What will i be expecting if i enter the University of College Station for Vet tech and Veterinary Medicine?

Mary, I am not a veterinarian, but I have been around dogs with complex problems most of my life. And, I live in Texas!

A&M (College Station) is of course, THE school for veterinary studies. From my lay person observations: A vet tech will greet the customer, ask the owner the symptoms of the problem, how long, etc. and start writing the SOAP notes (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan ). She will also take the pet's vital signs. The vet examines the dog, orders the necessary tests, reviews test results, makes a diagnosis, and a treatment plan. The tech then comes back in, explains the medications to the owner, makes sure they know about changing the bandages, or whatever. Over time, vet techs can become very knowledgeable, but they don't start out that way!

A vet is a doctor. In animals, the "family doctor" has to know a lot. They deal with stomach problems, skin allergies, broken bones, puncture wounds, dental issues, diabetes, etc. While there are specialists as well, you don't usually take your dog to a specialist unless it is a major issue. Additionally, it's not just dogs they treat! Also cats, birds, reptiles, farm animals, etc. To get an overview, Google Mercks Vet Manual. They also do surgery, and must know how to properly use anesthesia with animals.

I don't know what the training for each program entails. I would recommend you look at the curriculum on the school's website. For vet tech, You should expect to learn the basic systems: respiratory, circulatory, digestive, skeletal, etc of the various animals. Probably some latin terminology. Basic first aid and cpr. Various tests - blood tests, etc. Record keeping!! How to draw blood, get a stool specimen, and a urine specimen. Infectious disease control (very important!) Perhaps a little bit about running the business.

I don't know the current general requirements to be a vet tech. If I was going to do it, I'd want it to be at a Texas A&M school. Also, not related to your question, but just a bit of trivia. A&M has a "retirement home" for pets. When owners can no longer care for them, and no one else will take them, the owners can make a bequest to the school and they will take care of them for the remainder of their life, in grand style! I visited the facility- it is awesome. It is called the Stevenson Companion Animal Life Care Center. look it up!!

Thank you for your interest in veterinary science!

Kim

This is a difficult question to answer as I am unaware of an institution called the University of College Station and believe it or not....Vet Tech is a totally different educational path from Vet Medicine.

There is Texas A&M University in College Station that you could go to for Veterinary Medicine and there's Blinn College in that you could go to to be a Vet Tech. You can become a Vet Tech in 2 years, but a Vet Tech education is not the route you would go on your way to becoming a Vet as only about 18 of the 60 hours it takes to be a Vet Tech, will actually transfer towards a Bachelor's Degree.

To become a Vet, you would first need to get your Bachelor's Degree, majoring in a science of some sort (animal science would be good). After getting your Bachelor's Degree you would then apply to Vet School to get your DVM which is another 4 years. So, you're looking at 8 years of college, minimum, to become a Vet.