Dr. Frieda Hottenstine decided she wanted to be an animal doctor at age four, and never wavered from it. She spent seventeen years running her own solo practice in Connecticut before burnout pushed her toward Florida and, eventually, relief work. Nearly thirty one years into her career, she says relief practice gave her back something she'd lost, she likes her job again. This profile first ran on Relief Rover, the relief-vet community platform that joined Hound in 2023.

In Her Own Words

What inspired you to become a veterinarian?

"I'm told I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up when I was four years old. My answer was an animal doctor. My answer never changed."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

What roles have you had within the veterinary profession, and outside of it?

"I was an associate for many years. I also owned a small, one doctor practice in Connecticut for seventeen years."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

What made you switch to relief practice?

"After running my practice alone for seventeen years, I was burnt out. I was ready to leave clinical medicine. I moved to Florida and worked as an associate for a year. It wasn't a good fit, and I decided to try it on my own. Three years later, I still love it. I like my job again."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

What is your most memorable relief job?

"Is there really just one?"
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

How do you feel relief practice supports the veterinary profession as a whole?

"Relief veterinarians are definitely a needed commodity. If I do my job right, I'm reducing the stress and burden on a practice. My job is to make sure that the vet I'm covering for gets a relaxing break."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

What are your favorite things about being a relief vet?

"My stress level has reduced massively. I control my schedule. I can choose where I prefer to practice. I can also leave if I don't fit well."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

What are your least favorite things about being a relief vet?

"It's difficult to have any continuity. At my prior practice, many clients turned into friends. I knew most of my clientele's families, and I followed their pets throughout their lives, from birth to death."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

What do you look for in a practice when deciding to cover shifts for them?

"I require a practice with a friendly, well educated staff. Appointments should be scheduled with time to do quality medicine. Complicated follow up appointments usually aren't a good fit for relief vets to field, especially not within a fifteen minute time slot."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

What supplies or equipment do you bring with you on the job?

"Being a staunch advocate for client education, I always bring lots of handouts. And, yes, I also bring my own stethoscope, otoscope, and dog and cat treats."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

Have you picked up any unique practice tips along the way?

"Oddly enough, I haven't really picked anything new up. After nearly thirty one years of practicing, I've seen and learned a lot."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

What advice would you give new relief vets?

"Relief is unpredictable. Be ready to be very independent. You have to handle new people, new protocols, and different drug availability every day."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

How has the pandemic affected your relief practice?

"Luckily, my relief practice hasn't changed much."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

What states are you licensed in?

"Florida only, now."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

What are your hobbies and passions outside of work?

"I'm a hermit. I honestly don't really socialize, and I don't know anyone but my sister in Florida. I do knit a little."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine

Anything else you'd like to share?

"For as long as I've been a veterinarian, my experiences have been vast. And, luckily, I still love my job. I can't imagine doing anything else."
Dr. Frieda Hottenstine