Crucial role of pragmatism in post‐pandemic veterinary practice

Abstract

While the aftershocks of the Covid‐19 pandemic and Brexit are still reverberating across the veterinary profession, it remains unclear how the various social, economic and political factors may influence the landscape in which we operate. Equally unclear is whether the pandemic has fundamentally altered pet ownership dynamics in the UK, and whether this will change the relationships or expectations that clients have with veterinary service providers. Pragmatic case management has long been associated with clinicians who work in charities or other cost‐prohibitive environments; however, this article considers how the principles of pragmatism can be extended beyond clinical case management to all areas of the veterinary service, and provide a critical tool to help navigate the uncertainty that lies ahead on the road to pandemic recovery.