You booked with the veterinarian you always see. Then a different doctor walks into the exam room and says hello. It is normal to wonder what happened, and whether your pet is in good hands.
Most of the time, the answer is simple. The new face is a relief vet, a fully licensed veterinarian who is covering a shift at your clinic. This guide explains who relief vets are, how they get up to speed on your pet, and what you can ask so you leave the visit feeling sure about the plan.
A relief veterinarian is a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine who works shifts at clinics on a short-term basis. You may also hear the terms fill-in vet or locum vet. They all mean the same thing: a vet who steps in when the clinic needs another doctor for a day, a week or longer.
There are many ordinary reasons you might see one. Your regular vet may be on vacation, at a training course, home sick or on family leave. The clinic may be busy and have added a doctor so more pets can be seen. Or the clinic may be looking for a new full-time vet and is using relief doctors in the meantime.
None of these reasons mean something is wrong with your pet or your clinic. Relief coverage is a normal part of how veterinary practices run.
A relief vet holds the same kind of license as your regular veterinarian. They finished veterinary school, passed the national licensing exam and are licensed in the state where your clinic is. A vet who works in more than one state needs a license in each one.
Many relief vets have spent years in general practice, emergency medicine or both. Most clinics expect relief doctors to have at least two years of clinical experience before they cover shifts. Some vets choose relief work because they enjoy seeing many kinds of cases at different hospitals.
If you ever want to check a vet’s license yourself, each state has a veterinary board. The AVMA keeps a directory of state veterinary boards where you can find yours.
Your pet’s medical records belong to the clinic, not to one doctor. When a relief vet works a shift, they use the same records system as everyone else on the team. That means they can see your pet’s history before they walk into the room.
That history usually includes past visits, vaccines, lab results, current medicines, allergies and notes from your regular vet. A careful relief vet reads the chart first, so they know what has been going on and what the plan was.
Anything the relief vet does during the visit goes into the same record. When your regular vet is back, they can read what happened, what was found and what was recommended.
Continuity of care means your pet’s treatment stays on one track, even when different people help along the way. Clinics protect it in a few simple ways.
A fresh pair of eyes can help, too. Sometimes a relief vet notices something new or asks a question that moves a stubborn problem forward. You get another trained opinion, and your regular vet still sees the full picture.
Many clinics have had a hard time finding enough veterinarians. You can read more about why clinics are short on veterinarians. When a clinic is missing a doctor, the choices are tough. It can cancel appointments, turn away sick pets or bring in a relief vet.
Relief coverage lets the clinic keep its doors open and its schedule moving. For you, that can mean:
Some clinics find relief vets through staffing services. FlexVet Staffing is one of them: it matches licensed veterinarians with clinics that need coverage, and you can see how the matching works if you are curious.
In most cases, there is no reason to worry. Still, it is fair to want to know who is caring for your pet. A good veterinarian, relief or regular, will be glad to answer your questions.
Here are questions you can ask at the visit:
It also helps to bring your own short list. Write down the medicines and supplements your pet takes, any changes you have noticed at home and the questions you want answered before you leave. For a look at how vets try to make these talks easier, see how vets communicate with pet parents.
If something does not feel right, say so. You can ask the front desk to note that you would like your regular vet to review the case. Speaking up is part of good care, and a caring clinic team will want to know.
Yes. Relief vet, locum vet and fill-in vet all describe the same thing: a fully licensed veterinarian who covers shifts at a clinic on a short-term basis. The title does not change their training or license. It only describes how they work, moving between clinics that need extra help rather than staying at one hospital full time.
Usually, yes, if the visit is not urgent. Call the clinic and ask when your regular vet is back, and keep in mind that waiting may mean a later appointment. If your pet seems sick, in pain or is getting worse, it is often wiser to be seen now by the relief vet, who can read the full history and leave notes for your regular doctor.
The relief vet uses the same medical record as your regular vet, so allergies, medicines and past visits recorded there are available to them. It still helps to mention anything important yourself, especially new medicines, supplements or changes since the last visit. A quick reminder from you is an easy way to make sure nothing gets missed.
You might. Some relief vets cover the same clinic often, so you may start to recognize them. Others cover a few shifts and move on. Either way, the clinic keeps all of your pet’s care in one record. If you liked working with a relief vet, tell the front desk and ask whether that doctor will be back.
A relief veterinarian is a fully licensed veterinarian who covers shifts at a clinic when the regular doctor is away. FlexVet Staffing matches licensed DVMs with clinics across the country. Learn more about how relief veterinary work works.
FlexVet connects licensed DVMs with veterinary clinics across the US. Browse open relief shifts or learn more about how it works.
