Vets overwhelmed as pet ownership skyrockets

Millions of Americans have adopted pets during the pandemic, and the increase is impacting veterinarians across the country and in the Susquehanna Valley. Many vets are simply overwhelmed.

Dr Jeffrey Steed has been a veterinarian for over 20 years.

“It’s a great job. Basically you help people through their pets,” he said.

But he’s never known a moment like this.

“It’s been crazy all the time,” he said.

Since the start of the pandemic, the number of pet owners has exploded.

“Twenty-three million new pet owners, not just another pet in a household, but 23 million new people who had never had a pet before,” he said. declared.

Steed’s appointment calendar at Manheim Pike Veterinary Hospital in Lancaster County has been booked for months.

“There was a long period of time when most vets weren’t even taking new clients because we couldn’t keep up with what we had and it was unfair to add new clients to the mix,” a- he declared.

Steed added that there is also a shortage of vets and certified vet technicians.

“Vets have always had compassion fatigue. It’s something you always feel guilty about not helping pets enough. It tires vets,” he said.

Steed had some advice for anyone trying to make an appointment.

“I think all the vets are there to help people and pets. So just to be patient with all of us. We’re doing our best to get things done,” he said.

Steed and his team are accepting new patients, but he said you may have to wait up to two weeks for an appointment.