[Jesus]

Any veterinarians here ? Was thinking of doing what I’ve always wanted to do but wouldn’t mind hearing from a few as far as fire goes was it a good choice?

Currently in Phoenix- biggest question is if it’s a viable fire option or would this be more for fulfillment at the end of the day?

From the perspective of been there done that.

[Lly]

Think about your mental health as it relates to clients requesting financial euthanasia for their animals, crushing!

[John]

I’m not certain of your question. You may want to reword it. I believe what you are saying is: Currently you have a job that doesn’t fulfill you, and you’re thinking of getting into veterinary medicine because you will be working with animals, which makes you feel good, so kind of like a Barista/Coast FIRE option?

[Julie]

Hi, vet here. There are a variety of vet career options and salary price points.

Vet Ed comes with a crippling amount of debt tho so unless you have some plan or person to bankroll your education, you won’t FIRE anytime soon.

I graduated in 2007, before the tuition was astronomical. I got a full ride to undergrad and came thru that with assets but I left vet school with 6 figure debt.

It’s way worse now. (I work in academia now so I’m speaking the truth here.

My students leave with $250-400k in debt to take jobs for $120-140k starting salaries.)

It just isn’t a good FIRE profession right now unless mom/dad/someone is paying your educational debt.

[Kristin]

DVM here. I would say that for most DVMs, this career is not a great way to FIRE. The debt we take on for our education is astronomical and for most crippling.

There will certainly be some outliers – practice owners who sell their practice to corporate or private equity groups and specialists (surgeons, neuro, derm, IM) who make bank but at the expense of their quality of life – working long hours, being on call etc etc.

There is also the emotional burden of being a cash/credit industry and people using money as a weapon against you “you are money hungry, why cant you provide these services for free, how dare you charge for your expertise” in addition to providing end of life / humane euthanasia being a heavy mental load.

I am personally in a unique position to have paid my loans off 6 years post graduation and will be able to FIRE eventually but that is due to a lot of luck (selling a home in covid times), busting my butt (at the expense of my own QOL), and a higher than average income spouse who will retire with full benefits at a young age (military).

I would say most of the single DVMs I know are banking on some version of student loan forgiveness/ income based repayment because the standard repayment plans are not financially doable on a single income.

Let me know if you have any specific questions.

[Ashley]

DVM here. I make decent money and will be able to FIRE someday if I want to, but the student debt is crippling. I’m 8 years out, with $432,000 in student loan debt remaining, only way out of it is with debt forgiveness after 20 years for me.

There is also a ton of stress in the field and private equity investors are turning every clinic into a souless corporation.

I love my job, but for my own mental health, I had to realize it was just a job and not “my life’s work”.

I’m not sure I would do this again if I had the choice. I’m doing relief work and find it fulfilling, but I also could have had 10 other careers and been happy volunteering with animals on the side.

[Mikaela]

If you like animals and want to fire, I can’t recommend the poultry and/or feed industries enough! Plenty of jobs for any education level and lots of opportunity to specialize and raise your income.

Happy to answer any questions.

[Dara]

If you really want to be a vet work at a vet’s office or an SPCA that has a clinic in house. A veterinairan can certify you as a vet tech after training with them if you don’t want to go to school- but vet tech wages are very low.

However you’d gain a lot of experience, see the hours and clients and find out if it’s something you truly want to commit to.

There’s far more happiness and money to be made in pet grooming, pet sitting, doggy daycare and training plus less stress.

Being a vet is long hours (and often crappy ones to start with when you’re the youngest), some difficult clients and euthanasia is tough for many, I think dealing with the clients would be harder than the actual euthanasia.

Not many can balance it well. Look at the suicide rate of vets and their sky high debt.

It’s not for the faint of heart. You can get into an animal business for less debt, have a wonderful profitable business and then sell it, esp if you own the real estate and business is thriving.

Outside any large town or city is a great place to offer it.Have an on site groomer, rent space to a vet.

A one stop pet stop. If you have indoor and outside play areas that people can rent for get togethers and have open playdate hours even better if poor weather or very hot.

You could scale it if you’re into that. Or any other animal service business.

There are tons of them from chiropractic to dog walker/sitter (which is very profitable in wealthy areas and cities and $0 to get started).

[Amy]

If you mean it’s an easy vocation to earn enough to retire early no. Tuition at veterinary schools these days is astronomical. You have to do it if you love it and stay the course.

I’m a horse vet and I’m 66 and I probably could retire but I’m not ready to yet.

I certainly wasn’t ready to retire early financially

[Lara]

If you don’t have a way to pay for without taking a loan (like GI Bill or HPSP Scholarship), I would not do it.

Many vets go into huge amounts of debt and take many years paying it back at high interest rates.

Think 250,000-400,000 of debt depending on where you go to school (if you go to a US school or island school).

[Renee]

I am a vet who went the uniformed services route. Recently retired at 46 years old and have FIRE’d essentially. I may work again but because I am passionate about something not because I need the money.

I would say about 6 out of the 20 years were really rough. So, lots of sacrifices, but in the end it was worth it for me.

[Author]

Posts