Lorena
what's the day in a life of a veterinarian
Hi everyone! 👋
I'm currently exploring a potential career in veterinary medicine and would love to learn more about what a typical day really looks like for a practicing veterinarian. I’m especially interested in hearing from professionals working in general practice, emergency care, or even specialty fields.
If you're a veterinarian (or know one who might be open to chatting), I’d be so grateful for the chance to ask a few questions.
Some of the things I’m curious about:
* What does a typical day or week look like for you?
* What are the most rewarding and most challenging parts of your job?
* What skills or traits do you think are essential in your field?
* How did you get started, and is there anything you wish you'd known earlier?
* Do you have any advice for someone considering this path?
Whether you're early in your career or have years of experience, your insight would be incredibly helpful. Thank you in advance for considering, and feel free to comment or message me directly!
Warmly,
Lorena
1 answer
Todd Phillips
Todd’s Answer
I have retired after 30+ years in small animal/exotic general practice. The best advice I can give you is to ask questions and for opportunities of everyone you can think of. Call local vets and ask if you could come "shadow" them for a morning or an afternoon to see what a "day in the life" looks like. Call your local vet school or whatever ones you might apply to and ask if they have an open house for prospective students. You can google the office of Admissions for most schools to get the number. Ask them to send you information for interested students. Call your local animal shelter or rescue and ask to volunteer, find out who the vet on staff is or that they consult with. The vet schools should be happy to help, if you get turned down with a particular vet or shelter, call a different one. Keep trying.
* What does a typical day or week look like for you? When I was working, I would typically show up at 730 to 8 am, either see clients or do surgery in the morning. I would usually get a lunch break, but some days not. In the afternoon was usually appointments with clients. Sometimes I didn't leave the clinic until it was getting dark. I typically had one day off per week, but often worked Saturdays, occasionally Sundays. When I first started practice there weren't Emergency clinics available and so I took calls some nights as well and had to go back to the clinic.
* What are the most rewarding and most challenging parts of your job? The most rewarding part of the job for me was when I could help an animal or a client that was suffering or distressed. The most challenging part was finding a way to help people or abandoned animals who had no money to pay. Unfortunately, vets are in business and must pay bills like everyone else (shelters/rescues as well). If Vets were to give away services to all the animals/people that needed help they would soon go broke and not be able to pay staff or bills (unless they have wealthy donors). So it was a challenge to use whatever resources were available to help pets and people that had none. Of course you can always open a shelter to start with, but I'm not qualified to speak about that. It does have GREAT job security because there are always more strays and people with bigger hearts than wallets that want to help animals and an endless supply of animals that need help.
* What skills or traits do you think are essential in your field? You will need a strong science and math background (Vet schools usually have a list of per-requisites -undergraduate college courses that they require to be considered for admission), as well as an ability to make quick decisions and to formulate a plan (or plans - A, B, C, etc) that work for the circumstances, ie the ability to think on your feet. As you can probably see at this point you will also need resilience and the ability to manage stress and take care of yourself as well as the animals.
* How did you get started, and is there anything you wish you'd known earlier? I got started helping my mom breed Miniature Schnauzers for sale, and having lots of interest in science and nature. What I wish I had known earlier was how important a good sense of business and money was in order to manage even the day to day interactions, not to mention the long term successes or failures. I wish I had taken more business courses in undergraduate, even though it was not a big interest then.
* Do you have any advice for someone considering this path? Please see my answers to the above questions.
Good luck Lorena, and don't be afraid to ask for help wherever you go, no one succeeds in this life by themselves.
Todd recommends the following next steps: