Survey exposes hidden pressures on veterinary professionals

Boehringer Ingelheim shared new survey results this weekend exploring animal owners’ perceptions of the vital role veterinarians play in animal health and community well-being.

The 2025 survey of animal owners builds on a 2024 survey, also conducted in partnership with market research institute Kynetec, which explored whether veterinarians feel valued and understood by animal owners.

Both efforts are part of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Going Beyond campaign, which seeks to spotlight aspects of veterinary work that often remain unseen and under recognized.

“In collaboration with our Going Beyond campaign partners, we are proud to celebrate veterinary teams, bringing attention to their crucial role worldwide as animal health practitioners, advocates, researchers, educators, surgeons, public health experts and more,” said Claire Fowler, Head of Global Strategic Marketing, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health.

The 2025 Going Beyond survey of animal owners revealed several findings that contrast significantly with perceptions shared in the 2024 survey of veterinarians.

Perceptions around appreciation

According to the 2025 survey, 94 percent of animal owners said they appreciate the veterinary profession, and 91 percent recognized that veterinary teams are essential or important to society. By comparison, in 2024, only 49 percent of veterinarians said animal owners appreciate the veterinary profession.

In addition, 93 percent of animal owners this year said they appreciate the level of care provided by their veterinary teams, while in 2024, only 75 percent of veterinarians felt animal owners appreciated the level of care they provide.

“It is rewarding to see the high appreciation for veterinarians noted in the Going Beyond survey, and we need to continue to increase awareness of the essential role of veterinary professionals in safeguarding animal health and impacting society through food safety and infectious disease control,” said Arcangelo Gentile, President of the World Association for Buiatrics. “By partnering in the Going Beyond campaign, we hope to deepen the public’s understanding of this field and foster the recognition veterinary teams truly deserve.”

Views on work-life balance and stress

Among animal owners surveyed, 65 percent said veterinarians have a good work-life balance. In 2024, 48 percent of veterinarians said animal owners under appreciate that veterinarians sacrifice their work-life balance to help animals. In addition, 66 percent of animal owners said they believed veterinarians require a high level of resilience to manage stress and emotional exhaustion.

This figure was significantly lower when compared to responses about other essential professions, including doctors, police officers, firefighters, and teachers. In 2024, 49 percent of veterinarians said animal owners underappreciate their resilience to stress and emotional exhaustion.

“Veterinary teams are on the front lines of animal health and well-being, yet the intense physical and emotional demands of the profession often go unrecognized,” said Dr. Jim Berry, President of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. “To protect this essential profession, the public must do more to acknowledge the commitment and long hours veterinary teams dedicate to ensure the well-being of the animals in their care.”

‘Guess Who?’ video highlights common misunderstandings
In support of World Veterinary Day, the Going Beyond campaign also released a thought-provoking video asking animal owners to guess what type of professional fits a range of compelling job responsibilities and characteristics.

“People love their veterinary teams, and we think if animal owners knew that their veterinary team might be struggling at times, they would care deeply,” said Fowler. “We hope the Going Beyond campaign helps veterinarians feel more appreciated for their many contributions and resilience. Animal owners can make a big difference by thanking their veterinary teams, whether in person, by phone, email or social media — it all helps veterinary teams feel motivated, engaged, and able to thrive.”