What is a Relief Veterinarian?

Help is On The Way: How to Hire a Relief Veterinarian

As veterinary teams continue to navigate staffing gaps and unpredictable schedules, many practices are asking a more practical question: Is it time to bring in a relief veterinarian?

If “what is a relief veterinarian?” is still a question, this role, also known as a locum tenens veterinarian, is a freelance professional who temporarily fills in for another veterinarian when they are unavailable. In veterinary medicine, the term “locum tenens” refers to a temporary veterinary professional who steps in to ensure continuity of care and support for animal hospitals, veterinary hospitals, and clinics.

Like substitute teachers, relief veterinarians work on a contract basis, giving them the freedom to decide when and where they work, unlike associates who deal with fixed schedules and long-term commitments.

This flexibility and autonomy make becoming a relief veterinarian an appealing career path for those seeking work-life balance.

Relief veterinarians provide essential support in a variety of settings, including veterinary hospitals, helping to distribute heavy workloads, reduce burnout, and provide critical support during peak periods. While associates handle routine responsibilities, relief veterinarians provide temporary, flexible coverage that helps maintain the quality of care and supports the well-being of full-time staff.

In today’s workforce crisis, relief veterinarians can be the ideal solution for both short- and long-term staffing challenges.

Do you need to hire a relief vet?

In addition to the traditional reasons for hiring a relief veterinarian, many practices now realize that temporary staffing can aid their business during prosperous as well as difficult times:

• Staffing shortages: Relief veterinarians can fill empty positions that are straining your team and impacting your revenue. Clinics often use specialized veterinary relief services or staffing platforms to find vetted relief veterinarians and manage the hiring process.
• Increased growth: Hiring a temporary vet can help you determine whether the current demand for veterinary care means your practice could support an additional part-time or full-time associate.
• Team burnout: If your current team is struggling with burnout, relief vet work can ease their workload, help full-time staff earn extra income, and bring in relief veterinarians with advanced training in specialty areas such as surgery, dentistry, or exotic animal medicine.
• Talent search: According to the veterinary relief service Relief Rover, modern job-seeking veterinarians are reluctant to accept a position after only an interview and are screening or test-driving potential employers through locum work. For employers, using a relief service as part of the hiring process can reveal if your potential new hire is a good fit for your team—before you extend a permanent job offer.

Relief veterinarians work as temporary employees and can either work directly with clinics or manage their shifts through specialized staffing platforms. Because relief veterinarians often work in new environments, they bring fresh perspectives and new ideas to each practice.

Benefits of hiring relief vets

Hiring relief vets offers veterinary practices a flexible and strategic solution to many of the challenges facing veterinary medicine today.

One of the most significant advantages is the ability to maintain seamless operations during staff shortages, busy periods, or when permanent staff members are on vacation, parental leave, or pursuing continuing education.

Relief veterinarians provide essential temporary coverage, ensuring that clients and their pets continue to receive high-quality care without interruption.

For practice owners, relief veterinary work is a practical way to address staffing gaps without the long-term commitment or overhead of hiring a full-time veterinarian.

This flexibility allows practices to adapt quickly to fluctuating caseloads, seasonal surges, or unexpected absences, all while supporting the well-being of their permanent staff. By bringing in relief vets during peak times, practices can reduce the risk of burnout among their teams, promote a healthier work-life balance, and retain valued employees for the long term.

Career path and job outlook prospects in relief veterinary work

Relief veterinarians bring specialized skills and diverse experience from working in multiple hospitals, clinics, and specialty fields. This breadth of knowledge can be especially valuable for practices looking to expand their services or offer emergency coverage and weekend shifts.

Relief vets often have experience in a variety of treatment options and workflows, which can help practices stay current with industry best practices and deliver even better veterinary care to their clients.

For veterinarians themselves, relief veterinary work offers more control over their schedules and career paths. As independent contractors, relief vets can choose their own shifts, work in different clinics, and pursue other interests outside of traditional full-time roles.

This flexibility is ideal for those seeking a better work-life balance (or work-life harmony), whether they are new graduates exploring different practices, experienced veterinarians seeking extra income, or professionals wanting to reduce burnout by avoiding long hours in a single setting.

The job outlook for relief veterinarians is strong, with high demand for temporary coverage in veterinary practices of all sizes.

As more clinics recognize the benefits of relief veterinary services, opportunities for relief vets continue to grow, making this a rewarding and sustainable career path for many veterinary professionals. By leveraging relief veterinary work, both practices and veterinarians can enjoy greater flexibility, reduced stress, and the ability to deliver consistent, high-quality care to clients and their pets.

