Pets bring joy to many families, but high levels of stress to vets. A whitepaper reveals that 58 per cent of Thai veterinarians work 50 hours or more per week, which is among the highest in Southeast Asia.
The whitepaper, titled “Going Beyond: Charging a Sustainable Future for Veterinary Medicine in Thailand”, is based on a survey conducted by pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim in cooperation with TAGR, an independent consultancy company, among 335 veterinarians and veterinary staff in six ASEAN countries -- Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
The report uncovers several concerning findings. 70 per cent of Thai veterinarians and clinic staff surveyed said that pet owners lack knowledge about animal health, while 74 per cent cited pet owners’ limited understanding of veterinary healthcare costs.
These two factors often lead to delayed visits to the vet and, in many cases, incomplete treatment — with owners halting care due to perceived high costs.
In addition, 64 per cent of the vets believe that improved client understanding would help reduce work-related stress.
Chaiyot Tanrattana, Assistant Dean and Director of the Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary, Chulalongkorn University, pointed to additional factors adding stress to vets.
Pet owners, who treat their pets as family members, usually have higher expectations. Meanwhile, clinics are competing to satisfy pet owners and, therefore, push vets to deliver unrealistically high services to clients.
“Some clinics offer 24-hour hotline services. So, clients expect that if they text to follow up the condition of their pets in the middle of the night, say at 2 a.m., they expect someone to answer right away,” said Chaiyot.
Chaiyot Tanrattana, Assistant Dean and Director of the Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary, Chulalongkorn University
Inst. Dr. M.L. Narudee Kashemsant, former President of the Veterinary Practitioner Association of Thailand (VPAT), noted that many veterinary hospitals in Thailand operate on a two-shift system, with morning and evening shifts of 12 hours each.
This results in working days of at least 12 hours, which contributes to physical and mental strain – especially when sustained over time.
The situation is worsened by the shortage of veterinarians in Thailand. Currently, there are around 10,000 registered vets, while the nationwide pet population exceeds five million.
Although a significant number of veterinary graduates enter the workforce each year, only a small proportion go on to become practicing clinicians — and even fewer choose to specialize. This contributes to longer working hours and elevated stress levels among veterinarians.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Jaruwan Kampa, Secretary General of the Veterinary Council of Thailand, the Council’s regulations set the standard workweek for veterinarians at 40 hours.
Associate Professor Dr. Jaruwan Kampa (centre), Secretary General of the Veterinary Council of Thailand
However, employers are allowed to negotiate with veterinarians to work longer hours by mutual agreement.
The whitepaper also recommends the industry to provide wellbeing support to vets, such as access to counselling and training for veterinary practices on mental health and stress management.
Industry recognition, such as awards and recognition programs, should be in place to raise public appreciation and celebrate vets’ contributions.
Fostering closer collaboration between veterinary associations, government, and the private sector to amplify the profession’s collective voice is also recommended.
The whitepaper suggests that the government and veterinary organizations work closely together to ensure supporting policy and advance initiatives, such as preventive care.
Associate Professor Dr. Jaruwan noted that the Veterinary Council of Thailand is well aware of these concerns and is working on modernizing its regulations to better address these issues and that some changes will be introduced shortly.
“While we are working on regulations and support for veterinarians, it is important for the general public to have a good understanding of this profession and its role in promoting pet health, preventing diseases both in animals and humans, and supporting the country’s agricultural sector and the entire economy. With awareness and correct understanding, we will be able to initiate the best solution for the wellbeing of animals and veterinarians,” she said.
