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So I really want to become an equine vet, I have for as long as I can remember, and I am wondering if there are any vets who play this game who would have any advice for me. |
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Hey, i wanna be the same! |
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I want to be the same thing. My mom is a CNA and also wanted to try, and my grandma was for a little bit.
If you're in high school and your school has it, take some medical classes in a WATC program (I'm aware it'd be for people, but it's good knowledge and would get some college stuff out of the way). I found course you can take when your 16 or 17? that allows you to get some knowledge and start working in the environment of the job you're aiming for, so the WATC knowledge will come in handy here (Will edit with link). And of course, look at colleges you aim to go to and check their requirements.
I'm working towards the same thing still, and this is what I have found. |
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Moderator |
Some of my best friends are vets - and from what I can say it is on one hand a very satisfying job - when you are able to help an animal. But on the other hand it can be a psychical very stressful and emotional job - when you have to put down animals due to their medical condition, their age or because of neglecting owners.
Additionally you have to deal as an psychologist for the animal owners most of the time and there are really heavy cases ;) And you have to be aware that especially in the beginnings this is a 24/7 job where you hardly find time to care for your own animals!
I, too, wanted to become a vet when I was younger - but I don´t think it is the right job if you really love animals. I was so glad that one of my teachers told me about the dark sides of the job - so I became a medical technical analyst, worked for vets and human laboratories and I earn enough money that I can afford my own beloved animals ;) |
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What Kuewi said, and on top of that you almost always (From my experience with my vet or ex veterinarian friends) Must do what the customer asks, My friend was being told to put down a perfectly healthy animal and she ended up quitting because she couldn't morally handle doing that, just because the owner requested and offered payment. If you're prepared emotionally, you could, as said above it's a satisfying and fulfilling job when the cases go right, but can be emotionally devastating for you, the owner, and sometimes even the animal when it goes wrong. |
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I'm currently wrapping up my first year of my undergraduate degree for vet. All I can say is try to get hours shadowing, look into summer programs for students interested in becoming a vet, and be warned its a LOT of HARD work and TOUGH classes. But if you put your mind to it, it will be worth it in the end! |
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Moderator |
I worked at a vet clinic, and as an animal lover, I now want absolutely nothing to do with any of it. |
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I currently work as a secretary / assistant at a small, privately owned large animal clinic, we only work on horses and cattle. I spend the majority of my time in the office, and help occasionally with horse farm calls (i know nothing about cattle, so i'm useless to them there lol) I can tell you that the two vets that I work with are probably some of the most darkly humored and complicated employers i've ever had. It is for sure a very high stress job, they work late nights and weekends and holidays, in all weather, over 100 or -40 windchill, theyre still outside working. It is HARD work. Theyve both been bitten, kicked, stepped on, and run over by their patients, and then yelled at by owners. It truly is a messy job that you couldnt pay me enough to do, and i also thought i wanted to be a vet when i was younger |
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