Are Vets Real doctors?

I wouldn't think of saying this to my son's pediatrician, or to any medical professional.  Yet somehow veterinarians aren't always seen as medical professionals.  More than one M.D. has said to me, "I wanted to be a Vet, but I couldn't get into vet school."  Then a D.O told me, "is being a veterinarian an associates degree?"

A couple old jokes in the veterinary profession are, "Real Doctors treat more than one species," and "Veterinary Medicine- because Humans are gross!"  I actually got accepted into one of the top public health programs in the country, and that was my back up plan to Vet School.  They couldn't believe I would decline my admission.  But I did.  Veterinary school is actually one of the most expensive medical schools and let me tell you- when you get out, you don't get paid as much and you still need to purchase malpractice insurance.

Some clients understand the value of our education and I've had more than one ask me for medical or psychological advice (I decline and say that would be practicing without an appropriate license).  I've gotten into discussions with doctors, my own or relatives and have brought up valid medical concerns.  I try not to be "that vet," who thinks they know everything, but let's face it, I have to know about dog vs. cat and at one point cow, horse, sheep, turtle and chicken physiology.  Comparative biology is a thing.  I even participated in a shadowing program with a human MD and discovered how much is similar, and that cost is very much a limitation on how veterinarians practice, but almost not at all on how humans in an ER setting are treated.

Here's a recent exchange-

"What's this exam?  I don't want to pay for an exam, I just want the shots and test."

I calmly explained, "your dog is getting Rabies vaccine, by law that means it needs to be given by a veterinarian."

"Just what is this exam, what's involved?" She haughtily responded.

"The exam was what I did in front of you where I made sure your dog was healthy, I told you she was a good weight and I explained that you may want to start brushing her teeth, remember that?'  I calmly explained trying to keep my eyes from rolling back in my head.

"Well, I don't know why I need to pay for that."  She huffed.

"What you were paying for ma'am was my time.  The time I spent talking with you and the education that I went through that makes me a professional who is able to give your dog a rabies vaccine and interpret the results of the tests."  I could have added, "and now you should pay me for the extra time I've spent explaining to you that I'm a professional and my time is not free."

I never would have been so blunt a few years ago, but unfortunately this conversation, or the feelings behind this conversation are becoming more common.  My respect for other professions has grown through this time.  I understand why a plumber is a plumber and an electrician is an electrician. While youtube can help with some problems, it can't do everything.  When it comes to safety, there's no substitute.  That's why the government recognizes certain things, such as rabies vaccine as being specific to a professional.  It's not worth the risk of someone DIY off of youtube.

Exams before vaccines are necessary.  It used to be that veterinarians were able to charge less expensive exams because we would be compensated by the other items that were sold, such as food and medication.  Most people choose to purchase these online or from other sources, so we need to be able to charge a reasonable rate (way less than human doctors, by the way) for our time, our education and our continued education and sacrifices that make us competent professionals.  I have actually discovered serious, even life-threatening problems when animals have presented for "shots".  Please don't trivialize a profession’s value, either your doctor’s or your pets doctor.