How to find a relief veterinarian

Despite our tech-enmeshed lifestyles, word of mouth is still an effective and economical way to start your search. Notify colleagues and nearby practices of your needs, including the estimated time commitment and any desired qualities or skills (e.g., surgical or emergency work).

Next, take your search online. According to Relief Rover, 66% of full-time veterinary job postings receive no response. So, while running a traditional help-wanted ad can’t hurt, you may not get the best return on your investment.

Veterinary relief services and staffing platforms are valuable resources for finding relief veterinarians, including new graduates seeking flexible work relief opportunities.

A better option is to join a professional online relief service network that matches freelance veterinary professionals with short- or long-term work opportunities.

Relief veterinarians typically earn. between $70 and $150 per hour, depending on location, practice type, and experience.

Considerations when hiring a relief vet

Staffing shortages can leave you desperate for help, but you must still treat hiring decisions, including temporary ones, as calculated investments. Your relief veterinarian will represent your brand and reputation, so selecting a candidate who matches your practice’s mission, values, and working style is important.

Consider the following key points during the hiring process:

• Personality: Relief veterinarians need to be able to integrate quickly into your practice culture, so look for a personality type that will mesh with your current team.

• Values: Your relief vet’s values shape how they practice veterinary medicine and interact with clients and team members. Be upfront about your practice’s mission statement and core values to ensure the right fit for both parties.

• Required skills: Some relief veterinarians limit their work to appointments, while others accept jobs with surgical, emergency, or urgent care duties. Determine your relief veterinarian’s workload before your search to ensure interested candidates are comfortable with and capable of meeting your expectations.

• Rates: Relief vet salaries vary by location, but are typically significantly higher than those of a full-time associate. 

  • While this can initially come as a shock, remember that most independent relief veterinarians are 1099 contractors responsible for managing their own licensing fees, self-employment taxes, and professional liability insurance, as well as other professional fees. However, if a staffing agency refers the relief veterinarian, these costs may be included in their rate or covered by the agency.

• Legal matters: Relief work definitions and regulations vary by state, so check with your veterinary board to avoid inadverdent wrongdoing.

Using relief veterinarians can be more cost-effective for clinics than paying overtime to regular staff or hiring permanent employees. Relief veterinarians often earn more per shift than permanent staff, especially in high-demand or specialty fields.

Additionally, relief veterinarians gain exposure to a wide range of cases and medical protocols, expanding their skill set and improving job satisfaction.

Work alongside potential candidates before hiring

Working interviews aren’t only for traditional hires. Conduct a paid working interview before you send your relief veterinarian candidate into the deep end of your average workday. This allows you to evaluate how the veterinarian interacts with your team, cares for your valued patients and clients, and navigates the daily workflow.

Working interviews also afford candidates the chance to ask questions and better understand your practice’s pace, style, and needs.

If more than one relief veterinarian meets your needs, keep a list of suitable candidates for future job opportunities.

Welcome relief: Prepare your team to support the transition

Relief veterinarians are expected to acclimate quickly to each new practice and jump into the workflow. However, learning the lay of the land (e.g., where supplies are kept, operating unfamiliar equipment, etc.) takes time.

Help your relief veterinarian get off to a smooth start with the following game plan:

• Brief your team members before the relief veterinarian’s arrival and remind them that their success depends on their cooperation and teamwork. Relief veterinarians play a key role in maintaining client relationships and ensuring continuity of care during staff transitions, which helps preserve trust and professionalism.
• Outline the benefits (e.g., enhanced work-life balance) that the relief member will provide to everyone involved. Relief veterinarians provide critical staffing support to veterinary practices, ensuring that pet owners receive uninterrupted care, especially during staff shortages or peak periods.
• Encourage team members to be patient and available, especially during the first few shifts, to ensure your locum veterinarian feels welcomed, included, and well-equipped.

The reliance on locum tenens veterinarians is only expected to continue rising, driven by ongoing changes in practice staffing needs and increased caseloads across various regions.

When your veterinary practice needs to quickly onboard a relief veterinarian, the last thing you need is a confusing and overly complicated practice information management system.

Intuitive one-click functions, seamless integrations, and other must-have features allow you and your team to focus on patients and clients, not technology. A second-nature, workflow-first system designed and governed by real, practicing veterinarians can help get your team and practice aligned through the ebbs and flows.

Contact us today to schedule your free demo.