The Veterinarian Crisis Nobody is Talking About

Executive Summary

The veterinary profession in Europe is facing a multifaceted crisis that threatens the sustainability of animal health services, particularly in rural and livestock sectors. Addressing this shortage requires coordinated efforts to improve working conditions, provide financial incentives, and support the next generation of veterinarians. Without these measures, the impact on animal welfare, food safety, and the agricultural economy will only worsen, underscoring the urgent need for action to resolve this critical issue.

Vets are Mission Critical

Ask any farmer and they will tell you that a good veterinarian is worth their weight in gold.

Likewise for slaughterhouse, cutting plants and meat based manufacturers, vets keep them in business.

Every aspect of the veterinarian job profile is mission critical for meat producers and processors:

Vets and Farming

• Disease Prevention and Treatment
• Animal Welfare
• Breeding
• Nutritional Advice
• Health Management Programs
• Surgical Interventions

Vets and Meat Processing

• Food Safety
• Regulatory Compliance
• Quality Assurance
• Training and Education
• Animal Welfare during Slaughter

Fewer and fewer Vets

But here is the problem. There are not enough vets, and the numbers are not improving.

Country Specific Challenges

• Belgium: High dropout rates with 37% of new vets leaving within three years. About 800 out of 3,600 vets are nearing retirement.
• Croatia: Significant decrease in large animal practitioners, with a drop from 3,000 veterinarians in 2000 to 2,200 in 2020.
• Czech Republic: Approximately 200 vets short annually, with a significant shortage in large animal medicine.
• Estonia: Market needs around 20% more veterinarians, particularly in rural areas and official roles.
• Germany: Growing shortages in rural and peri-urban practices, with many veterinary clinics unable to maintain 24-hour availability.
• Ireland: Acute shortages in rural and remote areas, with only 3.2% of vets working in farm practice.
• Italy: Decreasing new registrations and increasing removals from the register, with high demand for livestock vets.
• Norway: Financial incentives have not fully addressed the rural shortage, with ongoing difficulties in providing on-call services.
• Spain: Oversupply of graduates but uneven distribution, with rural clinical practices facing significant shortages.
• UK: 11.5% shortage of veterinary surgeons in 2018, believed to have worsened, particularly in veterinary public health and rural practices.

The Top 5 Challenges

There are several common themes across Europe.

Shortage in Rural Areas

Many rural regions in Europe struggle to attract and retain veterinarians, leading to gaps in essential services for livestock and farm animals. This shortage affects animal health, welfare, and biosecurity, particularly during disease outbreaks, and can negatively impact the agricultural economy and food security.

Economic Difficulties/Low Remuneration

Veterinarians often face low salaries and financial instability, especially in less profitable rural practices and livestock care. These economic challenges make it hard to attract new professionals, leading to dissatisfaction and high turnover rates among existing vets.

High Workload/Stress/Burnout

High levels of workload and stress contribute to significant burnout among veterinarians. Long hours, emergency duties, and the emotional toll of the job decrease job satisfaction and lead to a higher rate of professionals leaving the field prematurely, worsening existing shortages.

Preference for Companion Animal Practice

Many veterinary graduates prefer working with companion animals due to better working conditions and higher profitability in urban and suburban settings. This shift reduces the number of vets entering critical fields like livestock and large animal practice, creating imbalances in veterinary services.

Aging Workforce/Retirement

An aging veterinary workforce with many practitioners nearing retirement creates gaps in expertise and mentorship. The rate of new graduates is not keeping pace with retirements, leading to a decline in active veterinarians and straining the profession's ability to meet demand.