2 answers
Andrea
Student
Norcross, Georgia
1
Question
Updated
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What are tips to learn more about animal health ?
How can improve in college? Will it be easy or hard ?
How can I improve with my knowledge of animals? Why I love working with animals?
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2 answers
Cassandra Sutton
Disabled
110
Answers
Antigo, Wisconsin
Updated
Cassandra’s Answer
The simple answer is to have hands on experience. There are many places that will allow you to sit in andbobserve and some may provide you with a more hands on approach, research your area and see what's available to you.
Karen Shea
Veterinary technician
6
Answers
Lake Mary, Florida
Updated
Karen’s Answer
Andrea, Hello and Welcome!!! It’s good to have you here. As far your question, personally I’d recommend volunteering at an animal shelter or hospital. The humane society is also a great place to learn about animal health. Ask a local vet if you can shadow them for a day or two. Some vets welcome volunteers but, to be honest, I’ve never encountered any. There volunteer opportunities all over the place. I’ve applied for volunteer work at several and each one has welcomed me with open arms. We have a shelter close to where I live that has a vet clinic right there in the property, owned by the same people. It’s a great facility for volunteers. Check around your area and see if you can find something like that. You might be able to volunteer at the vet. You can always read veterinary type books real studies on animal nutrition. I would focus on the “Naturally” diets. Animals die in swarms everyday because they are eating more of the things they shouldn’t consume in those amounts. They aren’t properly balanced with the right nutrients and vitamins that cats and dogs need to survive. You know that cats are obligate carnivores, they were made to be on a high protein (meat) diet and they get other nutrients from eating the entrails of their prey. They have a variety of prey so they gets different nutrients and vitamins from the various types of prey that they eat. You have to translate that to a domestic animal diet. Personally though it is a costly, I like the all natural well balanced nutrient rich dehydrated food. I would think especially for cats because you can add more water to the freeze dried bits and increase their intake of water. The next best are the wet packaged all natural, well balanced, nutrient rich pet food. I honestly am not as familiar with this type of food but I do know that it’s the science behind the formulation of the food. I know of farmers dog who formulate the food specifically for each pet’s needs, considering age, weight, breed, and some other things that I can’t remember at the moment. But it comes individually packaged with the pet’s name written on it. I don’t know of anything like that for cats and I don’t know of any other companies that do it. If you had a Specialty in nutrition, that would be a significant step for someone who has ambitions. I can’t think of any nutritionist vets. I’ve never even heard of one and it’s something that is very much needed in this world. Consider it. You never know what might happen, by taking a bold step in a crucial direction to bring real helpful and, I hate to say this, under served realm in the veterinary profession. So there, your first education in pet care and it’s so much larger if you decide to see exotic animals. Then, it gets complicated.. But it’s still fun. By the way, I forgot to tell you that I’m not a vet I worked 8 years in the industry and 4 of them were as head veterinary technician in a small, large, exotic, avian, reptile and wildlife hospital. It was the greatest 4 years of my entire life. If you have any further questions please come back. I would be happy to share more of what I learned. In the meantime, for a start, go to your local library and look for the newer books about animal care and nutrition. It’s a very good starting point. Also talk to a counselor and ask them if there are any classes that include animal care. I just know you are going to be a great veterinarian. You are already seeking answers to very good questions. You don’t see that curiosity into the PROPER care of animals. Do what suits you and your study schedule best. Don’t sacrifice your grades to learn what you want to know, just volunteer a few times a week maybe a day or two that you don’t have class. You have to keep your grades up to get into a really good vet school. Thank you for making it through my book long answer. When someone asks a question about something that I really have passion for, I kinda over share 🤣Seriously, I do want to wish you the very best and I want you to keep asking the important questions. , you will go far in your career (especially that Animal Nutritionist title that I think you should. With your intelligence you’d be ace at it and would bring toi light a sadly forgotten part pet ownership. Be blessed, Go with God