According to research commissioned by Boehringer Ingelheim, a whopping 94% of animal owners say they trust veterinary teams, but only 49% of veterinary professionals feel appreciated. The results suggest the disconnect might arise from a misunderstanding of veterinary work.
The survey of 1,200 animal owners in six countries also revealed that:
- 65% think veterinarians have a good work-life balance.
- 66% acknowledged the high emotional demands that veterinarians face while managing sick animals, supporting grieving clients and making difficult decisions.
In contrast, 49% of veterinarians said animal owners underappreciate their resilience to stress and emotional exhaustion.
Boehringer Ingelheim commissioned the survey as part of the Going Beyond awareness campaign. The initiative aims to spotlight the clinical contributions of veterinarians and in the broader One Health effort to support public health and food security.
“Veterinary teams are on the front lines of animal health and well-being, yet the intense physical and emotional demands of the profession often go unrecognized,” said Dr. Jim Berry, president of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, one of the campaign’s partner organizations. “To protect this essential profession, the public must do more to acknowledge the commitment and long hours veterinary teams dedicate to ensure the well-being of the animals in their care.”
Alongside the survey findings, Boehringer Ingelheim released a video, “Guess Who,” designed to showcase veterinarians’ daily lives and demonstrate the profession’s breadth.
“People love their veterinary teams, and we think if animal owners knew that their veterinary team might be struggling at times, they would care deeply,” said Claire Fowler, the head of global strategic marketing for Boehringer Ingelheim’s animal health division. “We hope the Going Beyond campaign helps veterinarians feel more appreciated for their many contributions and resilience.”
The 1,200 respondents, mainly dog and cat owners, were evenly divided between the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, China, France and Germany.