As a veterinarian, you’re trained to diagnose complicated cases, manage emergencies, and deliver compassionate care. But when it comes to your practice’s financial health, the “symptoms” aren’t always easy to spot—especially if your books are messy. And let’s be honest, managing the finances can feel like juggling a dozen leashes at once. Between staff turnover, rising inventory costs, patient care, and ever-changing tax rules, many practice owners feel stressed, overwhelmed, and behind on their numbers.

From wagging tails to purring patients, your veterinary clinic is buzzing with activity every day. Somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, bookkeeping often gets pushed to the bottom of the to-do list—right next to reorganizing the supply closet. Overlooking a few key areas can nibble away at profits (and your sanity!). Here are three sneaky, costly bookkeeping mistakes that many veterinary practices make—and you might be making them without even knowing it.

Running a veterinary clinic is rewarding, but it can also feel overwhelming. Between managing patient care, staff, inventory, and finances, practice owners often feel like they’re constantly putting out fires. Many assume that keeping up with bookkeeping is enough to stay on top of finances, but the truth is that accurate books alone won’t solve the bigger challenges your practice faces. To truly thrive — both professionally and personally — you need both a bookkeeper and a financial advisor.

A busy veterinary practice means juggling patient care, staff, inventory, and finances. When it comes to money management, it may seem easiest to let one professional “do it all.” But having the same person handle both your bookkeeping and your tax accounting can create blind spots — and even cost your practice money.