A shortage of qualified veterinarians and veterinary technicians has resulted in fewer affordable options for pet owners in Oregon.
For example, a spay/neuter clinic in Eugene has stopped operating on large dogs and reduced surgeries on small animals.
Dr. Kelly Hazzard talks to a dog at the Eugene Spay/Neuter Clinic. Mabel (left) and Archie (center).
Rebecca Hansen- / KLCC
Dr. Kelly Hazzard, the Eugene clinic's supervisor, said staffing shortages mean he can only administer vaccinations, check-ups and six surgeries a day.
“We used to have up to 10 cats a day, now we have six,” she said. You don't want to overload it. We had some additional surgeries today and one of the guys turned into a girl, so that was an extra surgery that we hadn't planned for. ”
Hazard said more staff are needed at all levels, including veterinarians, office staff and another veterinarian with surgical experience, to nearly meet the demand for care.
Pavel Gubanikhin, finance manager for Eugene Central Services, said the city has been relying on contract veterinarians from other clinics because it hasn't been able to hire staff.
“We've been advertising locally, regionally and nationally for 10 months and haven't been able to get anyone to apply,” he said. “Frankly, the Eugene Spay/Neuter Clinic is not unique in that regard, because private veterinary practices and non-profit veterinary providers experience many of the same challenges.”
Jill Parker, president of the Oregon State Veterinary Medical Association, said several factors have put stress on veterinary hospitals in recent years.
Some veterans have left the industry due to burnout or other reasons during the pandemic, or have already left the industry. At the same time, more Americans are owning pets.
“Demand is increasing, but we don't have enough veterinarians to meet that demand,” she said. “But it's not as simple as the numbers, because there are so many different types of practices, each with their own reasons why veterinarians are difficult to attract.”
Parker said significantly more veterinarians are being trained now than in past decades. She said that at Oregon State University, where she previously taught, class sizes have more than doubled over the past 30 years. New veterinary programs are also starting in other parts of the country.
However, she notes that many graduates may feel they cannot afford to work in nonprofit or local government clinics due to large student loans, so low-cost spay/neuter clinics may not be able to afford the pipes. He said the benefits of academic efforts to increase the line may not be seen immediately. .
The average veterinary school student graduates with about $150,000 in loans, he said.
“The shortage is likely to be alleviated in small animal care settings,” Parker said. “We believe that low-cost spay and neuter programs now have to be innovative in how they attract people.”
Parker said solutions could involve more flexible work hours and other accommodations to keep veterinarians on site. It could also include freeing up veterinarians by increasing pay and responsibilities for veterinary technicians, who have two to four years of training and can perform many tasks other than surgery.
Hazzard said she is often the only veterinarian that many people see. She said she has heard from owners who drove more than an hour to her clinic because they could not afford surgeries, vaccines and deworming drugs at private veterinary hospitals.
She said she hopes the city can hire a veterinarian or assistant to increase the number of animals that can be helped. Hazzard said she expects the Eugene clinic to reopen its waiting list for surgeries next month.
“People who don't have money, people who don't have a home, everyone is going to have a pet, and they all need care,” she said.
