The scenario is often the same: Facebook pages, “Spotted” groups, and short videos shared on social media highlighting negative comments targeting veterinarians and their teams. These remarks are often hurtful, baseless, and personal attacks. Sometimes, they are paired with poor Google review ratings. This trend is both sad and troubling.

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I am very sensitive to the pain and stress families experience when faced with treatment costs that are beyond their means and feel overwhelming. Most veterinarians are. What I’m advocating for is respectful dialogue between clients and veterinary teams.

Harassment, a troubling reality

I have a friend who is a veterinarian I deeply admire, a truly dedicated professional. Since the pandemic, one of her colleagues has been on medical leave awaiting surgery, and her team has been operating with reduced staff. Despite the added workload, she insists on keeping her veterinary hospital open on weekends. Being open on Sundays is increasingly rare for general practice clinics, as emergency centers usually take over. We are talking about a committed, hardworking, and skilled team.

Recently, on a day when their schedule was already packed, a regular client couldn’t be seen that same day. Asking more from the team that day simply would not have been acceptable. The disappointed client left a negative review online, and dozens of people piled on, publicly criticizing the clinic and its veterinarians. The entire team was shaken. After all their efforts to serve clients seven days a week, they were met with a wave of hostility.

Let’s choose dialogue instead

Please, I implore you, don’t take part in this kind of behavior that has gone on for far too long. If a friend is unhappy with their experience at the vet, encourage them to call the clinic’s manager. Did you know that due to medical confidentiality laws, veterinarians cannot explain a situation publicly on social media?

It happened to me once, someone left a very harsh Google review about me, personally. I was never able to share my side of the story or that of my team. The woman had brought in a pregnant dog that should never have been bred in the first place, and wanted me to sign false papers to sell the puppies for more money. She didn’t pay her bill and had opened her file using fake personal information. I refused her request but still gave advice to help the dog and puppies. Online, she claimed I only cared about money. Two days later, she had convinced several of her friends to also leave negative reviews on the clinic’s Google page. Even though this incident hurt me deeply, I was never able to share the other side of the story. Legally, I still cannot.

So again, I ask you to please not contribute to this kind of thing. It helps no one, least of all the animals. Animals need strong, fulfilled veterinarians who feel valued in their work. Those are the professionals you want to build long-term, trusting relationships with.

I also want to thank the clients who work hand in hand with their veterinary team for the well-being of their pets. It is largely for them that veterinarians continue to practice.

Let’s choose kindness in 2024. That is my wish for all of us.