Bootsy Whoosh! My future depends on you

[Max Whittaker]

You said that you work for a Veterinarian! That is one of the jobs I am looking into! It is imperative that you tell me what it is like! I need to know what you have to do,what you can't do, what you don't like to do ext. And most importantly, I need to know what you did to get the job! Thanks.

[Bootsy Whoosh]

Wow, your future depends on li'l ol me? Talk about an ego inflater, lol.

Ok lesse....

Originally posted by Max Whittaker:
You said that you work for a Veterinarian! That is one of the jobs I am looking into! It is imperative that you tell me what it is like! I need to know what you have to do,what you can't do, what you don't like to do ext. And most importantly, I need to know what you did to get the job! Thanks.

Ok, well, what you can and cannot do all depends on who you work for. I will tell you about my jobs working at three different vet clinics.

My first job, basically all I did was clean the kennels and give baths. If there is anything that I can guarantee you will be doing, it will be those things. Basically, that job sucked, because the vet kept his 12 coonhounds at the clinic (they lived there) and these dogs were terrible about "Sh**ting and spinning" as we called it. They would take a dump all over their cage and then they would dance in it. There was crap on the ceilings sometimes, no lie. But that wasn't the only reason I didn't like it there. I didn't like my co-workers much, or either of the veterinarians.

My second and third jobs I enjoy thoroughly. My second job was *great* because we got to work everywhere. Sometimes you would work in the "back." When you worked the back, you would have to walk the dogs, feed and water the dogs, bathe the dogs that needed it, help the groomer if they needed it, and since the back person generally has more spare time during the day, help out the other staff when you get the chance.

The "middle" was my favorite place to work. Here, you tend to the animals in the hospital, set up fecal slides and floats (a stinky job but someone's gotta do it), help the veterinarians, restrain animals, hold off veins when the vets draw blood, clean sterilize and prepare surgery packs, help hold for x-rays, develop x-rays, run bloodwork in the machines, prep animals for surgery, cut toenails, remove sutures, give insulin injections, administer sub-q fluids, prepare vaccines, and they even let me give a dog his yearly vaccines once, though technically I don't think I'm supposed to.

The "front" person was the one that deal with the clients. You would check people in, show them to the room when it was available, clean the exam rooms, check people out, make appointments, balance the books at the end of the day, and some other miscellaneous duties that would be hard to explain here.

Basically everyone is responsible for walking the dogs in the morning, making sure the animals get their medication, doing laundry, doing dishes, answering phones, and making sure the clinic is clean.

The only problem with that job was that it could get very stressful, because the practice has outgrown the facilities, my superviser was not the greatest (though I never saw her much), and because the clinic had insanely long hours and was always busy. But it was great experience, as you can see.

My thrid job, the one I have now, isn't really a job, per se. I actually just observe to gain large animal experience. This is a mixed practice so they do see small animals, but mostly I am interested in the large animal stuff. Though it is interesting to see the different kinds of small animal cases that get presented out in the country as compared to the suburbs (where my second job was).

Anyhoo, on this "job", we see alot of horses, often with leg injurues, or problems after they have foaled, also I see geldings. We also see alot of cattle, cows with uterine infections, mastitis, bulls that need dehorned and castrated, and palpitations to see how far along pregnant they are. We also occassionally see sheep, donkeys, goats, pigs, llamas, and alpacas.

As far as what you can and cannot do, it is basically up to your employer.

As far as what I personally don't like to do....I don't usually like working up front, because it is boring, the most stressful area to work, and you sometimes have to deal with mean clients who take their frustrations out on you. I also am not too fond of walking the dogs simply becuase it is so mindless and boring. It isn't bad at first, but trust me, after walking 25 dogs a day for a month, you get bored. I also don't like cleaning up parvo cages. I don't know if you know what parvo is or not, but it's a viral infection puppies get that make them vomit and have diarrhea, and both are very foul smelling. Parvo has a very distictive smell that I cannot describe because it doesn't smell like anything other than parvo. But it's pretty nasty, and smelling too much of it makes me gag. That's about all I can think of that I really don't like much.

All in all though, I think the good outweighs the bad, and no question if you are thinking about going to vet school, because all of this is vital experience, even if you are doing chores that you wouldn't be doing as a vet.

What did I do to get the job? Basically, I just applied. My first job, I applied at about 4 clinics and this place was the only one that even called me back for an interview. I later found out that this clinic has a very high turnover rate so they are almost always hiring. My second job, the clinic is in a shopping center, and I was shopping one day and saw the "now hiring" sign on the door. I applied, was interviewed, and got the job. My third "job" I just asked if I could observe and help out and the vet said sure. (of course I'm not getting paid for that so what should he care?)

I will say, getting hired, especially at first when you have no experience in the field, takes some luck of being in the right place at the right time. I couldn't even tell you how many clinics I have applied to over the last 6 years that have turned me down. I'd say, about 10 maybe. Don't be discouraged. I can also say that you will almost always start out cleaning cages and giving baths, but you can work your way up. However, if you are really wanting to get experience doing other things, try to work at a clinic that doesn't have technicians working there too. Because if they do, you will be the third rung and won't get to do much of anything cool b/c the tech will do most of it.

Ok, well that's about all I can think of. I think I answered all of your questions. If you have any more just let me know, I'd be happy to help you.



[This message has been edited by Bootsy Whoosh (edited 08-10-2001).]

[Max Whittaker]

Thanks. I do have another question: do you get to choose which animals you get to specialize in? I like the bigger ones too.

[Bootsy Whoosh]

Do you mean like when you work at a clinic or when you go to vet school? If you mean when working at a clinic, just work at a large animal clinic. If you mean in vet school, yes, you can generally specialize in small animal, equine, or food animal. Although you will have to study all kinds, no matter what you specialize in. Just you will study what you specialize in more intensily.

[This message has been edited by Bootsy Whoosh (edited 08-10-2001).]

[Max Whittaker]

Thank you. You have helped me a lot.

[Bootsy Whoosh]

No problem. So are you contemplating being a vet as one of many career choices?

[Max Whittaker]

Yes.Actually, I'm not sure. Do you plan on being a real vet someday?

[This message has been edited by Max Whittaker (edited 08-11-2001).]

[Bootsy Whoosh]

Yes, that is the plan at least. My grades aren't as stellar as they should be, but my test scores are good and I have tons of experience, so hopefully....

[Max Whittaker]

Good luck.