In the future, I was interested in being a vet. This is difficult to decide on because I am not comfortable with dogs for some reason. I would love to just specialize in cats. Isn't there any way I can just specialize in cats. I know a place by my house called Cat Clinic. So I'm sure I could probably do cats and small furry animals. What would it take for me to do this? Anyone know how many more years of school to specialize. And if I would still have to treat all animals in the begining.
2006-06-09 08:42:16 · 5 answers · asked by KATA 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
You start with your bachelor's in any related field (biology, animal science, zoology), so that's usually 4 years. Then you need to get into vet school. 3.0 gpa's a must, some require a 3.5 or even higher. There are only 27 vet schools in the country, and it's extremely competitive. Less than 10% of applicants get in. Vet school is usually 4 or 5 years, but if you want to take on a specialty, add about 2 more. After graduation, many states require an internship of a year or more, before you begin practicing.
As far as your dog issues, honestly, you'll have to get over it. You come out of vet school having treated almost every animal under the sun. You do even more work with the more common ones (dogs, cats, horses, cows, birds). If you never want to treat another dog for as long as you live, so be it. But in vet school, anything and everything goes.
One little extra tidbit... it's sad to say, but the cost is a big issue. The schooling is just as hard as a human physician, and just as expensive, but you don't make nearly as much. Even in the best markets. It's one of the the main reasons vets are in such demand (though the demand is much greater in large animal)
4 years undergrad (big schools preferred): $60,000-$120,000
5 years (average) vet school: $175,000-$225,000
average starting salary: $32,000 (some of the best make $100,000, but they're few and far between)
it's frightening.
It's a thankless job. You have to love what you do, and be satisfied with that love, alone.
Best of luck to you, if you do make the decision.
simpler alternative? become a vet tech. easier schooling, better job placement. you'll never make $100,000, but you'll also not graduate with $200,000 debt.
2006-06-13 08:33:22 · answer #1 · answered by castawaycp 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First you have to go to college and get a degree in biology or zoology or something similar. You'll have to take a bunch of biology and chemistry classes. Then you have to get into and attend veterinary school.
At vet school you'll probably have to work with dogs, but not as much as you'd think. Once you're out of vet school, it's up to you what animals you work on. If you want you can limit yourself to just cats. Or you can specialize in other animals like rabbits or birds or lizards or farm animals.
2006-06-09 10:02:06 · answer #2 · answered by CanineHeroTahoe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It takes being able to put animals to sleep 7 puting your finges up the buts. It also takes being able to cut open a little precious animal. I thought I wanted to be a vet untill 5 years ago whaen my mom told me all this.
2006-06-09 10:38:59 · answer #3 · answered by gizygiz2000 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
schooling and a love for animals.
2006-06-09 09:44:26 · answer #4 · answered by ariel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it takes gut to be a vet. i wanted to be a vet until i figured out you have to reach up animals butt, help have babies, do surgery on them if they need it, take out their insides if they need it, or help them when their sick.
2006-06-09 09:09:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