Early days as a veterinary content writer

When I first began writing for Rumpus in 2018, I was a full-time RVT in a small animal practice in rural Indiana. I was always looking for ways to bring in extra cash, especially if I could work from the comfort of my own home, after 10-plus hours at the clinic. Fortunately, I stumbled across a job ad for a part-time writer to create blog posts about pet health—it was a match made in veterinary heaven. 

My typical clinic day was spent prepping surgery patients and running anesthesia in the morning, wolfing down a hurried lunch while inputting surgery charges and notes, and then finishing the afternoon by assisting with appointments. I thrived on busy days, where we would have a stockpile of blood tubes waiting for testing, a patient being sedated for X-rays, another patient needing an IV catheter placed, and a hospitalized pet requiring treatments. Working at such a small practice with only one veterinarian allowed me to use my technician skills to the fullest. With the knowledge gained from my bachelor’s degree, and my continual love of learning, I spent a great deal of my time educating clients on all aspects of pet care, which helped free up my veterinarian to do “veterinary things.” Although I loved being able to hit a jugular on an obese Lab, place an IV catheter on a nippy dachshund, or stick a clean cysto on an angry cat, I also loved helping people learn about how to best care for their pets. 

I originally went to college to become an editor, so I naturally loved all things writing. When paired with my veterinary knowledge, being the one who created client education handouts and how-to guides made sense. Breaking down complex medical jargon into easy-to-understand terminology was fun, and I enjoyed bridging the gap between veterinarian and pet owner. With this bit of veterinary writing under my belt, I managed to nab a job as a part-time veterinary content writer with Rumpus. I’d spend my days working with animals in the clinic, and my evenings helping educate pet owners around the country—and the world! 

Moving on up

After a couple of years of pulling double duty, I was getting older. My back ached, my feet crippled me, and I was tired of struggling with pets who absolutely did not want to receive any care whatsoever. I became a veterinary technician to help pets and their owners, and a rural town is not always the most open-minded spot. I wanted to do more with my degree—plus, I had bought my first home, almost an hour away from the clinic. So, I left my clinic job, and became a full-time veterinary content writer with Rumpus. I still occasionally fill in at the clinic, to keep up my skills, but I often stick to the receptionist role, where I can help educate pet owners without rolling around on the floor for difficult nail trims.   

A day in the life of a veterinary content writer

When veterinary professionals hear “the three P’s,” polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia come to mind. But, when you’re a veterinary content writer, those three P’s look a bit different—instead, PJs, puppy snuggles, and procrastination fill your days. When I first began my life as a full-time writer, I spent my days lazing around in bed, reading, and snuggling my dogs before “going to work.” Some days, I wouldn’t crack open my laptop until after noon. Who am I kidding? That was actually how it went most days! I’d easily get distracted “researching” heartworm statistics and other key facts to include in blog posts, and would spend way too much time writing what should be a simple blog post. Over time, I learned that I focused best at night, and then would typically pound out my daily assignments in a few short hours, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. 

Life changed again, and I had my first baby. I was still up at 2 a.m, but that was for a quick bottle and back to bed—hopefully. Returning to work full-time after a two-month maternity leave was rough. I quickly learned that the phrase, “sleeping like a baby,” was the most ridiculous, inaccurate idiom I’ve ever heard, because babies really don’t sleep well. At least mine didn’t, so I suffered through trying to be creative on two-hour catnaps throughout the night. During the day, I scrambled to complete my assignments during any naptime—sometimes only 15 minutes—I was offered. 

The wide world of veterinary medicine

Still, at the end of the day, when my baby had survived my newbie mom skills, and my assignments were completed, I couldn’t be more grateful for the wonderful turn that my veterinary career took. Many people think they’re stuck working in general practice, long after they’ve burned out, but veterinary professionals have many opportunities outside practice. Depending on your passion, you can be a teacher in a veterinary program, a researcher in a lab, a pet insurance processor—or a veterinary content writer. 

If creating awesome veterinary content sounds like a dream come true, send over a resume and writing samples. As the top veterinary content producer in the industry, Rumpus Writing and Editing is growing by leaps and bounds, in everything from pet owner-facing blog posts, to veterinarian-facing marketing. We’re here to help veterinary hospitals and industry businesses produce attention-grabbing, informative content that reaches their desired audience, and we couldn’t do it without our incredible team of veterinary content writers.