At the Vet!

Since I'm postponing my return to school, I've resumed working and am getting more experience and exposure to the different sorts of conditions and situations and people that I'd meet in a veterinary setting. +ADW says that I always have the most interesting stories when I call him from the car on my way home. I pointed out that I wanted to "take opportunities to learn at work" so I thought I'd start a series, "At the Vet" about the experience I come across on a regular basis that seem like common sense to my colleagues and I as well as the new and interesting things I learn online while exploring something from work.

In the past, I've worked at a local clinic that I currently take Bucky and Stanley to. I have been going there for nearly two decades and the clientele demographics is less diversified than what I see now. At the time, I was in high school and working as an evening animal care attendant but now I'm no longer in the back doing the grunt work and am on the front-lines assisting the doctors and patients. From what I've experienced, most people have limited experience and exposure to this field but so many of us have pets or companion animals in some capacity.

Bucky says, get engaged in your pet's health care! Understand what's happening.

When I decided I wanted to be a vet, I was only a kid and didn't know what that all meant. It was glamourized in my mind that the doctor gets to interact with cute cuddly animals and do awesome fun work like basic vaccines and pet them and help them get better if they're sick. My perspectives have changed considerably as I have gotten older and these opportunities have further clarified what it means to be a medical professional (not just for animals!) and help those who need help. I honestly have never been more convinced that I just want to help educate the human guardians so that they may give the best care for their companions. Because the reality is vets have to be educators, surgeons, nutritionists, business people, translators, scientists, grief counsellors, advocates for those unable to speak and doctors to multiple species--all through a human guardian who may or may not understand what's happening!

I don't claim to be any expert in the area of animal care or veterinary medicine but I do know that I am always looking to do what's best for my animal friends and will explore the trends, science and other details out there. It is my hope that this series will give me the chance to learn more about the various aspects of the veterinary profession as well as providing pet guardians out there who want to do right, information to help them critically choose the best thing for their companions.


Disclaimer: all stories and details of this series will be composed based on personal experience and does NOT replace the advice or knowledge of a licensed veterinarian or registered vet tech. These posts are meant to open minds (mine especially) and get pet owners to get engaged and thinking about their pet's care, in order to better understand what is being prescribed and why. I highly recommend all pet owners to get involved in their pet's care and ask their veterinarians questions when they don't understand something being discussed with them about their pets.