A Veterinarian’s Guide to Surviving December: Step One, Coffee.
Because holiday spirit alone won’t get you through this month.
December outside the clinic might be all about twinkly lights, peppermint-scented magic, and adorable pets in sweaters.
December inside the clinic?
A festive battlefield.
Here’s your completely unofficial, definitely relatable, mildly caffeinated guide to surviving the final month of the year in vet med:
Step One: Coffee
This is not a suggestion.
This is oxygen.
December clinics run on:
- Caffeine
- Adrenaline
- And the promise that someday, somehow, you might get a nap
If you manage to drink your coffee while it’s still warm in December, congrats – you win the entire month.
Step Two: Accept the Holiday Appointment Avalanche
“How did the schedule look this morning?”
Like someone shook it like a snow globe and then stepped on it.
December schedules contain:
- Triple-booked appointments
- Walk-ins who “thought you didn’t close until 9 PM”
- Old clients returning from the dead
- Seven health certs that all need to be done yesterday
- One elderly dog who “just needs his toenails trimmed real quick” (lies)
Accept the chaos.
Embrace the chaos.
Become the chaos.
Step Three: Prepare Emotionally for Holiday Decorations
Holiday decor in clinics is beautiful…until:
- A cat climbs the tree
- A dog eats the wrapping paper
- A ferret steals a jingle bell and sprints across the lobby like a tiny, furry thief
- A client says “he LOVES ornaments” (he does not)
If you put up decorations, understand you are offering an enrichment activity for every patient who walks in.
Step Four: Inventory Everything Because Winter Hoarders Arrive
Clients suddenly remember:
- Med refills
- Preventative meds
- Expired prescriptions
- Supplements they haven’t purchased since March
The phrase “We’re travelling tomorrow, do you have ____?” will be said 400 times.
Stock up.
Prepare your soul.
Step Five: Prepare for The Great Coat & Boot Struggle
Every December, dogs come in wearing boots that make them walk like malfunctioning robots.
Cats coming in wearing sweaters that say “Merry Christmas” while they are plotting your murder.
And every client opens with:
“We thought he’d like his festive outfit!”
He does not.
But we appreciate the effort.
Step Six: Be Ready for Surprise Clients
December is the month of treats appearing magically on the counter.
Clients will bring:
- Cookies
- Brownies
- Gift cards
- Giant popcorn tins
- Extremely strong cinnamon candles
- Mysterious homemade items with “just try it!” energy
Staff will devour everything in seconds.
No one remembers who brought what.
It is beautiful.
Step Seven: Prepare Your Heart for the Emotional Whiplash
December is full of:
- New puppies & kittens (joy!)
- Senior pets in decline (heartbreak)
- Holiday emergencies (chaos)
- End-of-year goodbyes (tears)
- Pets in tiny Christmas sweaters (blessed moments)
It is a roller coaster powered entirely by feelings and fur.
Be gentle with yourself.
And let yourself laugh…often.
Step Eight: The End-of-Year Cleanup That No One Mentally Prepares For
Suddenly management decides it’s a great time for:
- A deep clean
- Inventory counts
- Reorganizing storage
- Restocking meds
- Filing “everything from this year”
Meanwhile you’re still holding a Christmas cookie in one hand and a vomiting cat in the other.
Step Nine: Find Joy Where it Hides
December is tough.
But it’s also wonderfully full of:
- Clients who bring thank-you cards
- Pets who somehow behave better in sweaters
- Coworkers who surprise each other with lunch
- Holiday playlists that make charting slightly more bearable
- The feeling of making it through another year together
Vet meds can feel like a snowstorm…
But it’s a snowstorm full of incredible people. (You, we mean you.)
Step Ten: Celebrate the Win (Surviving December)
When the month ends, do something nice for yourself:
- Uninterrupted nap
- Fancy coffee
- Absolutely no holiday music
- Something that sparks joy and involves zero charting
You did it.
You survived December.
You powered through with compassion, caffeine, and a little bit of chaos magic.
And that deserves celebration.
Tough Love in Vet Med: When a Client is No Longer a Fit
Tough Love in Vet Med: When a Client is No Longer a FitAs vet med professionals, we enter this field to care for animals, support pet owners, and make a positive difference. But sometimes, despite our best intentions, certain clients create situations that are...
Beyond Pizza Parties: How to Celebrate Your Vet Techs in Ways They’ll Actually Appreciate
Beyond Pizza Parties: How to Celebrate Your Vet Techs in Ways They'll Actually AppreciateVet tech week (October 12-18 this year!) is almost here - and if you're a practice manager, you're probably brainstorming ways to make your technicians feel seen, valued, and...
From Micromanaging to Empowering: How Delegation Transforms Clinics
From Micromanaging to Empowering: How Delegation Transforms ClinicsIn the fast-paced and sometimes hectic world of veterinary care, your role as a practice manager (PM) plays a crucial role in ensuring your clinic operates as smoothly as possible. From managing...
Lateness, Lies, & Loose Heifers: The Client No-Show Excuses Hall of Fame
Lateness, Lies, & Loose Heifers: The Client No-Show Excuses Hall of FameA Definitive Ranking of the Best (and Worst) Client Excuses of All Time. Let's face it: every clinic has its own personal anthology of client excuses for missed or late appointments. Some are...
When Loyalty Comes With Luggage: Handling Difficult, Longtime Clients
When Loyalty Comes With Luggage: Handling Difficult, Longtime ClientsEvery veterinary practice has that client. You know the one. They've been with the clinic longer than half your staff. They bring every new puppy, every senior cat, and sometimes the neighborhood...
What We Wish We Could Say: Vet Med Myth Edition
What We Wish We Could Say: Vet Med Myth EditionIf you've worked in vet med for more than 5 minutes, you've probably heard a client say something so wildly off-base that you briefly questioned reality. "Can't I just give Tylenol?" "He's not sick - he's just been...
