You Won’t Believe These Vet Accessories That Will Totally Upgrade Your Scrubs Game

Because even our stethoscopes deserve sparkle.

By Dr. Tom Vega, DVM — The Fashion Vet

"Your tools may save lives, but your style keeps you smiling."

In vet med, bling doesn't come in the form of Rolex watches or diamond cufflinks. Our sparkle is subtler, scrappier, and often hidden beneath a lab coat. But trust me — it's still there, and it matters.

For me, it's the small details that shine. The unexpected moments of personality that make a twelve-hour shift feel a little less clinical and a lot more me.

The Enamel Pin Collection

First up: enamel pins. I've got a rotating collection pinned to my white coat and badge reel — tiny works of art that add a wink of personality to an otherwise sterile uniform. A little French Bulldog here, a stethoscope with a rainbow there, maybe a cheeky "I'd rather be napping" sloth on a rough Monday.

Clients notice. Kids especially light up when they spot something fun. It's an instant icebreaker, a conversation starter, and a reminder that yes, vets are real people who like cute things too.

Custom Embroidery

Then there's embroidery. I've had my lab coats customized with my name in colors that pop — navy stitching on crisp white, gold thread on charcoal gray. It's a small upgrade, but it transforms a generic coat into something that feels tailored, intentional, and entirely mine.

Some of my colleagues have gone even further: paw prints along the hem, their practice logo reimagined in a bolder palette, even the silhouette of their own pets stitched subtly near the pocket. It's vet bling at its finest — professional, personal, and just a little bit extra.

A Really Good Pen

And yes — a really good pen. The kind that glides like a scalpel through SOAP notes. Smooth ink, perfect weight, a satisfying click. It's the kind of small luxury that makes charting feel less like a chore and more like... well, still a chore. But a stylish one.

I'm partial to gel pens in bold colors (easier to find when they inevitably disappear) and the occasional splurge on a weighted metal pen that just feels important in your hand. Because if I'm going to document a urinary blockage at 2 a.m., I'm doing it with flair.

Statement Socks: My Signature

But my absolute favorite? Statement socks.

This is my signature move, my secret weapon, the detail that makes me smile every single time I glance down during surgery. I've got socks covered in tacos, socks with tiny Boston Terriers (obviously), socks that say "Ask Me About My Dog," and socks so colorful they could probably be seen from space.

Some of the best come from small vendors who make custom pet socks. You send them a photo, and boom — your beloved patient or your own fur baby is immortalized on your ankles. I've got Ellis Esquire, my Boston Terrier, staring back at me from a dozen different pairs. Clients absolutely lose it when they catch a glimpse during an exam.

Fashion doesn't need to shout. Sometimes it just smiles back at you from the ankles down.

Why It Matters

Here's the thing: vet medicine is hard. It's emotionally draining, physically exhausting, and often thankless. The bling — the pins, the embroidery, the ridiculous socks — isn't frivolous. It's survival.

These little touches remind me that I'm not just a technician in scrubs. I'm a person with taste, with humor, with a life outside of fecal floats and vaccine protocols. And when you spend your days elbow-deep in things most people don't want to think about, those reminders matter.

So go ahead. Add the sparkle. Pin the pin. Rock the socks. Because your tools may save lives, but your style? That's what keeps you going.

What's your favorite piece of vet bling? Drop a comment and show me your shine.