What's it Like to Be the Vet?

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be the vet, what it's really like working in a clinic day-to-day? Follow the stories of experienced veterinarians who share their knowledge and advice while giving examples of real-life situations that will make you smile and tug at your heart. This question is often asked of people who have chosen a particular profession. It is not a career that people just find themselves in one day. Most veterinarians in the United States attend eight years of school-four years at a university or college followed by four additional years at a veterinary school. That is a lot of money and time one must commit to being a veterinarian. Many vets spend years paying off the debt they acquired from going to college for so long. So, choosing this profession has to be a passion of some sort for most doctors. Dr. Tom explains his decision to become a vet this way, "I always loved animals. I had all kinds of different pets including dogs, cats, pigeons, fish, quail, lizards, and even a tarantula." Having experience with animals as a child seems to be common among all of the doctors I interviewed. Dr. Jacob, who works with large animals (farm animals) as well as small animals (common household pets like dogs and cats) had two special animals that made a lasting impact on him as a child. "I had two calves, Chip and Dale. I wanted to raise them to be a team of oxen and then sell them to help me pay for college. One of them got pneumonia and died. I was very upset and determined then to become a vet so I could help sick animals."