From Burnout to Breakthrough — What’s Really Weighing on Practice Managers in 2025?
Running a veterinary hospital takes more than just scheduling and managing resources. If you’re a practice manager, you know the pressure is nonstop. You are the person keeping the entire team moving forward, even when things get messy. According to our 2025 Practice Manager Report, that load is getting heavier, and it is taking a toll.
The Reality of Practice Manager Burnout
One manager put it like this:
“This one position could easily be shared between three people. I finally get a break when I go home at the end of the day.”
That feeling of being stretched too thin is echoed throughout the report. Many managers say their biggest challenges are not the pets or the medicine. It is the nonstop emotional strain, the people drama, and the sense that they are never truly off the clock.
In fact, more than half of the survey respondents said their job would be much more manageable if expectations were clearer and more support was provided from ownership.
Another respondent was blunt:
“Unfortunately, due to severe burnout and lack of appreciation, there are too many challenges to count.”
Why This Impacts Everyone in the Hospital
When practice managers are overwhelmed, the entire hospital feels it. Team morale drops. Client service suffers. And eventually, the people who hold everything together either burn out or burn bridges.
The report highlights how managers are often pulled away from strategic tasks because they are stuck dealing with support staff issues or day-to-day drama. More than two-thirds of PMs reported that most of their time is spent managing support teams instead of focusing on operations and growth.
There Is a Better Way
While the report lays out the problems, it also offers practical solutions. These include things like onboarding tools, feedback frameworks, and systems that take pressure off the manager by helping distribute responsibilities more evenly.
This is not just about avoiding burnout. It is about making practice managers more effective leaders. By focusing their time where it matters most, PMs can help hospitals become more efficient, positive, and profitable.
You’re Not Alone
This year’s report gathered insights from more than 350 managers in 47 states and one Canadian province. The stories may vary, but the message is clear. PMs are ready for change, and they are asking for the tools and trust to make it happen.
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