Animal instincts

Attrition is a persistent challenge across the animal care sector – and with significant numbers of practising vets considering leaving the profession, it has become an urgent one to solve. Tackling retention rates will require meaningful systemic change. So, where do we begin?

Veterinarians are essential to the health of our society – not just as clinical professionals, but as frontline contributors to food security, biomedical innovation and disease prevention in both animals and humans.

Yet despite their essential contributions, the full scope of their role and responsibilities is not always fully recognised, and the profession is navigating growing complexity and evolving expectations.

The veterinary industry is managing a range of pressures: from workforce shortages and increasing demand to the emotional toll and extended working hours. For many, this is raising concerns about long-term sustainability.

This is not just an animal health issue – it’s a public health concern. If we want to strengthen the systems that support both animals and people, we must ensure that veterinary professionals have the support, flexibility and recognition they need to thrive.

Zoetis’ recent white paper reveals just how widespread the workforce challenges have become. Across eight European countries, more than half of surveyed veterinarians say they’ve considered leaving the profession – and around one in four believe that time may come soon.

On average, veterinary careers span just 6.5 to 8 years: often shorter still for women. A significant proportion of UK respondents (75%) reported taking time off in the past year for work-related mental health reasons.

It’s clear that these are not scattered cases of personal struggle. The findings point to a broader set of pressures linked to legacy systems, shifting client expectations and an increasing disconnect between how veterinary care is delivered and the resources available to support it.

These findings have implications that reach beyond the animal health sector. A shrinking veterinary workforce could affect critical areas such as animal welfare, food security, zoonotic disease surveillance and efforts to manage antimicrobial resistance.

In the context of a One Health approach – where human, animal and environmental health are deeply interconnected – supporting a resilient and sustainable veterinary profession is in the shared interest of the entire healthcare ecosystem, including the broader pharmaceutical sector.

To retain veterinary professionals – and attract the next generation – we must focus on the structures that shape their day-to-day experience.

In our white paper, we outline three pillars for long-term change: enhanced team integration; tech-enabled efficiency and culture shift. Taken together, these provide a framework for creating healthier, more robust working environments.

Addressing these challenges will require rethinking traditional practice models and workplace expectations, with a focus on long-term sustainability.

This includes leveraging technology to improve efficiency, distributing workloads more strategically and fostering flexible, supportive practice cultures that meet the needs of today’s workforce.

It also involves recognising that newer graduates – many of whom are women – are not opting out of practice due to lack of interest, but because the current structures often don’t align with their expectations for meaningful, sustainable careers.

The good news is, it can be done. Across our region, I’ve seen many clinics begin to adopt more progressive approaches: offering part-time roles; flexible schedules and inclusive cultures. Unsurprisingly, these clinics often have no trouble attracting talent. Why? Because they’ve adapted to balance professional purpose and passion with realistic capacity.

At Zoetis, we believe this moment represents a promising opportunity for change – and we’re committed to being part of this necessary transition.

This means our role has evolved too. We’ve moved from product partner to strategic supporter of the profession’s well-being and resilience.

Through initiatives like the Zoetis Foundation – which provides grants to support veterinary well-being and education – and our industry partnerships on mental health, we’re investing in the future of the workforce. The white paper is a key component of this, and we hope it will act both as a call to action and a platform for dialogue and collaborative progress.

Veterinary medicine is one of the most inspiring professions in the world – but passion alone cannot address the growing pressures it faces. Protecting its future, and the health of both animals and humans, will require collaboration across industries, institutions and borders.

To our peers across healthcare: this is your opportunity too. Whether through cross-sector innovation, workforce development or shared One Health strategies, you have a role to play in strengthening the foundations of veterinary practice.

Together, we can ensure today’s talent is supported to stay, thrive and inspire those who will follow.

The health of animals and humans is profoundly interconnected – a concept known as ‘One Health’. This approach emphasizes that:

• Zoonotic Diseases: Many infectious diseases (zoonoses) originate in animals and can spread to humans. Examples include influenza, rabies, and coronaviruses
• Transmission Factors: Factors such as habitat encroachment, intensified agricultural practices, and global travel accelerate the transmission of these pathogens
• Bidirectional Transmission: Humans can also transmit diseases back to animals, demonstrating a two-way relationship
• Shared Environmental Impacts: Environmental factors like air, water, and soil pollution affect both animal and human health, impacting wildlife, livestock, and subsequently, human populations dependent on these resources
• Antimicrobial Resistance: The overuse of antibiotics in both human medicine and animal agriculture contributes to the rise of drug-resistant bacteria, posing a shared threat to effective treatments
• Collaborative Solutions: Addressing these intricate connections requires collaborative efforts across diverse disciplines, including medical, veterinary, and environmental sciences, to ensure global health security and sustainability.