If you’ve been in practice long enough, you’ve probably heard it whispered—or worse, thrown directly at you:
“Mukhang pera ang vet na ‘yan!”
At first, it stings.
You wonder:
- Was I too strict with billing?
- Should I have given more discount?
- Should I feel guilty for charging what I’m worth?
But today, let’s answer that judgment…
Not with apology, but with dignity.
Because No, You’re Not “Mukhang Pera.”
You Are Just Tired of Being Undervalued.
We are doctors.
We pay for our clinic rent, utilities, staff salaries, lab supplies, vaccines, medications, taxes, licenses—and we still need to smile even when the client demands a discount “dahil mahal ang gamot.”
We diagnose, treat, operate, and often grieve with families.
And yet, we’re the only medical professionals expected to feel guilty for charging fairly.
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Passion Without Profit Is a Path to Burnout
They say: “Kung mahal mo talaga ang hayop, libre mo na lang yan.”
But no one tells a heart surgeon, “Kung mahal mo ang pasyente, wag ka na magpa-bayad.”
Dear vet, your love brought you here—
But your fees allow you to stay here.
- To keep showing up.
- To pay your team.
- To invest in better tools.
- To say yes to more rescues, strays, and public service—when you choose, not because you’re forced.
Passion can fuel a profession, but sustainability keeps it alive.
We Must Stop Apologizing for Wanting Financial Stability
Let’s normalize these two truths living side by side:
I love animals with all my heart.
I deserve to be paid well for the work I do.
That’s not greed.
That’s balance.
That’s being a vet and being human.
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Let’s Change the Narrative—Starting Within Our Own Community
The next time someone calls you “mukhang pera,” smile and say:
“Yes, because this face has earned every cent through knowledge, compassion, and hard work.”
And if you’re ever tempted to judge a fellow vet for their pricing—pause.
Support them.
Uplift them.
Because when vets are financially stable, the whole profession thrives.
To Every Vet Reading This
- Charge fairly.
- Serve excellently.
- Give when you can.
- Never let anyone shame you for knowing your worth.
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Final Thoughts
We didn’t choose this profession to be rich.
But we also didn’t choose it to be poor, burned out, or broken.
We chose it because we wanted to heal—and we deserve to thrive while doing so.
Veterinary medicine requires sacrifice, compassion, and commitment.
There is nothing unethical about building a sustainable practice that supports your family, your team, and your patients.
Your value is not measured by how much you discount.
Your value is measured by the lives you improve, the knowledge you bring, and the care you provide every single day.
Sharing this helps others understand what it really means to be a vet. Like and follow if you’re with us.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
