I’ll admit, I was nervous about how this would go. I’m someone who thrives on consistency and routine. The idea of leaving a familiar clinic for a string of new ones was intimidating—even a little scary.
Day 1 (Gastonia, NC):
I arrived at a small animal hospital, nerves in full swing. Right off the bat, I got hit with, "Did they warn you about how we operate before sending you here?" My heart definitely skipped a beat. My response? "No." That’s when they told me they were a walk-in only clinic, no scheduled appointments. This was way outside my norm—I’d only ever worked places with set schedules. Thankfully, my internship had prepared me for “work-in” days, so I leaned into those skills. The day was packed: wellness exams, sick visits, sedated procedures, surgery, drop-offs—and everything documented on paper records, which I hadn’t touched since my assistant days back in 2009-2015. The pace was rapid, but I managed to keep up and provide quality care. The staff was fantastic, and the clientele varied widely, from gold-standard pet parents to those doing their best with limited resources. Again, that internship training paid off, because I always had backup plans ready.
Days 2 & 3 (Charlotte, NC):
Next, I landed at another small animal hospital. The staff couldn’t have been more welcoming. For these two days, I was back in my comfort zone: electronic records, fully booked appointments from 8 to 5, and a whole hour for lunch—something rare in vet med. Having three assistants was a huge plus, especially compared to my previous 16-doctor practice where I’d often work with just one assistant. The appointments were 30 minutes each and, even with a few late arrivals, the day flowed smoothly. Best of all, I actually got to eat lunch and decompress, not just cram in more work. The team was grateful, supportive, and the hospital culture felt totally different from day one.
Day 4 (Charlotte, NC):
My final stop was another small animal clinic. Again, the staff was welcoming, and the schedule was well-paced, giving me time to catch up on records and not feel rushed. I had the chance to really educate owners, and lunch was blocked off—so I treated myself to some delicious tacos. The afternoon was busy but manageable, and I finished early. The culture here was a lot like the previous two days—supportive, smooth, and efficient.
Reflections:
What stands out is how every clinic is truly different. Each one has quirks and challenges, but also strengths I genuinely appreciate. I love being able to focus on cases that need extra attention, and I especially love getting out on time—not staying late for hours catching up on records. I make it a rule to finish my paperwork before leaving for the day, so I don’t take work home.
There’s also a learning curve with pricing. Coming from a clinic where a routine dog spay starts at $800, seeing other practices offer it for less than $500 is eye-opening. Same goes for dental procedures—what I’d expect to be $1,000 sometimes comes out to $150-200. But these differences are all part of the experience.
It’s been a great week. I’m grateful for the chance to keep growing and developing as a relief veterinarian, and I’m looking forward to what’s next.
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