I wonder if this occurs more with small animal vets--"pet vets"?
I know of a number of large animal vets that retired and enjoyed many years of retirement. Perhaps being in the large animal practice where decisions are made on economics and not emotions helps them survive. Those vets also did small animals but it was probably more of a sideline for them.
There's some crazy in equine vet work - the racing side can be a bit brutal with some exposure to criminal elements (not extensive but in places it can be hard to avoid) and the crazy horse lady types can drive vets to drink; these are people that love horses, collect horses, but can't afford to feed them or bear to see them put down, etc.
In general though large animal rural vet work is smoother sailing than the small stuff (from conversations I've had thanks to a farm background and to having developed a bit of animal history recording software for agistment | stud records some decades back).
I know of a number of large animal vets that retired and enjoyed many years of retirement. Perhaps being in the large animal practice where decisions are made on economics and not emotions helps them survive. Those vets also did small animals but it was probably more of a sideline for them.