When I look back on my childhood and think about where and what I thought my life might look like as a grown-up, I’m not sure I envisioned the tropical greenery and sunny skies of the Big Island of Hawaii, where I’ve lived off and on since 2010. My decision to trade in-person clinical work for life as an online veterinarian specializing in rodents, rabbits and birds has undeniably afforded me an incredible opportunity to live the aloha life.
My ending up in the business of animal care isn’t so surprising. After all, I was the kid who brought home injured pigeons and mended them until they could fly once more. I tested their ability daily, and they flew away after a few crash landings. I put out food and water for a few days in the hope they would return to thank me for my help. Regrettably, personal satisfaction had to suffice.
At 14 years old, in 1961, I wrote a letter to nearby California veterinary hospitals asking if I could volunteer there. The nearest hospital hired me as a kennel boy for 55 cents an hour. I worked there on weekends and during vacations for two years until the hospital was razed for redevelopment. By the time I left, I had graduated to veterinary assistant.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in animal physiology in 1968 at the University of California, Davis, I stayed there and entered veterinary school. Davis had more cows than people then, which was a shock for someone from Los Angeles.
A Lasting Career Move
Over the next few decades, I did clinical work in my own clinic and at small animal hospitals throughout California and Colorado. However, during the recession of 2010, having been let go by three hospitals where I worked part time, I left Northern California and moved to the Big Island. I had always enjoyed vacationing in the tropics.
Hawaii was where a friend told me she worked for an online platform that connected veterinarians with pet owners seeking immediate help for all kinds of animal health concerns. I took a job there.
I was skeptical at first as the work didn’t appear very remunerative, but it was addictive, and so I enjoyed working an exorbitant number of hours daily. It was the perfect fit for me, as I could share the experience I gained during 52 years as a veterinarian. I had the medical knowledge and the psychological and communication skills needed to excel.
While I maintained a Hawaii home base, I continued traveling to California over the years to be a locum for friends who needed help when they vacationed or were ill. It became more and more apparent to me that telehealth was the perfect avenue for me. I never enjoyed surgery — I could hurt myself with a screwdriver — but as an online veterinarian, I could recommend surgery when it was appropriate. That was a terrific trade-off.
Also, telehealth allowed me to work as many or as few hours as I wanted. I didn’t have to commute to work, and I could do my job using any internet connection. I was so addicted that I brought my laptop on vacation so I could work when I wasn’t trying to kill myself hiking up and down mountains.
The online work also became more lucrative to the point that I was earning far more than as a locum. While I could put in as many hours as I wanted, I eventually progressed from working six hours a day to 14 hours, seven days a week, raking in up to $30,000 a month. In 2023, I made over $200,000. That chunk of change and my investments made it so I wouldn’t have to work again. As of this past February, I’m semiretired, logging on most days from 4 to 6 p.m. because I enjoy the work.
From Rodents to Poultry
One of the keys to my success was in identifying a niche. While most of the veterinarians on the online platform gravitated toward questions from dog and cat owners, I noticed that inquiries regarding pet rodents — hamsters, rats and guinea pigs — and rabbits often went unanswered. Similarly, few experts jumped on the questions about chickens and other birds.
There were so many questions in these categories, and most of the online clients didn’t have a regular, offline veterinarian to turn to for help. Think about it: Who takes their kid’s hamster to the veterinarian when it has diarrhea? What do you do if your hen is limping?
By specializing in the more exotic pets, I carved out a much-needed niche and built a clientele of regulars.
Not a Job for a Newbie
I advise other veterinarians interested in joining an online telehealth platform to understand that the job isn’t for someone just starting out. To be successful, you need a knowledge base of at least five to 10 years of experience to draw on. It isn’t enough for you to be smart.
Also, you need moxie when interacting with people online. You must communicate clearly and in a way that comes across as helpful, friendly and conversational. Those traits can be tricky when you can’t hear or see the caretakers. Humor also can be awkward because it’s not always understood by pet owners, who might take it the wrong way.
Making a Living and a Difference
While I can’t see working in a veterinary hospital again, I sometimes miss the physical contact with animals. Being able to see, feel and hear them would make diagnosing easier.
Thankfully, my experience allows me to offer thoughtful tentative diagnoses that I ask my customers to share with their veterinarians if they wish. Overall, I make a huge difference in the life of the person and animal every time I can clarify what might be going on with the pet, allay the caretaker’s fears and save them time and money. It’s another reason I value the online telehealth opportunity so much.
USDA APPROVED
The Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association recommends that veterinarians moving to The Aloha State receive U.S. Department of Agriculture accreditation. “Hawaii has a large transient population, a significant military contingent and many residents who travel to and from the mainland with pets,” the organization says. “Having the authorization to write health certificates for travel is, therefore, a desirable skill in new hires.”