Shortage of vets, page-57

It used to be different. Young, often male vets would start in practice at age around 23. Work hard learning real veterinary medicine hands on. Often with mixed practice experience. Around age 30 they would be very strong capable vets. They would aim to be an associate in their practice, buying in before age 35. Settle in and then buy out their retiring partner. Run the practice till 45 or so, invite the next decent kid in behind them after watching them work hard and prove themselves. 45 to 55 years enjoy the fruits of your labor and sell out and retire.
You would earn 3 to 4 times you usual salary owning the practice and sell out at 2.5 to 3 times ebit or similar . Professional etiquette was you didn’t advertise and you didn’t open a practice on a colleagues patch.
Back then you joined a profession. The big box aggregators want to offer you a job in a pet shop plus they want to hold your wages at less than 5.5 times earnings. Go figure. That’s where the vet shortage starts.