Does How Your Vet Dresses Matter to You?

Why I Think Dress Codes Are Antiquated

Whether we practice our profession in slacks, skirts or jeans, with bow ties, brow rings or butterfly tattoos, we shouldn't be expected to labor under restrictive, old-school social mores.

As long as we practice intelligently and skillfully, with an abundance of professionalism in every other aspect of our practice, I don't believe that veterinarians need to be overly concerned with how past generations of vets — or the pet-owning public — regard our appearance.

If we do so, it may not only distract from our goal of bringing the best health care possible to our patients, but it can also serve to dissuade the brightest from entering our amazing profession. In other words, I can totally get behind that blue hair if it means that a young vet promises to bring top-notch care to an underserved locale.

I have the good fortune of having worked hard to secure my clients' trust through years of good practice. So if I now choose to reveal that my tastes run to platform heels and blue toenails (well-pedicured, of course), this should not be cause for alarm among my devoted clientele.

And should the unthinkable occur, and my standing slips in my clients’ eyes as a result of my personal tastes, they always have the option to choose another provider.

Maybe one who wears PJ-style scrubs instead of haute fashion heels.

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