter medicine globally,” according to the ASV.1

A graduate of North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine, the ASV has credited Brestle with “innovative leadership in formulating and implementing HQHVSN protocols has transformed spay/neuter practices, ensuring both effectiveness and evidence-based methodologies.” Additionally, Brestle has coauthored many publications and has led educational campaigns with the goal of empowering veterinarians and students in shelter medicine, fostering a culture of mentorship and inspiring countless individuals to enact change within their communities.

Association of Shelter Veterinarians celebrates 2024 award winners. News release. Association of Shelter Veterinarians. April 30, 2024. [email]

BerkeleyCountyAnimalCenter TNVR Community Cat Program. BerkeleyCountyAnimalCenter. Accessed May 1, 2024. 

https://bcganimalcenter.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/docs/TNVR_flyer.pdf

The professional organization named the 2024 Veterinarian of the Year and the Meritorious Service Award recipient

Association of Shelter Veterinarians honors 2 veterinarians

A Practical Guide to Managing Osteoarthritis: Making Sense of Current Therapies

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Investigators at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) have found the frequency of health condition diagnoses of purebred and mixed-breed canines are mostly equal. Results of their new study were recently published in the 

According to the investigators, it’s a common belief that purebred dogs are more prone to disease than mixed-breed dogs, but their study results debunked this myth. Research also found that certain canine breeds are prone to specific diseases, despite frequency equality in purebred and mixed-breed health condition diagnoses.

“There are several well-known diseases that frequently occur in specific dog breeds,” Kate Creevy, DVM, MS, DACVIM (SAIM), chief veterinary officer of the Dog Aging Project— a collaborative, community scientist-driven data-gathering research initiative—and a professor in the department of small animal clinical sciences at VMBS, said in a news release.

 “This has helped perpetuate the misconception that all purebred dogs are more prone to disease, but that is not the case.”

Investigators with the Dog Aging Project surveyed the owners of 27,541 companion dogs of which 50.6% were mixed-breed dogs and 49.4% were purebred dogs.

 The research revealed that some of the most common diagnoses such as ear infections or osteoarthritis (OA) occur in both purebreds and mixed-breed dogs. “Out of the 53 medical conditions that owners reported, 26 did not differ significantly between mixed-breed and purebred dogs,” Creevy said.

According to the study data, 25 breeds make up about 60% of the purebred dog population within the Dog Aging Project. Those breeds include, in order of popularity in the study, Labrador retriever, golden retriever, German shepherd, poodle, Australian shepherd, dachshund, border collie, Chihuahua, beagle, Pembroke Welsh corgi, boxer, Shi Tzu, miniature schnauzer, pug, Havanese, Cavalier King Charles spaniel, Great Dane, greyhound, Boston terrier, Siberian husky, Shetland sheepdog, English springer spaniel, Australian cattle dog and Doberman Pinscher.

Fifty-three unique medical conditions make up the top owner-reported medical conditions within the top 25 breeds in the study. “The medical conditions reported by owners of purebred dogs varied considerably,” Creevy said.

 “However, some conditions appeared frequently in the top 10 reported health conditions by breed.”

Across the 25 most popular breeds, those 10 conditions were: dental calculus, dog bites, extracted teeth, Giardia, OA, seasonal allergies, ear infection, heart murmur, fractured teeth and cataracts.

For mixed-breed dogs, the most common reported conditions were highly similar, with cataracts and heart murmur being replaced by torn or broken toenail and chocolate toxicity. Additionally, some conditions, such as dental calculus and OA, appeared with roughly the same frequency in both purebred and mixed-breed dogs. Other conditions were more common in one than the other; extracted teeth and dog bites were more common in purebreds vs ear infections in mixed-breed dogs.

Ultimately, one of the most important findings from the study is that dog breed is only one aspect of pet health to consider when creating a pet’s care plan or researching what kind of dog to adopt. “People should consider many factors when choosing a dog, including environment, lifestyle, social interactions and physical activity that will be available to the dog,” Creevy said.

 “Planning for both preventive veterinary care and medical care as the dog ages is also prudent. Dog owners should also talk with their primary care veterinarians about the kinds of medical problems to which their new dog might be particularly prone based on breed, size, sex, etc.”

The study also showed that some of the most common reasons owners take their dogs to the veterinarian have little or nothing to do with breed. “Dental disease, allergies and osteoarthritis are among the most common conditions for all dogs,” Creevy said.

