Every now and then, we come across a post like this:
“Baka may mairecommend kayong vet around Metro Manila na mura pero magaling… badly needed for my cat.”
On the surface, it’s a simple plea. A pet owner asking for help.
But if you’re a veterinarian, especially one who has spent years in practice—you’ve read this line before.
You’ve probably heard it in person.
You’ve felt it sting, again and again.
And deep down, you ask yourself:
“Anung akala nyo sakin?”
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The Double Standard That Hurts
In the same way that people respect and expect to pay lawyers, mechanics, or architects for their time and skill, somehow… veterinarians are the exception.
We’re expected to be:
- Affordable but excellent.
- Available but never tired.
- Compassionate but never burned out.
- Scientific but also “relatable” to every budget and emotion.
And every time someone says “sana mura pero magaling,” we silently hear:
“Please be cheap—but excellent.”
It’s not just a financial contradiction.
It’s an emotional one.
Why It Hurts More Than We Admit
We didn’t become vets for money.
That much is clear.
But we also didn’t train for 6+ years, miss family events, go into debt, and risk our own mental health—only to be treated like a discounted alternative to proper healthcare.
We sacrifice sleep for emergency surgeries.
We carry grief silently after a failed resuscitation.
We smile when pet owners thank us with “Doc, wala muna ngayon ha, next sweldo na lang.”
And the hard truth?
Sometimes, we allow it—because we care.
But caring too much, without boundaries, leads to resentment.
And resentment is where passion quietly goes to die.
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So How Should We Feel?
We’re allowed to feel disappointed.
We’re allowed to feel frustrated.
We’re allowed to want appreciation that goes beyond “thank you.”
But more importantly—we’re allowed to set standards.
Because fair pricing is not greed.
Rest is not laziness.
Saying no is not abandonment.
The goal is not to become hard-hearted.
The goal is to protect the soft parts of ourselves that chose this profession in the first place.
What Can We Do?
- Educate the public. Not with anger, but with consistency. Post about your procedures. Explain why certain diagnostics cost what they do.
- Set boundaries. You are not required to justify your rates to everyone who questions them.
- Support each other. Don’t undercut colleagues just to please clients. Unity is our best defense against being devalued.
- Offer help within reason. Charity work has a place—but it should be intentional, not forced.
- Choose where your energy goes. Not every “mura pero magaling” request is your assignment.
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A Closing Thought
The next time you see a post that asks for a “cheap but excellent” vet, take a deep breath….
Remember who you are.
Remember what you’ve survived.
And remember that you’re not required to shrink your worth just because someone doesn’t understand it yet.
You’re not just a “pet doctor.”
You are a scientist. A surgeon. A healer. A comforter. A professional.
And if no one else says it today—
You are already more than enough.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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