I'm not sure if it's just the proliferation of COVID puppies or what, but in the last two years it has become remarkably more difficult to get a vet appointment.
I accidentally stepped on my dogs paw about a year ago and getting an appointment less than a month out took DAYS of calling around. Ended up going to a vet 40 miles away.
My wife's practice has gotten insanely busy post-COVID. She doesn't deal with dogs and cat's so it's not that boom. Decreasing slots due to safety and health was an issue at first, but they've since returned to normal towards the last half of 2020. Staffing shortages, sure, but the slots are still the same as before.
The only thing she can think of is with more WFH, more people are noticing things wrong with their pets.
I accidentally stepped on my dogs paw about a year ago and getting an appointment less than a month out took DAYS of calling around. Ended up going to a vet 40 miles away.