Life as a Dairy Veterinarian—Insights from Dr. Kristen Edwards

Hey Future Vets!
When people think of veterinary medicine, they often picture clinics and household pets, but an equally important side of the profession exists within agriculture. In this interview, Dr. Kristen Edwards, a dairy veterinarian and faculty member at the OVC, shares what it’s like to work directly with dairy farms and the agricultural industry. Her role goes beyond individual animal care, focusing on herd health, milk production, and supporting farmers in maintaining sustainable operations. From routine herd visits to emergency situations, her work highlights how closely veterinary medicine is tied to the success of the dairy industry.

Q.  To start, could you introduce yourself and share what your role as a dairy veterinarian involves? What does a typical day look like for you?
A. “My name is Kristen Edwards, and I traditionally used to be a full-time dairy vet. Now I'm on faculty at the University of Guelph. That being said, I still do all my old herd visits on Tuesdays, but I bring vet students along. A typical day involves visiting a variety of clients on a regular basis, depending on the size of the herd. In Ontario, vets will visit farms every other week for the most part. Some farms are weekly. These regularly scheduled herd visits center around pregnancy diagnosis, because in the dairy industry the female needs to have a baby to produce milk. It's an important part of dairy farming to assess who is pregnant and who is not. I do that using reproductive ultrasound to scan the uterus and look for a pregnancy. During those herd visits, there is also a lot of data assessment—how the herd is doing in terms of health, production, reproduction, and young stock. In between scheduled visits, the day includes unexpected or emergency calls involving sick animals, animals having difficulty giving birth, or different types of prolapses.”

Q.  What inspired you to pursue a career in dairy veterinary medicine and did you always see yourself working in this field? Was there a particular moment, mentor or experience that solidified your decision?
A. “I'm from Toronto, so I didn’t have any farm background growing up. I came to the University of Guelph knowing I wanted to be a vet, but I hadn’t decided what kind. While building my application for vet school, I wanted to be well-rounded. I worked at a small animal clinic in Toronto with cats and dogs, and gained equine, wildlife, and poultry experience. When I went out with a dairy vet, I fell in love with it. I liked the animals, the industry, being part of someone’s livelihood, and working with animals both individually and on a population-level medicine basis. I realized this in my second year of undergrad and started applying to dairy farming jobs to understand the producer perspective. I worked on a farm just outside Ottawa for a summer and also spent time milking on farms in Ireland. I wanted to understand things from the producer perspective so I could be an effective veterinarian and make practical recommendations.”
 
Q.  What are some unique challenges you face when caring for herds of animals, and how do you collaborate with farmers to manage this?
A. “One of the largest challenges is when the progress you would like to see in the animals does not align with the producer's priorities. You may want to implement certain changes or improvements, but they may not be something the producer wants to do, prioritizes, or has time/money for. That can be challenging because you're there to help with their operation, and also their animals. Sometimes you must pivot from what you'd like to see done and meet the farmer where they're at.”
 
Q.  How does a dairy veterinarian contribute to both animal welfare and the safety and quality of milk or dairy products that reach consumers?
A. “From a welfare perspective, it’s an important responsibility for both the producer and the veterinarian. With the ProAction program in Canada, which assesses animal welfare, vets help producers prepare for audits. Because vets are at farms regularly, we can identify areas for improvement and work with producers to address issues such as illness or lameness. From a food safety and quality standpoint, ensuring animals don’t have a high level of intramammary infection, or mastitis, is key. This affects both animal welfare and milk quality, as it contributes to higher somatic cell counts. Improving milking protocols, maintaining clean environments, proper bedding, and clean alleys are all important. Residue avoidance is also critical. When animals require treatment, ensuring proper use of medications and adherence to milk and meat withdrawal times is essential. Vets help establish treatment protocols to guide producers.”
 
Q.  What are some misconceptions people might have about working as a dairy veterinarian that you wish more people understood?
A. “A common misconception is that the job is limited to pregnancy checks and emergencies, while in reality, it’s much more dynamic. Though herd visits often center around pregnancy diagnosis, a large part of the work involves population-level medicine, including data analysis and identifying areas for improvement across the herd. It’s a much broader and more analytical role than many people expect.”
 
Q.  How have advances in technology (like herd monitoring systems, data tracking, or nutrition programs) changed the way you practice over the years?
A. “I’ve been a vet for 12 years, and the industry has already changed significantly. Improvements in environment and nutrition protocols have reduced the number of sick animals we see. Conditions like milk fever and displaced abomasum were much more common when I first graduated and now these have decreased substantially. Technology has also contributed; rumination and activity monitors allow us to detect early warning signs of illness and identify cows in heat more effectively. This has improved both health outcomes and reproduction rates in dairy cattle.”
 
Q. For students interested in large animal or production veterinary medicine, what skills, experiences, or courses do you think are most valuable?
A. “There aren’t specific courses that are required; the value comes from experiential learning. Getting out with a veterinarian or working on farms helps you understand both the industry and the veterinary role and allows you to determine if it’s the right path for you. In terms of skills, it’s more about personal qualities, including being open to learning, being keen, and being willing to get dirty. It’s not a clean job, so those characteristics are important.”
 
Q.  What is some advice you would give to students who want to gain hands-on farm experience but are not from an agricultural background?
A. “You have to put yourself out there. I sent many resumes to veterinarians, and not all my attempts resulted in opportunities, so persistence is key. Additionally, not having a farm background can actually be an advantage, as it makes you more trainable to the way a farm operates. It’s all about continuing to apply and seek out those opportunities.”
 
Q.  Veterinary medicine can be a high-stress, high-demand profession, how do you handle stress in your role and maintain a work-life balance?
A. “Being a dairy vet is very much a lifestyle. You form close relationships with clients, which is positive, but it can make maintaining boundaries challenging. Work-life balance looks different for everyone. It’s not about maintaining a strict balance every day, but recognizing that it ebbs and flows. Setting boundaries and being comfortable saying no to clients are important skills to develop. It’s also important not to tie your identity solely to your job. Separating who you are from what you do helps manage stress. Having healthy outlets—exercise, time with friends, vacations, or speaking with a therapist—is essential for maintaining mental health and balance.”
 
Q. What is the most rewarding part of being a dairy vet? And is there a particular accomplishment or moment in your career that stands out as especially meaningful?
A. “The most rewarding part is forming close relationships with clients and seeing how you’ve contributed to their success over time. There isn’t a single defining moment, rather it’s the accumulation of small successes and being able to look back and see the overall progress you’ve helped farms achieve.”
 
Dr. Edwards’ perspective shows that dairy veterinary medicine plays a vital role in agriculture, connecting animal health, food production, and farm management. Her experiences emphasize that success in this field isn’t just about medical knowledge, but also about understanding the realities of farming and working alongside producers. Ultimately, her work demonstrates how veterinarians contribute not only to the well-being of animals, but also to the efficiency, sustainability, and long-term success of the dairy industry. On behalf of everyone at FVC, we want to give a big thank you to Dr. Edwards for her amazing insight on dairy veterinary medicine!
Thank you for reading!
Warm regards, 
Maegen Eisler, Junior Editor