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Thread: Any Veterinarians here?

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Default Any Veterinarians here?

    Maybe I should have wrote the topic differently. I don't actually need a vet for anything serious, but I'm in college to become a Veterinarian. I want to transfer to US Davis at the end of the year or early next year to complete my undergraduate work then go through their Veterinarian program. I was just curious to see how many of the members are actually Veterinarians, interns or finishing up school to become one. If so, how long have you been doing it, what do you specialize in (exotics, reptiles, birds, etc), what colleges did you attend, or are you still enrolled in college, and last but not least do you have your own business for practice or are you employed through a animal hospital or clinic? I know this sounds like a lot of questions, but I don't meet people on a regular basis who are in this field or desire to do so. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
    0.0.1 Blue tegu
    2.3 Leopard geckos
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    A lot of Madagascar Hissers

  2. #2
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    Default

    I was, at the beginning wanting to become a vetenerian specialised in reptile because they weren't alot of vet of this kind. Unfortunatly, reptile doesn't seems to be very important in Quebec compare to dogs, cats and even animal farm, which make it harder to have a speciality in the reptile field and find costumers.

    Not to forget, that in Quebec becoming a Veterinarian is as hard as becoming a Doctor. Both of them required a high Cote R mark, due of the high demand and small place available. (Doctor need a Cote R of 32-34, while vetenenarian needs a 31-33).

    But still, I changed up my mind and I have been accepted at University in ''High school math teaching'', not becoming a vet, but I still love to taught things to people.

    However, I wish you luck, I hope you'll be able to success in this field
    Ben
    0.1.0, 2007, Bearded Dragon (Uresaii)
    1.0.0, 1999, Hermann Tortoise (Tama-chan)
    0.1.0, 2007, Redfoot Tortoise (Kame-chan)


    Got msn? If you want to talk to me just leave me a private message !

  3. #3
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    Default

    Thank you Ben.
    Yes, it's a long hard journey but it's well worth it in the end. Sometimes, I think of settling in for something for the moment but I know that's not what I really want to do. I've always been an animal person and was always told I should become one since a child. At first, I really had my hopes up for becoming an ecologist but then I figured that it would be easier to become a vet (employment oppurtunites) so I switched it up.
    0.0.1 Blue tegu
    2.3 Leopard geckos
    1.1 American pit bull terriers
    A lot of Madagascar Hissers

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
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    1,210

    Default

    Shonuff, you have a good plan if you can transfer to UC Davis while still an undergrad. It's also smart to try to talk to vets about what they did to make themselves stand out, in order to get accepted into the program. You might try contacting the UC Davis veterinary school Alumni office and see if they have a program where they match up prospective applicants with alumni for informational interviews. Another idea, you might try contacting herp vets via the directory links posted elsewhere in this forum, and see if they'd be willing to talk with you. Informational interviews can be really valuable to do early, in that they can influence what classes you want to take in preparation for grad school. You might also learn about summer internships or other programs that can give you hands-on experience that may help your chances of getting in. Best of luck!

  5. #5
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    I was a pre-vet student at U of FL. At that time, it was very competitive, as I'm sure it still is. Some tips that were given to us then were to keep our grades as high as possible, get as much hands-on as possible, and stay well rounded with a variety of activities. I worked as a vet asst for many years before I transferred to Gainesville, then I worked as a lab assistant in the medical research facility. I had hands-on care of lab rats and their injections, plus microscopy work with bone slides. Then I transferred to large animal work and took care of a pony herd and assisted with hematology and hormone studies. At night I babysat for the Equine Neonatal Unit which took in a lot of race horses from the nearby Ocala area. I was also able to shadow for a day at the Ocala Stud Farm, which was really eye opening. It wasn't that I was going into equine medicine, but it was a glimpse into the business/economical aspect of raising animals. Now I hear medical acceptance boards also appreciate well-rounded applicants who also study music or play sports as well as tend to animals and study.

    HM had a great idea of getting in touch with a practicing vet to see what advice they can offer.
    Laura R (FL)
    1.0.0 Colombian Tegu
    1.4.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
    1.2.0 Red Tegu
    1.2.0 B/WxRed Tegu
    1.0.0 Green Ameiva (yet another teiid)
    7 other lizards
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  6. #6
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    @ HernandosMom, yeah I should check out some vets in my area. There's no excuses for that, I do have quite a bit of time left in school though for that, but the sooner the better. Also, UC Davis is about an hour or so away from where I'm at, but a road trip does sound good right about now. Lol. I would love to check out the campus soon.

    @ laurafl, I try to keep my grades high as possible. Don't want to be left behind or left out to enter the program there. In my area, there's only two colleges I can think of that offer a vet program in Southern California and my choice would be to go to UC Davis then to the other one, not that's there's anything wrong with going there (Western University of Medical Services). Wow, you have quite a resume!! Well thank you guys for sharing your experiences, thoughts and advice on this topic. I've gotten some fresh ideas out of it!!
    0.0.1 Blue tegu
    2.3 Leopard geckos
    1.1 American pit bull terriers
    A lot of Madagascar Hissers

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Canada, Québec, Pointe-Calumet.
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    If you don't succeed, you can still study in animal health (as a backup).

    I used to study in that field, but It wasn't for me, I like reptile, but the other animal don't interest me.

    With animal health, you can work in a lab or being a vet assist.

    good luck
    Ben
    0.1.0, 2007, Bearded Dragon (Uresaii)
    1.0.0, 1999, Hermann Tortoise (Tama-chan)
    0.1.0, 2007, Redfoot Tortoise (Kame-chan)


    Got msn? If you want to talk to me just leave me a private message !

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Central FL
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    Well, thank you, but I just trying to show what sort of experience applicants were after.

    Ben's right...go for your goal, but I have also found other satisfactory careers, since I didn't attend vet school or med school.
    Laura R (FL)
    1.0.0 Colombian Tegu
    1.4.0 Argentine B&W Tegu
    1.2.0 Red Tegu
    1.2.0 B/WxRed Tegu
    1.0.0 Green Ameiva (yet another teiid)
    7 other lizards
    1 little gator
    3 FL box turtle
    1 Sulcata tortoise
    16 snakes
    5 fuzzy pets
    4 little frogs
    a bunch of creepy bugs
    and a partridge in a pear tree

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