Being a veterinary practice owner is hard. But good. But still hard.

Should you buy or start a veterinary hospital? Here are questions to ask to figure it out and resource paths to help you explore your options.

It’s 3 in the morning, cold, dark and rainy. I’m 3 or 4 years old, sitting in the backseat of my dad’s truck riding out to watch him to deliver a calf or fix a prolapsed uterus. Fast-forward a few years and my dad, a veterinarian, has traded in the life of a mixed-animal practitioner to build a small animal hospital, and my memories are filled with running around the clinic, locking myself in the cages and playing with puppies and kittens and, I’m sure, being a general nuisance to all. Another year or so goes by and Dad grows the hospital enough to pursue the profession he loves (and still does) while also taking Thursday afternoons off for “ice cream Thursdays” with me and my sister. He still worked most Saturdays, but we had time for running our own cattle operation and in the summertime, when my mom, a school counselor, was off, we were able to load up the camper and explore this country’s wonderful natural treasures.

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