Veterinarians do a lot for our pets. They make them feel better when they’re sick, keep them calm during appointments, and so much more, and as pet parents, we really appreciate them. But did you know that there is an actual day dedicated to appreciating your vet? Veterinary Appreciation Day is June 18th and dedicated to thanking these unsung heroes!
How did Veterinary Appreciation Day come about? How is it observed? Here’s everything you need to know about this day so you can take the opportunity next time around to truly appreciate all the great things your pet’s vet does!
What is Veterinary Appreciation Day?
Veterinary Appreciation Day took place in 2015 when it was established by pet insurance provider Trupanion. Trupanion dedicates June 18th of each year to honor and appreciate all veterinary heroes. This includes not only the veterinarians who see your pets but also everyone on their staff, from the front desk to the veterinary assistants. All the people who work in veterinary offices play an important role in keeping our pets whole and healthy; as such, they deserve a day dedicated to thanking them!
How Can I Observe Veterinary Appreciation Day?
We’re sure you thank your vet and their staff after every visit, but on Vet Appreciation Day, you can go one step further. Here are some ways you can observe this day and show your pet’s veterinarian and their office how much you appreciate them!
1. Trupanion’s truththankyou
Nothing shows appreciation like free scrubs! Your vet and their staff will likely go through scrubs quickly, and constantly changing them can be expensive. So this year, Trupanion launched truthakyou, designed to rally pet parents to appreciate and uplift their veterinarians (and all staff) on June 18th, as well as the rest of the year. To take advantage of truthakyou, all you have to do is share with Trupanion your story of how a veterinarian positively impacted your pet’s life. Veterinary professionals who accept truththankyous will receive gift cards to purchase new scrubs!
2. Remember to Practice Patience
Veterinarian offices are busy places, which sometimes means long waits for appointments or extended wait times in the waiting room. Remember to practice patience at your vet’s office when things are very busy. Everyone does their best to see pets in a timely manner, so don’t take any frustration out on long waits with staff or vets.
3. Be Kind
This goes hand in hand with remembering to be patient, but veterinary professionals are often overworked and underappreciated, leading to them doing their best with staff shortages and more. Unfortunately, some pet parents can become irritable when things don’t go exactly as planned and take it out on the staff (especially those who manage the front desks).
Remember that the staff at your vet’s office care for dozens of other animals, not just your own, and keep up with things as best they can. So, be nice to them instead of getting mad at them because you’re not in and out of the office as quickly as you’d hoped.
4. Bring a Treat to Your Vet’s Office
It is common for veterinary professionals to skip breaks or even lunch because they are interacting with patients. Bringing some tasty treats will not only give them a snack if they can’t get enough rest but will also boost morale. You can bake cookies, buy donuts, or bring a fruit tray to your vet’s office. However, check with your vet’s office first to make sure food gifts will be accepted, and remember that all treats must be labeled with the ingredients they contain in case of a food allergy!
If food isn’t an option to bring to your vet’s office, thank you cards with pictures of your pet are always appreciated. Gift cards may be another option.
5. Positive Reviews
What better way to appreciate your vet and their staff than to leave them a positive review? If you’ve had a good experience at your vet’s office recently, then go online and leave a great review! You can leave one on social media, the vet’s Google Business Profile, Yelp, TrustPilot, and many other sites. Also, spread the word about how great your vet’s office is by referring your friends and family to them.
6. Listen to Your Vet
Another great way to show your vet that you appreciate them is to listen to them. Your vet went to school for years to get their degree, and even if you read a great article online about what ails your pet, your vet knows best. So, listen to them and respect their knowledge.
Final Thoughts
You should make sure to thank your veterinarian and their staff each time you visit. But you can also show how much you appreciate them on Veterinary Appreciation Day. There are several ways to observe this day, such as bringing snacks to your vet’s office or thank you cards, leaving positive reviews online, practicing patience, and being kind when you visit. No matter how you show your appreciation, your veterinary professionals will be happy you thought of them!
Featured Image Credit: 4 PM production, Shutterstock