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.