 “Owners should work with their primary care veterinarians on a plan to manage dental health. Regular exercise and maintaining lean body weight may help delay, prevent or lessen the impact of osteoarthritis.”

Although the study is one of the largest cross-sectional studies of canine health, researchers at the Dog Aging Project are not finished with examining its findings. “We were surprised by the number of owners who reported that their dogs had experienced a bite from another dog,” Creevy said.

 “More investigation is needed to determine what this means and what particular factors might put an individual dog at risk.”

Price C. New study dispels myth that purebred dogs are more prone to health problems. News release. Texas A&M University. April 30, 2024. [email]

Forsyth KK, McCoy BM, Schmid SM, et al. Lifetime prevalence of owner-reported medical conditions in the 25 most common dog breeds in the Dog Aging Project pack. 

. November 23, 2023. Accessed April 30, 2024. 

https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1140417

Investigators examined owner-reported condition data for more than 27,000 dogs, and found the health of mixed-breed and purebred canines to be similar.

Study finds purebred canines are not more prone to health problems

The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) bestowed a $1 million grant to scientists at Iowa State University, as well as collaborators from South Dakota State University, University of Minnesota, Kansas State University, Ohio Animal Diseases and Diagnostic Laboratory, and Purdue University. The collaborators will use the Swine Disease Reporting System to quickly detect new strands of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV).

“For the first time in the swine industry, we can use private data, while keeping providers anonymous, to generate information and share it with stakeholders who can use it in the decision-making process to manage and control an economically important disease such as PRRSV,” explained Giovani Trevisan, DVM, MBA, PhD, research assistant professor at Iowa State, in the organizational release.

“Therefore, the platform has the potential to rapidly inform US citizens about health challenges affecting swine farms, which is critical for the sustainability and secure pork supply.”

According to the release, the teams have launched SDA BLAST Tool (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool), a web-based one-of-a-kind tool that veterinarians, producers, and other users can utilize to compare genetic sequences of PRRSV with those within the Swine Disease Reporting System.

 The Swine Disease Reporting System is a collaboration between 6 National Animal Health Laboratory Network-accredited veterinary diagnostic labs, university, and key stakeholders that collects collates and monitors diagnostic data from 9 infectious agents within swine herds in the United States. The reporting system also keeps farms, producers, production systems, veterinarians, and participating laboratories confidential.

Based on retrospective data collected, SDRS detected 133 new sequences of PRRSV from 2010 to 2023, with most new strands detected in samples that were collected in Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois.

 The majority of the new sequences were also detected in swine that were grow-finish, highlighting the importance of this age group of pigs on the ecology of the disease, and likely other pathogens. The result from the retrospective data is also highlighting the fact efforts to improve biocontamination and biosecurity are required and could help mitigate the risk of new strains emerging.

“Collaboration with industry stakeholders is critical to a timely disease response, and this project, in part through the SDRS Blast Tool, is building relationships needed on a day-to-day basis for endemic disease management,” said Michelle Colby, DVM, MS, national program leader for animal biosecurity at NIFA.

 “Relationships that will be essential if we are ever faced with the need to respond to a transboundary or emerging disease within the US swine industry.”

Since the SDRS PPRSV Blast Tool was released in February 2024, it had detected L1C.5 PRRSV, a very aggressive strain of PRRSV, in South Carolina for the first time. This poses an imminent threat to the largest swine breeding inventory in the US located in North Carolina, where this strain has never been seen before.

It also helped identify the PRRSV sequence detected in South Carolina was a 100% match to sequences in other states, that were not neighboring South Carolina.

The SDRS Blast Tool can also be adapted to receive sequences from other pathogens such as the African Swine Flu (ASF). If the tool detects ASF in the United States, and permitted by the USDA, the participant lab could send the generated sequences of ASF on a real-time basis to keep track of the genetic evolution and pathogen spread of the sequence.

Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory scientists develop tool to rapidly detect devastating swine disease. News release. National Institute of Food and Agriculture. April 29, 2024. Accessed April 30, 2024. https://www.nifa.usda.gov/about-nifa/impacts/veterinary-diagnostic-laboratory-scientists-develop-tool-rapidly-detect

Researchers across the United States are utilizing a grant from the USDA to detect Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus