Communication and transparency are key when heading into a salary negotiation. We sat down to map the real landscape of equine veterinary compensation—what each pay model actually means, how the math works, and where the friction hides. From straight salary to ProSal to base plus production, we break down risk, reward, and the psychology that drives your choices.

You’ll hear the practical benchmarks owners use to keep a practice healthy—like total compensation packages landing around 25–35% of an associate’s billed revenue—and why your production percentage only matters if you know what’s included. We push hard on negative accrual and explain why tying base stability to short-term production shortfalls is a morale and retention killer.

We try our best to address the “true paid time off” concept by clarifying what you are paid (your base and benefits) versus what changes (bonus opportunity), and why prorating thresholds effectively shifts risk back to the practice. Then we turn to benefits and culture: why a capable technician is an efficiency engine, how pre-tax benefits stretch dollars farther than payroll, and which creative perks actually improve your day-to-day—AI transcription, on-the-road meals, student loan stipends, even rural med-evac memberships.

If you’re negotiating a new role or a renewal, you’ll walk away with the right questions: What revenue is realistic in year one and year three? What’s counted in production? Is this role replacing demand or creating it? How will the practice fill my book? And if you’re already near the top of the compensation-to-production range, consider schedule design, support staff, and pricing before chasing another point of percentage.

Let’s make compensation clearer, fairer, and more sustainable—for associates and practices. If this helped, share it with a colleague, and then tell us: what part of all of this still feels confusing to you? What perspective or ideas did we miss?

RESOURCES:

-Understanding Associate Compensation Webinar

-Some other great compensation podcast episodes from Veterinary Financial Podcast

-AAEP Compensation Resources (Compensation Study, Fee Survey, Benefits Calculator)

-The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel

-AAEP Practice Culture Resources (Benefits survey, Reward and Recognition Survey)

-"How Much Practice Financial Information Should I Share With My Team?" from Care Credit and Dr. Andy Cameron

Send a text and let me know what you think about the episode!

Connect with Stacey or find more from www.thewholeveterinarian.com!

IG @thewholeveterinarian
Listen on your favorite podcast player here
Thank you for your time and support!

Feeling isolated as an equine veterinarian? You're not alone. With over 63% of equine practitioners working solo, the struggle to maintain work-life balance while providing excellent care can feel overwhelming. But what if there's a better way?

In this candid conversation, three experienced equine veterinarians share how intentional collaboration transformed their practices from isolated endeavors into sustainable, community-supported businesses. Dr. Kelly Zeytoonian reveals how a sudden transition to solo practice led to an innovative partnership with another local veterinarian - sharing equipment, knowledge, and weekend on-call duties that made independent practice feasible. Dr. Stacey Cordivano describes how meeting another solo practitioner at yoga class evolved into jointly purchasing equipment, sharing staff, and covering emergencies, admitting "if we hadn't had each other, there's no way we'd still be equine vets."

Dr. Misty Gray tackles common fears about collaboration head-on: Will clients switch loyalties? What about different practice styles or pricing structures? Kelly, Misty and Stacey's experiences show that these concerns rarely materialize. Instead, they've discovered that clients appreciate the support system and continuity of care that collaborative relationships provide.

For introverts who find networking intimidating, the episode offers practical strategies for building professional relationships: attending local CE events, making intentional introductions at barns, or simply sending an email to colleagues in your area. The hosts emphasize that established practitioners have a responsibility to welcome newcomers, while newer veterinarians should push past discomfort to initiate connections.

Whether you're a solo practitioner looking for sustainability, a practice owner wanting to improve culture, or an associate seeking community, this episode provides actionable insights for building the collaborative relationships that make equine practice not just survivable, but truly rewarding.

Join us at AAEP Convention for more discussion on practice culture, or explore programs like Decade One for structured community-building opportunities.

Resources:

• 2023 AAEP Fee Survey
• Practice Culture resources from AAEP

Send a text and let me know what you think about the episode!

Connect with Stacey or find more from www.thewholeveterinarian.com!

IG @thewholeveterinarian
Listen on your favorite podcast player here
Thank you for your time and support!

What does growth really mean for your veterinary practice? In this honest conversation on Vet Truck Confidential, Dr. Stacey Cordivano joins equine veterinarians Dr. Misty Gray and Dr. Kelly Zeytoonian to challenge conventional wisdom about practice expansion.

The veterinary profession often glorifies the hustle, celebrating packed schedules and constant growth. But is adding more clients always the answer? Our three experienced equine practitioners reveal a potentially surprising truth: a simple 1% price increase can boost profitability by 11% without seeing a single additional patient. This insight alone could transform how you approach your practice's financial health.

We explore what growth means at different career stages - from the early years focused on building clientele to later phases where quality of care and work-life balance take precedence. Dr. Cordivano shares her personal journey from initial growth to strategic client selection, while Dr. Gray discusses the power of being content with your current practice size. Dr. Zeytoonian discusses the constant need to tweak what is the right amount of support for her team.

For those looking to increase profitability, we offer practical alternatives to simply adding more appointments: proper product markup (minimum 65%), increasing services to existing clients, and investing in support staff to maximize billable hours. These strategies allow for growth without the burnout that often accompanies an expanding client base.

Perhaps most importantly, we emphasize aligning practice decisions with your personal vision rather than fear or industry pressure. Whether you dream of a four-day work week or aim to pay off student loans rapidly, success should be defined on your terms.

Ready to rethink what practice growth means for you? Listen now, and don't forget to do your homework: check your medication markups, evaluate your billable hours, and take time to reflect on whether your current path aligns with your long-term vision.

Resources that we mentioned:

AAEP FEE SURVEY

Send a text and let me know what you think about the episode!

Connect with Stacey or find more from www.thewholeveterinarian.com!

IG @thewholeveterinarian
Listen on your favorite podcast player here
Thank you for your time and support!