Put Out the Burnout: Ways to Encourage Veterinarians to Stay at Your Practice

We have to admit – things are looking a little frantic right now in the US veterinary landscape, with the industry under ever-increasing pressure due to rising demands for veterinarian staff and low retention rates among practices.

Practices across all states have been struggling to retain their veterinarians. Research from the American Animal Hospital Association shows that around 30% of veterinary professionals are considering leaving their current roles.

Although there are many factors at play as to why veterinarians leave their practices, one common factor that many of them boil down to is burnout.

This burnout that many veterinarians are experiencing is real. It’s not just a passing feeling or an issue that a week’s vacation can remedy – but something that’s significantly affecting the veterinary industry across the states right now. Research by Zoetis reports that nearly half of veterinarians report burnout, with many considering leaving the profession altogether.

Indeed, at Tempus Veterinary Recruitment, burnout is one of the biggest reasons DVMs come to us looking for a move – but just as importantly, it’s often preventable. It comes down to understanding why your staff are feeling like they’re at the limit, and how to help them when (and before) they do!

Although there has been little recent research examining the causes of burnout among veterinarians, a 2023 report from the highlighted the following as the leading contributors to burnout:

• Unmanageable workload
• Lack of support or poor communication from managers
• Unclear roles and expectations
• Unfair treatment in the workplace
• Unreasonable time pressures

So, we thought we’d give you some practical tips on how to keep your staff from burning out…

Reduce the Workload and Administrative Burden

Easier said than done, perhaps, but one way for practices to reduce the pressure on veterinarians is to lessen their day-to-day workload, either by assigning them fewer clients or patients, or by giving them more time between appointments.

Fortunately, in the veterinary industry at least, recent advances in AI and technology mean that many manual admin tasks can now be automated with tools such as ezyVet, Scribenote, and Covetrus Pulse.

These AI tools help DVMs spend less time on paperwork and more time focusing on patient care. They also reduce overbooking, give DVMs more time between appointments, protect their lunch breaks, and perhaps most importantly, help them finish on time.

Some other ways clients and practice leaders have eased the pressure on their staff include:

• Protecting consultation buffers so veterinarians have time to handle notes, emergencies, and difficult cases properly
• Giving veterinarians and support staff clearer ownership of call backs, repeat prescriptions, and routine updates
• Improving visibility across appointments, surgeries, and emergency bookings to avoid overloading teams
• workflows for admissions, discharges, and patient handovers so nothing gets missed

Give Veterinarians the Time to Do the Job Properly

The fact that so many veterinarians feel overworked says a lot about the pressures facing the profession right now.

Sometimes it’s not even the work itself, but the constant unpredictability around it. Things like overbooked consultations, missed breaks, and last-minute add-ons all build up over time. That pressure affects well-being and impacts the quality of care, too.

Giving veterinarians the time to do the job properly isn’t about getting them to do less, but about creating a space where they aren’t being stretched too thin.

Proper training in areas like AI systems, as mentioned, can significantly cut down admin time, allowing DVMs to focus more on patient care and client interaction, where their time creates the most value.

Happy, sustainable teams are built on:

• Proper use of technology and AI tools to reduce admin and improve workflow
• Predictable schedules that give veterinarians structure to their day and reduce disruptions
• Protected lunch breaks that allow them to step away and reset
• Fewer last-minute add-ons so they aren’t pressured into squeezing in “just one more” patient
• Clear boundaries between emergencies and convenience appointments, so everything doesn’t become urgent

Veterinarians stay where they feel supported, in control of their time, and confident they’re not burning out.

Support Veterinarian Mental Health and Wellbeing

A 2024 study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that around 10% of US veterinarians are experiencing serious psychological distress.

While there’s been progress in recent years, stigma around mental health support still exists, and it’s not always addressed the way it should be, nor is it always easy to know how to get the help you need.

That’s why it’s so important to make mental health support feel normal and accessible, and genuinely a part of your clinic’s culture, not just something that looks good on paper.

At Tempus, we are proud to be partnered with Not One More Vet, an organization dedicated to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals.

Through peer-to-peer support, educational resources, outreach programs, crisis support, and wellbeing training, NOMV provides veterinarians with easy access to guidance and resources that many business owners and managers may not always have the experience, time, or tools to provide themselves.

Their CLEAR Blueprint programme also helps practices create mentally healthy workplaces through a wealth of practical wellbeing resources, workplace policies, and standards designed to help veterinary teams feel respected, supported, and valued.

In a profession where burnout, compassion fatigue, and stress are so prevalent, having access to this specialist guidance can make a real difference not just for individuals, but for the long-term health of the profession as a whole.

Create a psychologically safe workplace by:

• Encouraging open conversations about stress, burnout, and wellbeing
• Training leaders to recognize and respond to the early signs of burnout and compassion fatigue
• Creating an environment where every team member feels heard, valued, and psychologically safe
• Fostering trust and open communication across the team
• Encouraging healthy boundaries, breaks, and recovery from workplace stress
• Demonstrating a commitment to wellbeing at every level of the practice

Make Your Veterinarians Feel Seen, Heard and Supported

Your veterinarians don’t just stay for the pay or the perks. We’ve seen first-hand at Tempus how for many candidates, feeling respected, understood, and listened to are often a far bigger reason for them to accept a job, or stay one, than any standard workplace benefit.

And it’s important to remember that support doesn’t look the same for everyone. A discounted gym membership might mean a lot to one DVM, while another may value more flexibility, mentorship, mental health support, or greater control over their schedule.

Taking the time to understand what actually matters to each individual in your team goes a very long way.

In a profession that’s so high-pressure and emotionally demanding, making sure your staff feel seen and supported can make all the difference – the work may be difficult, but knowing it’s genuinely appreciated helps people stay engaged and motivated.

One of the key drivers of retention we see at Tempus is career development. Veterinarians want opportunities to grow, and that doesn’t necessarily mean climbing the career ladder. It could be developing a clinical interest, pursuing CE, taking on leadership responsibilities, or working towards ownership. Whichever area it may be in, a clear progression pathway gives talented DVMs a reason to stay.

Get the fundamentals right by:

• Providing clear pathways for career growth, mentorship, and skills development to encourage long-term investment
• Having clear communication from seniors, whether it’s changes in rota, workload, or professional direction
• Acknowledging the work of your DVMs, such as the quality of care, decision-making, and the emotional load that comes with the role
• Creating a safe environment where staff feel comfortable giving honest feedback without risking any friction
• Acting on feedback so staff can see that concerns are being taken seriously
• Understanding what support matters most to each individual, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach

How We Can Help

Of course, even the best systems and processes won’t make a difference if your team is stretched too thin.

At Tempus, we help practices find the right hires, easing pressure on existing teams and supporting more sustainable workloads.

With a flexible, no-commitment approach and fees only applied on successful placements, we offer a low-risk way to access a wide network of veterinarians, giving your team the breathing room it needs to perform at its best.

Interested in a consultation? Get in touch with us today.