Yes. Tried to take my foster dog to the emergency vet hospital in my city on Saturday July 3 in the evening, and there was a sign on the door saying they could not admit any more dogs at that time. There were people tailgating in the parking lot waiting and hoping to get in.

I remember the date so specifically because someone was having a fireworks display nearby. What fun.

Last year I had a hard time getting in to see my vet for my 20 year old cat with kidney failure. They said two week wait and if you dont want to wait go to our after hours emergency care. This was not an emergency but that’s where they sent me for first come, first served care. Having spent four hours there in the middle of the night on a previous visit I opted not to go. I did my own research and handled it myself. When the end was near (during the depths of round one Covid) I didn’t bother with my vet and instead called Lap of Love who came out promptly.

I’ve since switched to a different vet and I’ve not had a problem getting regular appointments. The vet was pretty slow to respond if I called with questions but they have since added two more vets and now we have excellent communications via email. They dont have after hours emergency care so if I need that I’ll go back to the clinic I went to before.

It could be pandemic puppies or staff shortages which seem to be a problem for everything.

Not a Vet, but I had to sit in a doctors office (orthopedic surgeon) for over 3 hours yesterday. After making the appointment 5 weeks ago.

I would have walked out, but I needed my magic knee shot.

I’m sure if I was to catch the Delta Variant it happened there. Although everyone was masked, 2 old fellas were vocal about not being vaccinated. I moved to the other end of the waiting room.

Hope your pup is Ok.

I have not tried emergency services with my vet so I don't know how that's been impacted.

Regular vet appointments have been soooo smooth since the plague hit. They are on time now! Probably because they don't talk to the owners any more than necessary.

Oh goodness, I'm so sorry. How distressing, Sue. There is a Animal Eye Clinic practice locally here (CT) and it always surprised me that vets now specialize. I'm sure the animal hospital can at least stabilize the situation.

We had a kitten wander up a few months ago. Not chipped. No response to ads. We promptly got attached. I called the regular vet and there was a one month wait for a spay/shots appointment. I called around and found one with a one week wait, so I took her there instead. As a pleasant surprise, I liked the new vet better so I now have a new vet.

A friend just went through the same thing - she and I both go to the same vet clinic which is also the main emergency clinic for the area. There was a 3 week wait to get her Newfie in for a skin issue that is making him miserable.

I just googled Is there a vet shortage? and lo and behold it seems there is (and also vet techs) for a combination of reasons. I hope you are able to get your dog in sooner rather than later, Sue.

That is really a hard situation! It hasn't happened to me yet, but we have a lot of pets, so I am empathizing and wondering what I would do in that circumstance.... I think I might post on Nextdoor that my pet needs urgent help and does anyone have any suggestions?

Perhaps a vet would respond... However, we have a great relationship with our local veterinarian, and I would hope they would manage to fit us in as we are definitely "regulars" with a goodly list of pets who see them...

Our DD and her husband, both veterinarians, are partners in an emergency vet clinic on the west coast. Their greatest challenge, (which started pre-Covid, but has only gotten worse) is trying to hire vets as well as support staff. I don't know whether there are fewer vets graduating, but "it is not a sport for the weak," so perhaps the word is spreading. There is a LOT of burnout in the field, some really unbearable hours within some specialties, and the earning power compared to the debt for education is not equal to medical school grads, so I wouldn't be surprised to discover there are fewer vets graduating these days. DS's gf is a fourth-year vet student, and the rotation schedule is IMO, absurd. 90-hour week after 90-hour week.... There is another trend that you may have noticed ...many community vet practices are being purchased by Banfield, VCA, etc. That is also driving some changes in the way practices conduct their business.

I keep thinking that as pet insurance gets more prevalent, that will drive some necessary changes in the industry (not all good, I admit). I've gulped myself many times at the cost for treatment of a beloved companion.

I am so sorry! This is really scary to read being a pet owner. I have read articles that said that we already had vet shortages before the pandemic. And that the pandemic has exacerbated the problem in two ways:

• More people have adopted pets during the pandemic.
• More people are home and actually paying attention to their pets so they are taking them to the vet when otherwise they might not have noticed that their pet needed care.

