Becoming a veterinarian may seem like a dream job to many at first glance, but it certainly is not all bliss. Don't believe me? Still think it is all fun and games? I give you six reasons why I beg to differ.
1) Animals bite, and it hurts... a LOT
Even the most experienced veterinary clinicians have been nipped a time or two. Usually it is only once or twice because when it happens, you never forget it. For Example, Dr. Noland, a highly respected professor and veterinarian at California Polytechnic State University is an expert in dog behavior and has been bit just once, but horrifically.
The dog bit through the bottom of her chin, and the entire side of her mouth. The bite took only a fraction of a second, but the damage was tremendous. She learned her lesson, and it has never happened since. It will happen at least once through your career, but is this a lesson you are willing to learn?
2) Loving Animals Is Not Enough
Respect and compassion for animals is certainly a job requirement; however, it is not reason enough to file an application to veterinary school. You have to be willing to deal with real blood, and assist in the death of animals that are truly suffering. If you like puppies and kittens, you probably will not like sick puppies and kittens. I personally know a person that went off to medical school to become a pediatrician because he loved children. He no longer works as a pediatrician because he realized he loves children, not sick, abused, and neglected children. The trauma involved in dealing with injured animals should not be underestimated. It can be a great burden.
3) Stress
The veterinary profession is an extremely demanding, and stressful job. The work environment can go from serene to chaotic in an instant. One second you could be having a pleasant conversation with a client, and the next second you are fighting to save a bullet ridden dog's life. This really happens, and sadly the gunshot wounded dog the veterinarian and I were fighting to save did not make it. You have to be quick on your feet, and know what to do. A matter of seconds could mean life or death for your patient, and they don't speak English so they can't tell you what is wrong.
4) Long Hours
If a 9 to 5 job is what you are after, then you may want to look elsewhere. It will be more like 5 to 9 for the first decade of your career, and many a night you will be awoken from your slumber by a phones ring after a grueling days work. Its an emergency, and you have to take the call. Better slip out of your pajamas and get into your scrubs. It is 3am and there is a life that needs saving.
5) You Deal With People More Than Pets
If you are not a people person, then a veterinary career as a general practitioner will be a very difficult one for you. The patients are easy to work with. They don't talk back, they don't yell at you, and they don't go crazy and curse like sailors when they see the bill. You will have to deal with people, and know how to console them. Oftentimes people are very emotional when the well being of their pets are at risk. You may not have gotten the memo, but pets are treated like family in this day and age and things can get heated if a client thinks their pet is being wronged, even if you have the best intentions.
Even worse, what will you do when you have to inform a little girl and her family that their dog didn't make it through surgery. People skills are a necessity in this profession because veterinarians are there to provide a service for the community.
6) The Pay Isn't as Good as You Think
People tend to think that veterinarians earn the same, if not more than human doctors. This could not be further from the truth. Only the top 5% of veterinarians earn over 90,000 dollars a year, and this is usually because they have gone to school an additional 4 years after earning their veterinary degree to earn a board certification in a field such as surgery. Keep in mind this salary range is reached after years of practice.
Think about this for a minute... 4 years of undergraduate plus 4 years of advanced training to become a veterinarian plus another 4 years to earn a board certification to earn approximately $90,000 a year. That is not a whole lot of money for the amount of effort involved. On top of that, you have well over 250,000 dollars in school loans to pay off.
Most veterinarians are in the salary range of 40,000 to 60,000 dollars a year. Don't get me wrong, this is excellent compensation; however, there are many career fields that require only 4 years of schooling instead of 8 to 12 that are on par with, or exceed that range. All I'm trying to say is that you don't become a veterinarian because you want to be rich.
If none of these negative aspects of veterinary medicine bother you, then it just may be the field for you. Never let anyone tell you that you can't do it. Don't ever believe anyone that tells you that you aren't smart enough. Keep your head high, work hard to make good grades, and you just might land your dream job.
1) Animals bite, and it hurts... a LOT
Even the most experienced veterinary clinicians have been nipped a time or two. Usually it is only once or twice because when it happens, you never forget it. For Example, Dr. Noland, a highly respected professor and veterinarian at California Polytechnic State University is an expert in dog behavior and has been bit just once, but horrifically.
The dog bit through the bottom of her chin, and the entire side of her mouth. The bite took only a fraction of a second, but the damage was tremendous. She learned her lesson, and it has never happened since. It will happen at least once through your career, but is this a lesson you are willing to learn?
2) Loving Animals Is Not Enough
Respect and compassion for animals is certainly a job requirement; however, it is not reason enough to file an application to veterinary school. You have to be willing to deal with real blood, and assist in the death of animals that are truly suffering. If you like puppies and kittens, you probably will not like sick puppies and kittens. I personally know a person that went off to medical school to become a pediatrician because he loved children. He no longer works as a pediatrician because he realized he loves children, not sick, abused, and neglected children. The trauma involved in dealing with injured animals should not be underestimated. It can be a great burden.
3) Stress
The veterinary profession is an extremely demanding, and stressful job. The work environment can go from serene to chaotic in an instant. One second you could be having a pleasant conversation with a client, and the next second you are fighting to save a bullet ridden dog's life. This really happens, and sadly the gunshot wounded dog the veterinarian and I were fighting to save did not make it. You have to be quick on your feet, and know what to do. A matter of seconds could mean life or death for your patient, and they don't speak English so they can't tell you what is wrong.
4) Long Hours
If a 9 to 5 job is what you are after, then you may want to look elsewhere. It will be more like 5 to 9 for the first decade of your career, and many a night you will be awoken from your slumber by a phones ring after a grueling days work. Its an emergency, and you have to take the call. Better slip out of your pajamas and get into your scrubs. It is 3am and there is a life that needs saving.
5) You Deal With People More Than Pets
If you are not a people person, then a veterinary career as a general practitioner will be a very difficult one for you. The patients are easy to work with. They don't talk back, they don't yell at you, and they don't go crazy and curse like sailors when they see the bill. You will have to deal with people, and know how to console them. Oftentimes people are very emotional when the well being of their pets are at risk. You may not have gotten the memo, but pets are treated like family in this day and age and things can get heated if a client thinks their pet is being wronged, even if you have the best intentions.
Even worse, what will you do when you have to inform a little girl and her family that their dog didn't make it through surgery. People skills are a necessity in this profession because veterinarians are there to provide a service for the community.
6) The Pay Isn't as Good as You Think
People tend to think that veterinarians earn the same, if not more than human doctors. This could not be further from the truth. Only the top 5% of veterinarians earn over 90,000 dollars a year, and this is usually because they have gone to school an additional 4 years after earning their veterinary degree to earn a board certification in a field such as surgery. Keep in mind this salary range is reached after years of practice.
Think about this for a minute... 4 years of undergraduate plus 4 years of advanced training to become a veterinarian plus another 4 years to earn a board certification to earn approximately $90,000 a year. That is not a whole lot of money for the amount of effort involved. On top of that, you have well over 250,000 dollars in school loans to pay off.
Most veterinarians are in the salary range of 40,000 to 60,000 dollars a year. Don't get me wrong, this is excellent compensation; however, there are many career fields that require only 4 years of schooling instead of 8 to 12 that are on par with, or exceed that range. All I'm trying to say is that you don't become a veterinarian because you want to be rich.
If none of these negative aspects of veterinary medicine bother you, then it just may be the field for you. Never let anyone tell you that you can't do it. Don't ever believe anyone that tells you that you aren't smart enough. Keep your head high, work hard to make good grades, and you just might land your dream job.
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