'I raised my voice at a client': Veterinarian stands up for their services in a world where Karen culture puts too much power in the hands of chronic complainers

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Sep 2, 2025 10:00 AM EDT

The internet is quite literally bursting with videos of Karen clients making fools of themselves in public nowadays. They used to be funny when they weren't happening every single day. But now, it seems like every other person encounters a Karen in public, arguing over her coffee not being hot enough, arguing that they weren't treated fairly in their professional opinion, or whatever other silly reason they can attempt to justify. At this point, it's just cringey. It's not funny anymore, and it has to stop.

We've put pawsitively too much power into the hands of these chronic complainers. That's why we wanted to share this vet's brave post below - where they stand up for their decisions as a veterinarian and dispel some common myths that people seem to believe from rumors on the internet. Veterinarians and vet technicians are experienced and educated, but that doesn't make them miracle or charity workers. They do the best they can because they love animals and genuinely want to help. If you refuse to listen to their advice, that's on you, but don't blame the vet for something that could have been avoided if you had been more responsible. 

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  • 01
    Veterinarians examining a dog including 'Stop blaming the vet'
    via Vesnaandjic

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I've been a vet tech for a decade and I have been a hospital administrator for 2 of those years. I have to say I am so sick of hearing the same accusations from people and I just want to air some of them out.
    via AbjectOwl392
  • 03
    1. Vets are not in it for the money- they pay the same amount of money for med school as human doctors do but make about 1/3 of their salary. And you need to learn multiple species. Vets do it solely for the love of animals.
    via AbjectOwl392
  • 04
    2. They get paid by the food companies- nope. Again that's human medicine. They get kickbacks from d g companies. Our rep told us thank you by dropping off popsicles last month. We recommend the foods we recommend because the science backs them up.
    via AbjectOwl392
  • 05
    3. I could never work in this field because I couldn't put down a pet- that is not the hardest part of this job. Seeing owners leave and you that animal is suffering is the hardest part. People declining all diagnostics and wanting to know why their pet is sick is hard. Euthanasia is a gift.
    via AbjectOwl392

  • We worked at a veterinarian's office when we were teenagers, as a receptionist. It was a summer job, and we're glad that it was because we couldn't stay there any longer. All we can say is that some people really don't deserve pets. 

  • 06
    4. Vet techs aren't nurses- I ran anesthesia during a cystotomy today. Performed phlebotomy on over a dozen patients. I also did a dental cleaning. So I think that it's pretty close babe.
    via AbjectOwl392
  • 07
    5. It's so expensive why can't they just help me if they say they love animals so much - yeah again have you looked at human medicine? Things cost money. We cannot do everything for free we would have to close the clinic. The machines we use are 10's of thousands of dollars. We can't pay for that in your appreciation.
    via AbjectOwl392
  • 08
    Most importantly be kind to your vet staff. Having a pet is a LUXURY. I don't think you should have 30k in the bank sitting there just in case your dog needs a crazy surgery but if you can't afford your dogs basic care don't get a dog. Spay or neuter your
    via AbjectOwl392
  • 09
    pet, give them vaccines, treat their illness. But don't blame me that you can't afford the treatment because you let things get really bad. That's on you not me. Believe me if you are kind and try to work with us we will help you find a solution if one is available.
    via AbjectOwl392
  • 10
    Cheezburger Image 10548764160
    via Tima Miroschnichenko from Pexels

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 11
    likeconstellations I think what people struggle with is that even relatively basic vet care costs have risen significantly in recent years but very rarely does that have anything to do with the vets/techs. I know a vet who is
    via likeconstellations

  • This isn't news to any of us millennials - we've been dealing with prices of quite literally everything rising since we were born. From gas to apples, everything that was once affordable is now becoming a luxury. How are we ever going to buy a house if we have trouble paying for our dog's vet visits?

