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Audrina
Student
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Question
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What are the insides and outs of being a large animal or equine veterinarian?
I'm starting college this fall as an animal science major planning to become either a large animal or equine vet. I've been told you need to have a passion for it but I want to know more from other vets. Are the wages and work-life balance really that bad? How was veterinary school, finding internships and looking for jobs after graduation?
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Cassandra Sutton
Disabled
87
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Antigo, Wisconsin
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Cassandra’s Answer
Large animal vets do have a harder time because alot of emergencies happen at night so in a way its like your a traveling er. Late night calls happen often. You can have hard solid hours but many do not.
Skip Jack
13
Answers
Starkville, Mississippi
Updated
Skip’s Answer
Audrina,
That's a GREAT question. But, there are "many moving parts" needed for an answer.
In general, veterinary school is difficult to get in . Let's assume that you gain entrance, successfully complete the DVM curriculum (hard work but extremely "do-able" once you gain entrance). But specifically about LA or equine practice, much depends upon your clientele (e.g. pleasure horse, race track, show circuit, private practice, academic/referral practice, rural mixed practice, medicine-specialty, surgery-focus, chiropractic, etc. etc). Work-life balance also depends upon the size of your practice, number of vets/staff (determines on-call duty, emergencies, etc.). Rural practice requires a fair amount of "windshield time", but this again is dependent upon your practice situation (haul-in, strictly farm visits, and the range of your practice area).
On a more positive note, there is great interest in preparing DVMs for rural practice right now. There is a fairly severe shortage right now. So, I would recommend that you gain some experience during undergraduate school with a couple veterinarians from the practice situation that you aspire to. Most veterinary schools allow some "externship time" (i.e. work with extramural veterinarians) during veterinary training. But, getting a feel for what LA/equine practice is like BEFORE making veterinary school decisions is recommended.
Veterinary medicine is a fantastic career field. Too many folks feel burned out, disappointed nowadays. But with the extreme diversity of career choices within veterinary medicine, I always tell my vet students that if you don't enjoy what you doing, change jobs, geographic location, etc. A veterinary degree can open many doors beside private practice (research, governmental-regulatory work, academic, and the list goes on
Best wishes as you navigate your career path(s) and choices.
S. W. Jack, DVM, MS, PhD
Professor emeritus
Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine
That's a GREAT question. But, there are "many moving parts" needed for an answer.
In general, veterinary school is difficult to get in . Let's assume that you gain entrance, successfully complete the DVM curriculum (hard work but extremely "do-able" once you gain entrance). But specifically about LA or equine practice, much depends upon your clientele (e.g. pleasure horse, race track, show circuit, private practice, academic/referral practice, rural mixed practice, medicine-specialty, surgery-focus, chiropractic, etc. etc). Work-life balance also depends upon the size of your practice, number of vets/staff (determines on-call duty, emergencies, etc.). Rural practice requires a fair amount of "windshield time", but this again is dependent upon your practice situation (haul-in, strictly farm visits, and the range of your practice area).
On a more positive note, there is great interest in preparing DVMs for rural practice right now. There is a fairly severe shortage right now. So, I would recommend that you gain some experience during undergraduate school with a couple veterinarians from the practice situation that you aspire to. Most veterinary schools allow some "externship time" (i.e. work with extramural veterinarians) during veterinary training. But, getting a feel for what LA/equine practice is like BEFORE making veterinary school decisions is recommended.
Veterinary medicine is a fantastic career field. Too many folks feel burned out, disappointed nowadays. But with the extreme diversity of career choices within veterinary medicine, I always tell my vet students that if you don't enjoy what you doing, change jobs, geographic location, etc. A veterinary degree can open many doors beside private practice (research, governmental-regulatory work, academic, and the list goes on
Best wishes as you navigate your career path(s) and choices.
S. W. Jack, DVM, MS, PhD
Professor emeritus
Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine