07/05/2026
This weekend we’ve had two separate clients contact us after what they described as really upsetting experiences with their veterinary practices.
Now before anyone sharpens the pitchforks, we only ever hear one side of the story in these situations. Veterinary professionals work under enormous pressure and I genuinely believe the vast majority go into the profession because they care deeply about animals.
But it did get me thinking after a conversation with one of our trusted vet friends this morning…
Years ago, vets were voted amongst the most trusted professions in the country. Yet now, so many conversations seem to start from a place of suspicion instead of trust.
Clients questioning motives.Vets feeling challenged.Breeders feeling dismissed.Owners feeling intimidated or scared to ask questions.Professionals feeling constantly judged or complained about.
Some clients now walk into consultations already assuming they’re being “sold to”.Some vets, understandably, may already be bracing themselves for confrontation before they’ve even entered the room.
And honestly? Social media hasn’t helped any of us.
We now live in a world where:People don’t trust the news.They don’t trust politicians.They don’t trust banks.They don’t trust the food industry.They don’t trust pharmaceutical companies.They don’t trust breeders.They don’t trust trainers.And increasingly… they don’t trust vets either.
Some of that distrust has come from genuine bad experiences.Some of it from misinformation.Some of it from fear.Some of it from people simply not communicating properly anymore.
I also think breeders need to look inward at times too. I hear situations where, hand on heart, I can completely understand why veterinary professionals become frustrated. There are absolutely occasions where more education, preparation and accountability should have happened before breeding decisions were ever made.
But equally, clients should never feel too intimidated, emotional or overwhelmed to ask questions about their animals.
So where do we go from here?
How do we rebuild trust between owners, breeders and veterinary professionals?
Is it better communication?More transparency?More education?More empathy?More accountability from everyone involved?
I genuinely don’t know the answer. But I do think the conversation matters.
Because once trust disappears from society, everything becomes adversarial… and animals ultimately sit in the middle of that fallout.
Interested to hear respectful thoughts from all sides on this one.
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