Veterinarians Feel Underappreciated, Survey Shows

you're listening to an article from horse sport.com. veterinarians feel underappreciated, survey shows by: horse sport staff |. boehringer ingelheim has unveiled new survey results that shed light on animal owners’ perceptions of the essential role that veterinarians play in animal health and community well-being. the survey was conducted in february and march 2025 by market research institute kynetec and included 1,200 animal owners from the us (200), the uk (200), brazil (200), china (200), france (200) and germany (200). the survey scope included animal owners who owned a dog (71%), a cat (60%), a horse (2%) farm animals (2%) and/or any other animal (20%). the 2025 survey of animal owners adds to a 2024 survey, also conducted in partnership with market research institute kynetec, which explored if veterinarians feel valued and understood by animal owners. this is part of boehringer ingelheim’s going beyond campaign, which seeks to put a spotlight on aspects of veterinary work that too often remain unseen and underrecognized. “together with our going beyond campaign partners, we are proud to celebrate the veterinary community and shine a light on the critical role they play supporting the health and wellbeing of animals,” said mark lewis, president and ceo of boehringer ingelheim canada. advertisement scroll to continue with content the 2025 going beyond survey of animal owners revealed several findings, which contrast significantly with perceptions shared in the 2024 survey of veterinarians. new survey data show 94% of animal owners appreciate the work of veterinarians and 91% recognized that veterinary teams are essential or important to our society, compared to only 49% of veterinary professionals feeling their profession is appreciated, among other findings. the survey confirms differences in perspectives: 65% of animal owners think veterinarians have a good work-life balance, while 48% of veterinarians say animal owners underappreciate the way they trade-off their work-life-balance to help animals. in addition, 66% of animal owners felt veterinarians need a high level of resilience to manage stress and emotional exhaustion. this figure was significantly lower than when asked the same question about other essential professions including doctors, police, firefighters, and teachers. boehringer ingelheim and campaign partners encourage animal owners to express their appreciation to veterinary teams. “by encouraging animal owners to reflect on the care, expertise, and dedication of their veterinary teams, we hope to foster lasting appreciation for these essential workers—who go above and beyond for our pets every day,” said dr. catherine filejski, president and ceo of the canadian animal health institute (cahi). “at cahi, we’re proud to support boehringer ingelheim’s going beyond campaign, which shines a spotlight on the vital contributions of veterinary professionals.”. ‘guess who?’ video highlights common misunderstandings. the going beyond campaign also includes a thought-provoking video asking animal owners to guess what type of professional meets the description of a range of compelling job responsibilities and characteristics. you might already guess the reveal. “animal owners have great respect and appreciation for the veterinary community, and we believe they would care deeply if they knew members of their veterinary team struggled at times,” said lewis. “we hope the going beyond campaign encourages animal owners to express their gratitude to those dedicated to the care and wellbeing of their animals, and that the veterinary community feels engaged and appreciated.”. ~ with files from boehringer ingelheim canada.