We've always had a very long wait for her veterinary specialists (I make Molly's cardiology appointments 3-4 months in advance). We recently had to wait 3 days to get in w/ an ear infection.

I've noticed two of our local vet hospitals were purchased by Blue Pearl. At the one hospital where I knew the doctors/specialists well, I saw that basically every staff member left when that happened.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/12/19/vet-appointments-during-covid-19-pandemic-longer-waits-busy-vets/3926813001/

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-pets-coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-5047e430ce612609e8e21f557c60b900

There is another trend that you may have noticed ...many community vet practices are being purchased by Banfield, VCA, etc.

Yes! Very frustrating, as the vets retire and/or they hire new vets, there seems to be an increase in upsellng. DD2 worked at a vet office for four years. She said the interworkings of the business changed for the worst after the change of ownership.

Sueb20, Ellie lost her left eye 9/2020 and her left eye 7/2021. We were lucky in Alabama living within 15 minutes of two veterinarian opthamologist at the specialty clinic. In Florida, I drove 90 minutes to see a specialist for check ups (weekly!) and it was 2 hours to his main office for the surgery. I fought hard to keep her remaining eye (4 to 5 RXs, total of 8 to 14 drops a day - dosage was changed several times between 2/2021 and the removal). She is adjusting well, as this house is small and we are mainly on the second floor during the day. She is even going up the 5 outside steps on her own after their potty breaks.

In regards to your original question, our new vet in FL books 2 weeks in advance. If pet is sick, you bring and they work you in. *knock on wood* no emergency visits yet. The specialists her also books about 2 weeks in advance, but he worked us in weekly after he saw Ellie the first time. I never had issues getting her in to either vet in AL. If there was a wait, it usually only a day.

We've been using our vet for coming up on 15 years. Used to be able to get same day appointments, but not anymore. Now if it's non-emergency, it's a 3 week wait. If your fur baby is sick, well like others have said, you just have to wait to be worked in.

I hope we don't have any emergency! He's always had a good amount of clients, but now he's not taking ANY new clients!

I'm glad we're already in his practice.

(not to mention he's got the best prices around here)

This is hard to read. I can only imagine your distress. Hope all well.

Sorry for you, it's really upsetting sometimes.

I have no problem getting my cats into the vets, it's just that their fees get higher and higher. A booster shot each for my two boys, plus an antibiotic for one cost me $298 yesterday.

Then the vet mentioned one had a bad tooth, plus the other cat needed a cleaning. I called this morning to verify the bad tooth diagnosis, and the receptionist said the chart has written on it, "needs dental" for the one with the bad tooth. Nothing on the one cat he said needed a cleaning. Anyway, pulling a tooth will be appx. $400 with blood work, anesthesia, etc.

Oh, yes, the $$$. Last week’s vomit-o-rama cost us $600. I didn’t even ask DH what yesterday’s bill was.

I work in a vet hospital. We are not taking appointments for elective surgeries as we are completely booked through December. We have 2 vets but our facility can accomodate 5. They have been looking for more vets for over a year. When we ”closed” last night at 6, I had to text my husband as there were still 2 animals in exam rooms 3 people in the waiting room. This is pretty much every day. Every clinic in my surrounding area is the same. Oh, and just an aside, the animal care industry currently has one of, if not the highest suicide rate. The stress is crazy and the owners can be very abusive. Lots of people leaving for other occupations.

Poor pup-- and sorry you had to go through the anxiety and stress of waiting so long to see a Dr. Also disappointed that your perfectly orchestrated surprise went sideways-- but glad you were able to adapt and I am sure it was still a great surprise to your DH!.

Sue, do you have mobile vets in your area? I had a wonderful mobile vet when I lived in Lancaster-- it was not only good for emergencies (though not 24/7) but it was really convenient to get all pets seen in one visit. She could only do limited surgeries and procedures in her mobile van-- but she did Grace's spay and of course all normal routine treatments like v-ccinations, ear infections, blood tests, etc. It was such a great service especially because one of my dogs had a lot of health issues when I adopted her.