Loki was a 12-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier. He was one of my first cases of cancer. I was 25 year-old. I originally saw him because of vomiting and weight loss, and we proceeded with blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound, which revealed a large stomach mass. For weeks, I managed him with palliative care, keeping his owner updated on every step, explaining the poor prognosis, and trying to do everything I could to make him comfortable.

Eventually, the difficult day came. I wasn’t working that day, and my colleague, who was also my girlfriend at the time, had to perform Loki’s euthanasia. That evening, she came to my house and told me something the owner had said after Loki was put to sleep. She admitted she had hesitated to tell me, not wanting to hurt my feelings, but she felt it was important for my professional growth. What Loki's owner told her was “Thank you. Your colleague should learn some of your human touch.”

I was devastated. I had entered veterinary medicine to care for every patient the best I could, yet in that moment, I realized that I hadn’t come across as warm or empathetic. I absolutely hadn’t intended to seem cold, I just didn’t know how to balance professional composure with human connection at 25. That day taught me one of the hardest lessons: being a good vet isn’t just about medical skills. 

When I finished vet school, I thought I had it all figured out. I was taught the diseases, the treatments, and how to perform procedures. What I didn’t realize was that real-life veterinary medicine teaches lessons that no textbook ever covers!

Here are five things I’ve learned as a vet that I haven't found in any books.

1. How You Say Things Matters More Than What You Say

Loki's case was a great example. Vet school teaches you how to treat animals but, and this still shocks me, not how to talk to their humans. In reality, a huge part of my job is listening and talking to my clients. Being clear, patient, and empathetic often makes a bigger difference than any treatment plan. I know amazing vets who are really unpopular with clients due to their poor social skills and average (from the point of view of medical knowledge) vets who are really popular with clients due to their amazing social skills. 

2. Pets Are Family

As someone who studied in Italy and moved to the UK shortly after graduation, I wasn't ready for this big cultural difference. Don't get me wrong, in Italy pets are very much loved, but they are seen as an addition to the family, whether in the UK, for most people, pets are family! They’re like children, companions, and in some cases, the center of someone’s world. Understanding how much they mean to their owners changes everything.  Recognizing this bond makes my job more rewarding and more meaningful.

3. Money Gets in the Way

In vet school, you’re taught the gold-standard approach: run the tests, confirm the diagnosis, and treat accordingly. But in real life, veterinary medicine is funded privately by the pet owners, and cost plays a huge role. Many diagnostic tests and treatments are unfortunately expensive, and not every pet owner can afford them. I quickly realized that being a good vet wasn't just about knowing what the “ideal” plan looks like. It’s actually all about working within the owner’s means while still doing what’s best for the animal. This often means prioritizing. I often start my explanations by saying "I’ll first explain what I would do in an ideal world, where money isn’t an issue. Then we can make a plan together based on what’s realistic for you". I find that often this sentence creates connection and trust and gives people a good idea of the fact that I do want to do my best for their animal.

4. Prevention Is Everything

You have probably heard that story where, in ancient China, people used to pay the doctor when they were well and stopped paying once they became ill? I have never really investigated whether it is true or not, but I love the concept. Western medicine, both human and veterinary, is very much focused on treatments once the disease has occurred. But it is the small lifestyle changes what often makes the biggest impact. The right diet, adequate exercise, mental stimulation, and enrichment can prevent problems before they start.  Teaching owners how to care for their pets every day, rather than just fixing problems, is where good things happen.

5. Being a Vet Is Emotional, Self-Care is Essential

Finally, being a vet is emotionally hard. Euthanasia, emergencies, and grieving owners are a part of life that no class prepares you for. I have shared on this same platform in the past my experiences with burnout, and it's not been pleasant. Maybe things have changed today, but I can't believe that when I was a vet student nobody taught me how to deal with emotional fatigue.

I will never forget something that happened years ago, when an old woman was telling me the symptoms of her 9 year old cat. It was 11 pm, I was on call, hadn't slept for 24 hours and was very unhappy. I was thinking "I couldn't care less about your cat". I feel absolutely ashamed of that, but this is what happened. At that moment I realized that something needed to change. I realized that I needed help. Today I have completely changed my working pattern. In a few years I went from being an intern working 80 hours a week to being a GP vet working 40 hours a week to now, working as a clinical vet two days per week. Since I have cut my hours, my love for the profession has come back and I feel this is the best way for me to give my patients the care they deserve,

Learning to understand your emotions, having a life outside of veterinary medicine, and taking care of yourself is essential. If you’re not well, it’s impossible to give animals proper care.

The Big Takeaway: It’s About People as Much as Pets

When I tell people I am a vet, the most common comment I get is: "oh, so nice, you work with animals, you don't have to work with people". It always shocks me how people can't see that my job involves constant interaction with humans. After all, a dog doesn't come to see me spontaneously when ill, they usually come with a human! So, no, veterinary medicine, at least small animal medicine, isn't only about animals. Actually,  it’s mainly about understanding people and their emotions, and helping them make the best choices for their pets. The more I focus on connecting with owners, the more effective I am as a vet, and the happier the animals are.