Balancing Veterinary Life and Caregiving
Balancing Veterinary Life and Caregiving
When I was in my final year of veterinary school, I studied for boards in a hospital room while my mom received blood transfusions.
It was 2020, in the middle of COVID, and my world flipped. My mom had just been diagnosed with cancer, and suddenly, I was juggling two identities: a vet in training and a caregiver.
Now, as a practicing veterinarian, I’m still a caregiver. I show up every day for my patients and my mom. It hasn’t always been easy. But thanks to the right support and the right place to practice veterinary medicine, I’ve found a way to honor both parts of myself without having to choose one over the other.
This is my story about how finding flexibility in veterinary medicine helped me keep going.
Returning Home and Burning Out
After graduation, I moved back to Omaha, Nebraska to be closer to my mom and I started working as an Associate at a small animal clinic. I was clocking 50–60 hours a week, plus caregiving on top of that.
It just felt like a lot.
I was doing everything I could, but it wasn’t sustainable. I was drowning. I started to resent work, even though I loved being a vet. That’s when I knew I needed something different. I thought about relief work, but I knew I couldn’t take on the added weight of finding my own shifts, negotiating pay, or managing complicated taxes on top of caregiving.
Finding Relief with IndeVets
When I found IndeVets, everything changed. I could just focus on being a veterinarian, without taking on the business responsibilities of traditional 1099 relief work.
What mattered most? The flexibility and control I gained.
There are many things in my life I don’t have control over, but this I do — my schedule. I control when I work and how many hours I’m investing into myself as a veterinarian versus myself as a human. IndeVets sees that I am a whole human, not just a veterinarian.
Some weeks, when my mom is doing better, or when the bills are heavier, I work more: sometimes 50 to 60 hours. But the difference now is that every minute of that time is paid.
Other weeks, when I need to be at home more, I can scale back. I can take care of myself, too.
I can ramp up when I need to and then take a couple weeks off if that’s what my family needs. Having that kind of control has been a huge comfort.
That flexibility to lean in and step back when I need to has allowed me to keep going. I don’t have to choose between being a vet and being a caregiver. I can be both.
Being Present for What Matters
This flexibility has meant everything. Because of it, I’ve been able to:
- Be there for my mom’s surgeries
- Travel with her for moments that matter (like seeing the Northern Lights on my birthday)
- Help my sister after she had her first baby
And it’s also helped me continue to serve my community in a meaningful way.
Finding Time to Give Back
I lead the Omaha chapter of Street Dog Coalition, a nonprofit that provides preventative veterinary care for pets of people experiencing homelessness or at risk of being unhoused. It’s one of the most fulfilling things I do.
Street Dog is where I felt like I could help my community. Access to healthcare is so important, and for many pet owners, we may be their only option. I can’t do it all, but I can show up, and that matters.
Even on the hard days, I try to offer myself grace.
My advice to anyone in a similar spot is just to show up and do the best you can. Priorities are allowed to change day by day. Some days you’ll choose family, some days you’ll choose work, some days you’ll need to choose yourself. There’s not a wrong choice. What matters is doing what feels right in the moment.
The Support System I Didn’t Know I Needed
One of the biggest surprises about joining IndeVets was how supported I’d feel.
When I hit a particularly low point, I called Dave Shuey, our veterinary social worker. He listened without judgment. He recommended looking into a palliative care specialist for my mom, which ended up being a huge help for our family.
And my Area Clinical Lead, Dr. Erica Thiel, has been there for me every step of the way.
One day, she even volunteered at a Street Dog clinic during a chaotic, 105-degree day. We were understaffed, a news crew was filming, and a dog collapsed in the parking lot. But she showed up for me. I felt seen.
She’s also sent me care packages after surgeries, offered to cover shifts if I needed to call out, and has always reminded me:
“Your loved ones come first.”
Erica has told me she sees something bigger in my story:
“Caregiving alone can feel like a full-time job, yet she balances that with her veterinary career and her volunteer work. I find her ability to manage all of this truly inspiring.”
And when I felt guilty about taking time off, Dr. Casey Robinson, my Director of Clinical Excellence, told me something I’ll never forget:
“Nothing is going to die because you called out. Another vet will step in. You have permission to choose your family over work.”
His perspective allowed me to stop feeling guilty. It was the safety net I didn’t know I needed.
What IndeVets Gets Right
- We’re managed by vets who get it
- We determine when we work and how much we work
- We get benefits, stability, and flexibility
- We have an entire team behind us — from scheduling support to social work to clinical guidance
It’s more than just “relief work.” It’s a way to practice that makes space for life.
The Bigger Picture
What’s made the biggest difference for me is leadership that actually understands. Dr. Erica Thiel said:
“From the start, Emily made it clear that her family came first. In vet med, that hasn’t always been encouraged — but at IndeVets, we’re working to change that. Our job as leaders is to support the whole person, not just the doctor.”
For me, that kind of leadership has been life-changing. It showed me I didn’t have to choose between being a veterinarian and being there for my family. I can be both, fully.
If You’re a Vet Going Through This Too…
Please know: You’re not alone.
Caregiving is hard. Veterinary medicine is hard. Doing both at once can feel impossible — but it’s not. With the right support, it’s absolutely possible to do what you love and care for the people you love.
Don’t make tomorrow’s worries today’s worries. Take small bites, focus on what’s in front of you, and give yourself grace.
The Bottom Line
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that balance isn’t about perfection. It’s about living authentically, finding and leaning on your support system, and reminding yourself that showing up — even imperfectly — still makes a difference.
