Nobody claps when you’re in the quiet phase of your veterinary career.
Not when you’re the youngest associate in the clinic, double-checking every case while everyone else seems faster, sharper, more confident.
Not when you’re building your own practice from scratch, staring at an empty waiting room, wondering if the next client will even come.
Not when you’re investing in equipment, diagnostics, or inventory that no one sees yet. Ultrasound machines, test kits, lab upgrades. All invisible to the outside world.
Instead, they question you.
“Sure ka ba diyan?”
“Worth it ba talaga mag vet?”
They doubt you.
They think you’re stuck. That you’re not progressing. That you’re wasting time in a profession that demands so much but doesn’t always give back immediately.
And yet… you have to keep going anyway.
No applause.
No guarantees.
No viral posts celebrating your 12-hour shifts.
No recognition for the nights you stayed just to stabilize a parvo case or manage a critical patient.
Just you… and the work.
This is the phase where most veterinarians quietly quit.
Not because they’re not capable.
Not because they lack intelligence or skill.
But because it’s lonely.
Because veterinary medicine, especially in its early and growth stages, forces you into something uncomfortable:
Believing in yourself before the results show up.
And that’s hard.
There’s no scoreboard in the beginning. No clear validation. Just small, often invisible wins:
- A patient that improved.
- A client that came back.
- A diagnosis you finally got right.
But those don’t always translate immediately into income, recognition, or confidence.
So many go back to what’s familiar.
Safe jobs. Minimal risk. Predictable routines.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
But for those who choose to stay in the quiet phase…
To build, to improve, to invest, to endure…
Something changes.
Because if you can survive that silence, you develop something most people never will.
- Clinical confidence built on real cases.
- Decision-making without hesitation.
- Resilience in uncertainty.
And beyond that…
You earn leverage.
- The ability to choose your cases.
- To build your own system.
- To grow your clinic, your brand, your influence.
You earn freedom.
- Freedom to practice the kind of medicine you believe in.
- Freedom to say no to what doesn’t align.
And most importantly…
You gain control over your life.
Not overnight.
Not instantly.
But through years of staying when it was easier to leave.
So if you’re in that phase right now…
The quiet one… the uncertain one…
Understand this:
The silence is not a sign that you’re failing.
It’s a sign that you’re building something real.
And real things take time.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
Sharing this helps others understand what it really means to be a vet. Like and follow if you’re with us.
Sources
- American Veterinary Medical Association (2023). Wellbeing and mental health in the veterinary profession – highlights stress, isolation, and burnout risk among veterinarians.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019). Notes from the Field: Elevated Suicide Among Veterinarians – documents psychological burden and occupational stress.
- Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (2022). Vet Futures & Workforce Reports – discusses career uncertainty and early-career challenges.
- World Small Animal Veterinary Association (2021). Professional Wellness Guidelines – emphasizes resilience, career development, and coping strategies in veterinary practice.
- Angela Duckworth (2016). Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – evidence that sustained effort and resilience predict long-term success more than talent alone.
