Type A, Slightly Uptight, and Exactly Who SAVMA Needed
Cayden Smith is a DVM candidate at Long Island University's Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine, SAVMA President-Elect, and one of Vet Candy's Rising Stars for 2026. From equestrian team captain to national student leader, Cayden talks about resilience, adaptability, finding purpose in veterinary medicine, and why rest before first semester matters more than getting a head start on physiology. Read her story.
Pet Owners Are Skipping Wellness Visits. They Are Still Paying for Complex Surgery. Here Is What That Tells Us.
The split between routine care and emergency care spending is the most important trend in veterinary economics right now, and it has direct implications for how practices think about their patient base.
She Moved Across the World for Veterinary School. She Would Do It Again Tomorrow
Jacqui Maisey is a Canadian veterinary student at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia, a former Division 1 water polo player, and one of Vet Candy's Rising Stars for 2026. She moved across the world for vet school and came back with a clear-eyed perspective on what it takes to build a sustainable, meaningful career in veterinary medicine. Read her story.
The Millennial Who Wants a Big Dog Can't Have One. The Data Explains Why.
New national research finds that Gen Z and Millennials are the most likely to adopt large dogs — and the most systematically blocked from doing so.
Built Lean by Design: How This Vet Created a Vet Clinic in 10 Days with $10,000 budget
Pet Candy Veterinary Clinic in Avon, Connecticut demonstrates how veterinarians can start a low-cost, wellness-focused practice with minimal debt. Founded by Dr. Jill Lopez in just 10 days with under $10,000, the clinic uses a low-overhead model—featuring secondhand equipment, outsourced lab work, and virtual reception to deliver affordable, high-quality preventative care.
This Vet Student Traded the Basketball Court for the Clinic Floor
Meet Phylicia McInnis, a second-year vet student at Virginia-Maryland CVM and Vet Candy Rising Star 2026 with her eyes on emergency medicine and her own clinic.