How do I learn vet medical language to help my pet better?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. The skills required for being a vet are numerous, as you not only have to have the skills to complete 2 difficult university degrees, but also have the people skills to talk to owners. You also have to have skills to think on your feet, be resourceful, be good at both working alone and as a team, be good with handling animals and also be good with understanding money and be good at running a business. Along with this you also have to be kind, compassionate, patient and caring. It is a very difficult career, but a very rewarding one. In order to become a vet you first need to finish high-school, and then do an undergraduate degree taking specific courses (the list of courses you can get from the vet school in your province), and then you have to apply to vet school which is competitive. In order to get into vet school, you have to not only get good grades in university, you also sometimes need to write the MCAT (depending on the school) which is a test that doctors write to get into medical school, and you also need to have experience with animals, both small companion animals and large animals (sheep, cows, etc.). Once you get into vet school, you have to complete that degree, and then write a board exam called the NAVLE. A veterinary career is full of oppourtunities and is incredibly variable, allowing one to pursue many different types of jobs. Also, you can specialize after vet school if you want to work specifically in one area, such as surgery, or medicine. Best of luck with your project! I recommend contacting the vet school in your province to get more specific information about requirements.

Hi Mhabelle! I will be glad to answer your questions :-) 1. I have wanted to be a vet since I was a child. I have always loved animals, and knew from the time I was little that I wanted to look after them. 2. Yes, I have two dogs (a Basset Hound and a Chow Chow), and four cats. 3. The best thing about being a vet is being able to help make sick animals healthy again. 4. If you get a pet, you have to be prepared to pay for their veterinary care. Pets needs regular care, just like humans, and should be vaccinated, treated for fleas, intestinal worms, and heartworms. Pets need to be looked after, and when they are sick, they have to see a vet.

Although I am not familiar with vet schools abroad, I do know the United States has several excellent veterinary schools. Cornell University, Colorado State University, and University of California Davis are in the top 3. However, getting into veterinary school is very competitive- even more completive than medical school tends to be, so really, any veterinary school you can get into is a good veterinary school :) Best of luck to you!

If you have any specific questions, you can ask them in our Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach forum. If you want to have a one-on-one discussion you could consider using the Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach consulation service where you can ask numerous questions in the same session. Becoming a vet usually requires a bachelor's degree (though some schools do not require it and only have specific course requirements taken prior to applying to vet school, most students applying nowadays do have bachelor's degrees) and then veterinary school is 4 years of study. After this, some vets go directly into practicing while others who may want to specialize may complete and internship and residency which add a few more years to their studies.

In order to become a licensed veterinary technician, you will need to find a LVT program (2 year) or a veterinary technology degree (4 year). There are many schools that offer these programs depending on where you want to live while doing this. If you do intend on becoming a veterinarian one day, my advise would be to attend a four year program. While in school, you will be able to take all the pre-requisite course work required to apply to most veterinary schools. There is a book put out by the American Veterinary Medical Association each year that outlines precisely what requirements are needed for each school.

So I actually have a major in psychology with a minor in veterinary medicine. I really liked science and biochemistry, hated math and physics with a passion. They were my nemesis. Your interests do not have to align 100% to be a vet, just have the drive and concentration to learn and study. I did not enjoy pathology in vet school. It was my least favorite. Oh that and cattle!

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.