Large animal vets are dissappearing and not being replaced. There are many reasons, and they are displayed below. Why do we want to know this? Remember: Knowing the problem(s) helps you find the solution(s).
Older vets
Lack of interest
Education problems
Older vets
- Half of large animal vets are ready to retire (if they ever do-most vets work to the end)
- 1/3 of government vets are likely to retire in the next 3 years
Lack of interest
- Only 2% of vet students plan to work with large animals
- Most graduates of vet schools want to live in the city
- Few students have a background in agriculture or experience with food animals
- Rural vets have physically demanding job and long, unpredictable hours
- Large animal vets earn smaller salaries than small animal vets
Education problems
- There are 28 vet schools in 26 states in the U.S.A.
- There are only 5 in Canada.
- Large animal vet students have an average college debt of $134,000
- 2,500 vets graduate in the U.S.A. each year.
- U.S. vet schools have had no growth in size for 20 years
- Federal funding to vets hasn't increased in 30 years
- Economy related budget cuts resulted in a loss of $50,000,000 to veterinary education
- Admission to vet school is highly competetive