Is 20 too old to become a vet with no experience? Am I too sensitive?

You should talk to your vet about volunteering in the clinic. Vet offices often need help, and you're at a perfect age to start learning about how to take care of animals. You should also work very hard in school, get all A's, and apply to a good college with a good science program. There are only about 30 vet schools in the US, so competition is very fierce. Be sure to study hard and get as much experience working with animals as you can.

Hi, I am a vet and I'd be glad to answer your questions! The average a vet makes varies by area and clinics, and the type of animal you work with (i.e. large animal, small animal, equine), but the average starting salary can be around $70k. I've always wanted to be a veterinarian, even since I can remember. It's the only job I've wanted to do since I was a child. I work with small animals and horses. I attended Purdue University for my undergraduate degrees, but i went to Massey University in New Zealand for veterinary school. It's accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and I got to move to the most beautiful country in the world :-) It took me a long time to get where I am, as I didn't get into vet school right away. I went and got a master's degree before going back to vet school. If you get into vet school right out of college, it will take at least eight years total (four in college and four in vet school) before you are a qualified vet. I'm not sure what you mean by any other achievements in this career, sorry. You need to be aware that being a vet isn't a 9-5 job. It's very long hours, there is a high amount of debt from vet school, and the pay relatively isn't great for the amount of debt. I do love working with animals, but sometimes working with owners carries its own difficulties. It's also hard to lose a patient, and seeing cases of animal abuse are especially difficult. You really have to have a passion for animals for this job, but also understand it's not easy. The road to get here is very hard and the job itself is very hard, but it can be rewarding. If you want a true idea of what it's like to be a vet, I would volunteer at a vet's clinic to get that experience. I hope this helps!

Hi and thanks for your request. The salary and the promotion steps would vary a lot depending on the type of work you are doing (clinical versus public health vs research). The passion for biology and animals and medicine gave me inspiration for choosing this profession. Personal hardest animals are horses. It is quite easy to get a job but that would depend were you work and what type of job you want to do. Passion for animals and learning and perseverance are important in this profession and they are what you have to keep in mind (unwritten rules). I have learned that failure is an important part of this profession and has to be taken with a positive attitude.

I'd be happy to answer your questions! What I like most about my job is helping sick animals. I work primarily for a home euthanasia service, and while it seems sad that I put animals to sleep, I find it very rewarding to help ease their pain and suffering. What I dislike most is seeing abused animals. It really hurts to see them in terrible conditions. I also love working with horses, and do that as a relief job (meaning I fill in as needed). I would say they are the most interesting work with as a vet. Each animal has their own difficulties with treating them, so I couldn't honestly pick one that is easier or harder. They all present their own difficulties when working with them. I think what makes me a good vet is my compassion and love for animals. The most difficult situation I've faced so far is putting to sleep an extremely aggressive and sick old cat that I couldn't even touch without her trying to bite and scratch me. I had a vet student along with me seeing what I did, and luckily I had her to help catch this cat and hold her so I could give sedation. It took a very long time to catch her, and I had many deep scratches at the end of it! The biggest challenge of being a vet is having a balanced personal and work life. Being a vet is not a 9-5 job, it's long hours and on call, and that makes it hard to have time with family and friends. It's very important, however, to make sure you do have time to yourself and with your family.

I am a veterinarian and I would be glad to answer your questions! 1. Yes, the job is worth it to me. I love what I do, and in veterinary medicine, there are many different career paths. I was a small animal vet, but I've since moved into an industry job focusing on food safety and animal welfare. It's not where I thought I would end up working, but I absolutely love it. 2. Ha ha yes, you will always run into pets that will bite in this job! 3. I recommend picking a college that has a pre-veterinary program. That way, it ensures you take the courses you need in order to be eligible for vet school. I went to Purdue University, so I highly recommend that :-) 4. Yes, I do love my job. I have a great work/life balance, my particular sector of the industry is very low stress, and and I find the work interesting. Sometimes I do miss the hands on aspect of working with small animals, but my job is really awesome. 5. I personally wouldn't pick a different career. I hope this helps!

Hello Nicholas and thank you for your questions. Every person is different. Certainly the more procedures you preform, the more used to things you become but for some people, the sights and smells may always bother them. Most veterinarians deal with a lot of stress. It's not all puppies and kittens. This is a highly rewarding career but it is absolutely a tough career. Also remember that there are many types of veterinary practices and many types of personalities. You have to find what is best for you. Some of us work on call but that can compromise your quality of life. My advice to you would be to work in a clinic for a few years before making the decision. Make sure you realize the stress levels, time commitment and quality of life compromising that can affect veterinarians. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

My main suggestion is to always keep in mind what made you think you wanted to be a veterinarian in the first place; what triggered your idea and what fuels your passion. Passion is equal to energy and energy will help you a lot during your studies. Go and visit practices and shadow vets as much as possible. Please do not hesitate to write to us more for further advices!!!