California’s pet owners told to ‘Be Patient’ as 50% of veterinary positions remain vacant

San Diego, California – A growing shortage of veterinarians in San Diego and across California is putting increased pressure on emergency animal hospitals and leaving many pets without the care they need. From rattlesnake bites to heatstroke, local veterinarians say they’re seeing more cases — and more preventable deaths — simply because there aren’t enough hands to help.

Dr. Leah Sauerwein, a veterinarian at the Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG) in Oceanside, says spring has brought a sharp uptick in cases. “For our hospital, we did see about a 17% increase of cases just in the last week,” she said. “We are seeing more rattlesnake envenomations … and we’re definitely seeing an increase in heat stroke as we have more acute smooshy-faced friends like French bulldogs and bulldogs who are being more active in the warmer months.”

With VEG being one of the only 24/7 emergency animal hospitals in the North County area, the burden on its staff is intense. “We’re doing what we can, but we can’t be everywhere,” Sauerwein said. The issue isn’t unique to Oceanside — it’s statewide.

According to a UC Davis study, nearly two-thirds of California’s animal shelters are unable to meet even basic medical needs due to the veterinarian shortage. More than half of veterinary positions in the state remain unfilled.

UC Davis, one of only two veterinary schools in California, is trying to address the crisis. The university has already raised nearly $500 million to expand its veterinary facilities and programs. However, school officials acknowledge that more funding and more support will be needed to meet future staffing demands.

The shortage isn’t just affecting animal shelters and emergency clinics. Regular vet offices are also struggling to keep up with routine care demands, leading to longer wait times for appointments and more strain on existing staff.

To help ease some of the burden, California enacted a law in January allowing veterinarians to offer telehealth services. VEG had already been offering free virtual consultations, and Sauerwein says the official policy change has helped more people get timely advice — even if in-person treatment is delayed.

Still, virtual care can only go so far. As warmer weather brings greater risks of dehydration and rattlesnake encounters, Sauerwein urges pet owners to take preventative steps:

• Survey your yard for rattlesnakes if you’ve seen them before.

• Consider installing a rattlesnake fence.

• Keep pets on a leash when outdoors.

• Make sure they always have access to clean, fresh water.

“This time of year, we see a lot of cases that could have been avoided with just a little extra care,” she said.

Until more veterinarians enter the field, experts say the best thing pet owners can do is stay informed, stay alert — and have patience.

“We’re here to help,” Sauerwein said, “but we need help, too.”