From Attrition to Appreciation: Rebuilding Veterinary Clinic Culture from the Inside Out

Gershon Alaluf DVM, MBA, DBA Candidate and Dani Rabwin DVM, Ready Vet Go

What is in the article

Veterinary medicine is experiencing a culture and retention crisis: nearly one-third of professionals plan to leave their job within a year, and many will exit the profession entirely. An analysis of over 8,000 Reddit posts reveals lived experiences that echo formal research—clinic culture, psychological safety, recognition, and growth are decisive in determining whether staff stay or go. Toxic workplaces drive attrition; supportive and appreciative environments create loyalty. This article explores what the data and stories say, highlights blind spots in how we talk about culture, and provides implementable practices clinic leaders can adopt today to strengthen retention and wellbeing.

A Profession in Peril

Veterinary medicine is at a crossroads. Once fueled by passion and a deep sense of calling, too many veterinarians and support staff now find themselves wondering if they should walk away. Turnover is climbing, burnout is endemic, and the economic costs are staggering. The American Animal Hospital Association’s Stay, Please survey (2024) found that 30% of veterinary professionals plan to leave their job within a year, with 15% intending to leave clinical practice altogether—and the vast majority of those never planning to return. This is not a pipeline problem. Veterinary schools continue to graduate bright, motivated students. The issue is what happens once they step into practice. Thousands of Reddit posts from veterinarians, technicians, and students describe their day-to-day realities—uncensored, emotional, and often painful. When we analyze those voices alongside the latest academic research, a clear pattern emerges: culture at the clinic level is the decisive factor. Toxic culture drives people out; supportive, appreciative, psychologically safe culture makes them stay.

What the Reddit Voices Reveal

From over 8,000 Reddit posts by veterinary professionals, two broad narratives dominate. Nearly half of negative posts referenced toxic culture—bullying, poor leadership, gossip, and disrespect—and almost as many directly expressed intent to quit. About fifteen percent described fear of speaking up, humiliation, or blame for mistakes. Few used the term 'psychological safety,' but many described its absence: 'I can’t tell my boss when I’ve made a mistake without getting yelled at.' On the positive side, the most frequent protective factor was recognition, with nearly half of positive posts mentioning feeling appreciated. Growth and autonomy were also celebrated, with many staff noting they stay when they feel trusted to use their skills. Work-life balance and wellbeing, while less frequent, were deeply valued when present.

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