  • 12
    part of a corporate practice and they're treated horribly, underpaid, and have no say in pricing. I've also watched certain dr Is prices skyrocket- -my flea and tick prevention in the US cost a third less three
    via likeconstellations
  • 13
    years ago, it can be bought overseas (manufactured in the US) for slightly more than a third of what it costs to buy in the US. Supply and medication costs have risen significantly and private equity has moved into the sector to the detriment of both veterinary professionals and clients.
    via likeconstellations
  • 14
    kris_bryant I would also add that vets don't have the advantage of virtually all their patients being insured in one way or another.
    via kris_bryant
  • 15
    books-and-bOrksRfun I love my vets and I know they're in it for helping animals. It's terrible that the system with being bought out by corporate companies make this culture that makes it so much harder for you guys. I didn't get my
    via books-and-bOrksRfun
  • 16
    own pets until I could reasonably afford to take care of them. Also speaking from being in human medicine - most of us (especially in primary care) get zero from pharmacy companies (in fact there's really major legal and monetary penalties of you take kick backs
    via books-and-bOrksRfun
  • 17
    and such) and are constantly fighting insurance companies to get our patients care (system is broken, most doctors and nurses and techs and such are all just trying to do their best for their patients too). We are in the same boat, unfortunately.
    via books-and-bOrksRfun
  • 18
    bebesari I'm always hesitant to take myself to the doctor but with my 5 animals I'll drop anything I'm doing and pay whatever amount just to make sure they're ok if a situation arises.
    via bebesari
  • 19
    M_Pfefferi I have a deep appreciation for people like you who experience these things and still manage to stay in the profession. I love my pets and I could not have them without people like you. Thank you.
    via M_Pfefferi
  • 20
    I spent many years of my life. being certain I wanted to be a veterinarian. I worked in two vet clinics, at one doing behind- the-scenes work like cleaning, handling animals, stocking, etc., and at one as a receptionist and apprentice vet tech.
    via M_Pfefferi
  • 21
    I saw all the things you're describing, and it became very clear to me that I could not handle it. I am ashamed to say that I raised my voice at a client and gave her a talking-to after she yelled at the vet because he couldn't do anything to save her dog after he 'wasted' her time and money taking x-rays to attempt to diagnose what was wrong.
    via M_Pfefferi
  • 22
    Cheezburger Image 10548763648
    via JackF

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 23
    Spoiler alert, she hadn't brought her dog to the vet in sixteen years, had never had the dog spayed, and waited until things were really bad before she came in. That poor little dog was absolutely riddled with cancer and it appeared to
    via M_Pfefferi
  • 24
    have started in an ovary based on the mass pattern. She did not have the dog euthanized that day, and she never came back. There are many reasons why she may have acted that way that day, and me getting angry at her was inappropriate, but it did show me I do not have the temperament for those jobs.
    via M_Pfefferi
  • 25
    WatermelonSugar47 Pet insurance is so important
    via WatermelonSugar47
  • 26
    PatienceHelpful1316 I worked for a private owned Veterinary clinic that was bought out. The previous owner would let the Veterinarian use their discretion for emergencies if there was an owner with limited funds. The new owner
    via PatienceHelpful1316
  • 27
    was not on board with this at all. It was heartbreaking. One of the doctors had a little dog that had a puppy stuck in the birth canal. They did not have $ so she took a radiograph to see if she could possibly remove it manually. It
    via PatienceHelpful1316
  • 28
    worked! She did not charge for the radiograph and was fired, I gave my notice, could not stomach not helping an animal that was going to suffer and d like that. I believe we did the right thing morally, sleep easy at night.
    via PatienceHelpful1316
  • 29
    taznjynx I love my vet and the vet techs! my They all take great care of cats, even when 1 of my cats tries to bite or scratch them. Not everyone deserves the privilege of having pets. Keep doing the amazing work that you do!
    via taznjynx
  • 30
    Other Tadpole_4676 Vets don't get paid enough. My local practice has 1 vet, 3 techs, their own building + equipment. I cannot understand how the $200 appointment fees (which can barely overlap) are covering all of their overhead, let alone
    via Other_Tadpole_4676
  • 31
    paying them a comfortable salary. On top of that they have to interact with animals at their worst everyday. Heartbreaking and difficult, you could not pay me enough.
    via Other_Tadpole_4676

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complaining pet ownership dogs pets clients veterinarian vet Cats power animals karen culture entitled people
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