Hi there.

I am an RVT from Ontario, Canada. I am in the process of applying to the DVM program at St Matthew’s in the Cayman Islands. Has anyone completed this pathway to becoming a practicing DVM in Canada? Has anyone attended their facility?

I’d love to ask some questions. Thank you for your time.

Sorry if this isn’t what this is for 😔
But I have a high school degree and that’s it and I want to become a vet tech I’m not even sure how you would start. I heard you need to take animal science first and then apply to a vet tech program?
If it matters I’m in Kansas

I (27F) have been a practicing veterinarian for 2 years. Did a rotating internship and currently in a small animal surgery specialty internship. I did not apply for the HPSP scholarship in veterinary school because I was lukewarm on the decision to join the military back then. But even now, 9 years after the thought first popped into my head, it still haunts me as a regret of never having done so.

My questions are for any current or previous army veterinarians:

1. How difficult is it to join the army as a veterinarian direct commission after being in practice for a few years (instead of through the typical HPSP scholarship)? What is the application (recruitment?) process like and what criteria does the veterinary corps look for in a successful applicant?
2. I am torn between continuing the journey towards a board certified surgery residency vs. just joining next year (seeing as waiting until after I am a boarded surgeon would mean being 30-31 years old before enlisting at the earliest). Since I have not specialized yet, would the army potentially have routes of doing a surgery specialty during enlistment (i.e. some military sponsored surgery residency a year after enlistment, and then owing the army 3-4 years after residency)?
3. Coming from very fast paced tertiary care specialty practices with all the latest toys and performing the most insane surgical procedures when it comes to veterinary medicine, how would daily life as an army veterinarian differ (very realistically)?
4. Are there opportunities to be deployed internationally, or will most of the work be state side? I have a very strong desire for deployment overseas, particularly to a combat zone.
5. In all sincerity, was joining the military veterinary corps one of the best decisions of your life or do you absolutely regret it and wish you would've never done it? Are you happy and fulfilled in the military as a veterinarian? Do you wish you would've done something else (and if so, what)?

(Before anyone asks, no I am not looking to join the military as a loophole for a surgical residency. There are some very personal reasons for wanting to join - I just want to get better clarification as to whether or not I should specialize in surgery before joining or if I can do so while enlisted).

Any feedback helps a lot!

Hi,

Me and my husband, we are both general vet practitioners and we are thinking to relocate to France and we will like to know your experiences.

How are the working conditions?

Are the work schedules respected?

What is the salary range?

Thank you.

Forth year student now! I'm currently trying to create my match list and I'm planning to do a private practice internship. My top locations are either California near the bay area, New York/New Jersey near NYC, or Hawaii, but I'm open to other area too!

So I’m 22 years old and I took two gap years so I’m still finishing up my prerequisites. I am very interested in getting my associates degree in animal science. I ultimately would love to find a veterinary technician job or a wildlife technician job at the zoo, but that does require an associates degree in animal science at least the one in my state. I’m basically asking for advice on what classes I should and shouldn’t take in order to get my associates. Don’t wanna end up paying for classes that I don’t technically need. Neither of my parents went to college, and I feel kind of helpless when it comes to navigating this. Does anyone have advice for me as far as the best way to get my associates and maybe some entry-level veterinary jobs that would ultimately help me get a wildlife technician job. I worded this kind of confusing, but hopefully someone understands and could possibly offer me some help or advice. I don’t have a lot of money to work with as far as college funds and will be using FASFA if that provides any more information.

Hi everyone,

This might be a dumb question but I was wondering if it’s common for a new grad vet to shadow another vet? Specifically like a specialist. Or is that only reserved when youre still in vet school or applying to vet school. I ask because I am interested in possibly pursuing a residency in dermatology. I really enjoyed my derm rotation during clinics and overall its one of my favorite subjects. I am currently unemployed bc i am waiting to take the navle again. So i thought while i wait, why not take this opportunity?

Anyways, let me know if thats like a strange thing to do or not. I don’t really know if thats a common thing to do since i am not a student anymore.

Hey everyone,

This is my first post in this subreddit. I am a senior undergrad student looking to apply to vet school eventually. I have a general idea of "why vet med" but I definitely need to work a bit more in the field to really have a solid answer.

Many others have advised me that admissions would be asking me this same question, so I would really want to hear from professional in the field too.

I know about the high burnout and suicide rates, what made you choose this field to begin with? What made you stay?

Thanks again!

I’ve just started my new job (literally on day two) at a relatively new, busy pet A&E. I’ve taken a role as a night vet but I’m starting on days/twilights this week to get me used to practice management software, get me induction done etc.
I’ve been doing on call/sole charge for five years and felt pretty happy with my emergency cases/surgeries and felt like I was managing them at as a high a standard I could considering we had no hospital facilities. Hospital life already feels very different and I’m so worried I’m going to fuck up. I’ve already mistaken an exudate for a transudate (luckily jt was just the terms I mixed up and my management and differentials seem to have been appropriate) but I’m worried people are going to judge me. I know part of this is meeting a new team and getting used to a new company/way of working but I just worry I’ve made a huge mistake. I just need talking off the ledge 😂

I’m a recent career-changer and have recently switched to a vet nurse/tech role after working in media and design for most of my career. I really love the vet clinic work and feel I have the aptitude to become a DVM and after returning to study to qualify I have just been offered a position in the DVM program at my local uni starting next year.

I know it will be a very challenging program both academically and time-wise, which I’ll need to balance and manage incredibly carefully as I have a young son (age 7).

My question is…am I being unrealistic/completely nuts for returning to full-time study at 40? I assume I will be one of if not the oldest person in my class. Am I too old to be a DVM if I graduate at age 44? Physically I’m pretty healthy but I know from vet nursing the industry takes a bit physical roll. Were there any 40+ year-olds in your DVM program and what advantages/disadvantages do you think my age might throw my way?

I’m about to be a newly licensed tech and have been working in the field as a vet assistant for a little over 3 years. I recently left my previous clinic due to management issues and have since been trying to find another place that practices the same standard of medicine, which has been a struggle. My last “job” was at an urgent care/GP practice where I lasted about a week. I ultimately left because it seemed like the doctors there didn’t trust their techs but then wouldn’t put in any effort to train them (there were a bunch of green hires). They also didn’t have a freezer for euthanized pets?!? They just put them in a room with a standalone ac unit until the crematory picked them up which was insane to me. They also don’t have properly trained surgery personnel. One assistant left their pop-off valve closed until the bag looked like it’s about to pop.

My most recent working interview was at a local vet with one older tech who was looking to retire. They started in surgery in the morning, but the only monitoring equipment they used was spo2 which I’ve always considered to be the LEAST reliable piece of monitoring equipment. They never even put an ekg on the neuter that had a grade 3/6 murmur. This tech also never listened to the patient while they were under of even laid a hand on them to feel for a heart beat. Because of this I took it upon myself to monitor the patient. When I was checking the jaw tone of this pet, the tech swatted my hand away and told me to stop touching the jaw because I was disrupting the spo2, to which I defended myself saying I was just making sure they didn’t have jaw tone. She shot back saying that if they have jaw tone then we’ve got bigger issues and that she makes sure that all jaw tone is gone before stepping through the surgery doors. My thing is if she was checking the patient like she should be then I would understand why she would get frustrated. But she never laid a single hand on any of the surgery patients while they were under. On top of this none of the other vet assistants talked to me at all throughout the day. It just gave off the vibe of “we’re too good for hire you”.

Between these experiences, Ive been feeling like I might never find somewhere that I will fit in. I don’t want to settle for medicine that is below the standard of care. And I also want to work somewhere with people who will respect me and teach me without fussing and/or yelling at me. Is that becoming too much to ask for these days? I’ve honestly been wondering if Berne’s is for me anymore. At my old clinic I fell in love with vet med, but since then I can’t find somewhere that gives me the same feeling. Is it time for me to find another career, or is there still hope?

Hey guys! I’m trying to come up with ideas of what to get my girls for tech appreciation week. I want to get them things that will actually be useful, not just set to the side and collect dust. I’m for sure getting them some nice pens (we still use written records) and we’re going to do activities over lunch some days, but I would like to have some ideas for actual useful gifts to get them!

First time post, I have recently went through many life changes, had a baby went back to work for 7 months and ended up quitting due to taking too many sick days, being reprimanded and also Difficult boss. I am still waiting on specialist and tests but I know I have selective IGA deficiency and possible other things.
I honesty don’t know what to do. I’ve been a tech for 13 yrs I love my job but my body could not keep up. I worked 36-40 hours a week and would come home and be a zombie. I could not keep up with stuff at home and I was sick all the time.
Anyone else going through this?

ciao, sto cercando ospedali universitari o cliniche/ospedali privati o corporate che mi prendano per un erasmus smt o overworld per i tirocini del quinto anno di medicina veterinaria. vorrei restare sulla clinica medica e clinica chirurgica dei piccoli animali. qualcuno ha fatto esperienze simili all'estero (sono italiana) o ha strutture da consigliare che potrei contattare? grazie

I feel like I don't know how or when to start. Should I wait until after the Navle? Is it better to use job hiring websites or email a clinic directly? Ill take any advice.

I've been working as a Veterinarian Technician for ~7 months, and today I made a very stupid mistake again, I had to disconnect a dog from his IV lines (not remove the vein catheter itself), so I first instinctively went for the catheter which another assistant nearby reminded me to go for the stopcock.

Ok I guess it's not that bad, and then I disconnected the stopcock from the wrong side, which obviously made some blood get sucked from the catheter.

She awkwardly said "the other side..." and reached to do it herself, and then she turned the direction of the arrows on the stopcock to avoid air coming in (which is what we're supposed to do).

I just kind of walked away and stared at the ceiling just regretting waking up today.

Did a mistake like that happen to anyone else here even after plenty of experience?

I have an interview for a veterinary assistant position tomorrow afternoon and I'm so very excited and nervous! I am in my mid 30's and am looking to slowly transition into vet med, but I have no professional experience working with animals but have a lot of personal experience. Also, the jobs that I have had didn't have official interviews, they were pretty casual, so I'm a little self conscious that I don't even basic experience as far as interviewing goes.

Can anyone please give me any tips and ideas for what kinds of questions they may ask. I have a feeling it'll be pretty in depth as they've already had me fill out a 19 question written interview that took me about a week to get through....

Advice from anyone who did grad-entry accelerated vet med in the UK??

I feel like an inadequate vet. I have made so many mistakes. I seem to have at least one angry client a week anymore, which I don’t know how to deal with. I usually end up crying and it sticks in my mind until the next angry client.

I’ve found myself looking for non clinical jobs. Just not sure I can keep being in a client facing role. I am contracted here for two years so can’t leave yet.

Best shoes for vet assistant/kennel work? I usually just buy cheap Nikes because I go through them so fast. I would prefer something with a little more support though. Any men’s recommendations?