A Vet Med Betrayal List
A completely unserious ranking of things that have absolutely turned on us.
Inspired by that viral Kanye betrayal list that shook the internet, we present the vet med edition – a dramatic, emotional, and slightly unhinged inventory of things we trusted…that betrayed us anyway.
This list is not in any particular order because ranking pain seems unnecessary.
“It Should Be a Quiet Day”
Someone said it out loud.
We believed it.
The universe heard us…and laughed.
Suddenly:
- Three walk-ins
- Two staff call-outs
- One emergency
- And a printer jam
This phrase is cursed and should be removed from all clinic vocab immediately.
The Vein That Was “Right There”
You saw it.
You felt it.
You were confident.
Then:
- It rolled
- It vanished
- It gaslit you
Betrayal of the highest order.
We trusted Google once.
Now we live with the consequences:
- “It says here my dog has cancer because he sneezed.”
- “Google said you don’t need to give all the antibiotics if your dog starts feeling better.”
- “This breeder forum says you’re wrong.”
Google is not credentialed.
Google has never worked a shift in vet med.
The Clinic Printer
Worked flawlessly all morning.
Broke down the moment it was needed for:
- A health certificate
- A surgical consent
- A client who is already frustrated and in a rush
The printer waits.
It watches.
It strikes when morale is the weakest.
The Patient Who Pees Right After You Clean the Kennel
Immediately.
Aggressively.
Personal.
The Phone That Rings Again Immediately After You Answer It
You just put someone on hold.
You are mid-sentence, apologizing for having to put them on hold.
And yet…it rings again.
Somewhere, the phone gods are laughing.
The Schedule
We trusted it.
We believed it.
Then it betrayed us by:
- Stacking complicated cases
- Hiding double bookings
- Pretending lunch doesn’t exist
“I’ll Eat After This Appointment”
Narrator voice: They did not eat.
Cats
Specifically:
- The ones who were “fine in the carrier”
- The ones who “never act like this”
- The ones who turn into Olympic gymnasts mid-exam
Holiday Weeks
They promised festivity.
They delivered:
- Health cert panic
- Short tempers
- Staffing nightmares
- A sudden influx of “found animals in boxes”
Every year…
Without fail.
The Breakroom Snack You Were Saving
You thought it would be there later.
It was not.
The Last Appointment of the Day
We wanted to believe it would be simple.
It was not simple.
It was never simple.
It never will be.
“This Has Never Happened Before”
It absolutely has.
Just not in front of the owner.
Your Own Optimism
You said:
“Today feels manageable.”
Vet med said:
“LOL…watch this.”
Final Thoughts
Vet med is a profession built on trust – in our tools, our systems, our schedules, and sometimes our own unrealistic optimism.
And while betrayal is inevitable, we show up anyway.
Because even after the printer jams, the nail trims lie, the phones scream, and the schedule collapses…we still care deeply, laugh loudly, and keep going.
Coaching vs. Discipline: How Practice Managers Can Make the Right Call
Coaching vs. Discipline: How Practice Managers Can Make the Right CallBecause not every mistake deserves a write-up - and not every issue can be coached away. Managing people in a veterinary clinic means navigating one of the trickiest leadership challenges: Knowing...
Vet Receptionist Week: A Love Letter to the People Who Hold it All Together
Vet Receptionist Week: A Love Letter to the People Who Hold it All TogetherWorking in vet med, you already know: The front desk is not just “the front desk.” It is: Command center Crisis management Customer service Scheduling wizardry Emotional support And conflict...
“It’ll Be a Quiet Day”: Famous Last Words in Vet Med
“It’ll Be a Quiet Day”: Famous Last Words in Vet MedThere are many things in vet med that can’t be predicted: How a patient will react How long an appointment will take Whether the printer will work If you’ll actually get a full lunch break But there is one thing we...
Clinic Culture Isn’t Just a Buzzword – It’s Your Daily Reality
Clinic Culture Isn’t Just a Buzzword - It’s Your Daily RealityAnd your team feels it whether you define it or not. “Culture” is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot in vet med. It shows up in job postings.It gets mentioned in meetings.It’s something...
When Burnout Meets Short Staffing: How it Impacts Clinic Performance
When Burnout Meets Short Staffing: How it Impacts Clinic PerformanceThis isn’t about people failing. It’s about systems under strain. Vet med is no stranger to being busy. But there’s a difference between a busy clinic and a clinic that is running on empty. When...
Things I Say to Cats That Make Me Sound Like a Creepy Old Man
Things I Say to Cats That Make Me Sound Like a Creepy Old ManAn ongoing investigation into my own behavior. There’s a very specific version of me that only exists around cats. That version: Speaks in a tone I do not use anywhere else Says things that cannot be...
