Any Zoo Vets Out There??

[BigCatDoc]

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I am an RVT aspiring to become a zoo vet. I'm taking all the required classes and steps to get into vet school, but I'm wondering about farther in my future. Once I have gone through vet school and am actually practicing medicine, I want to expand beyond small animal. Now realisticlly, I know that these jobs are few and precious and basically I have to wait for someone to die before I can get a position, but I'm willing to do that!! I have been an RVT for 6 years now, and I also volunteer at a exotic feline breeding compound. I am collecting hours of wildlife experience on top of my small animal experience, but I was hoping for any advise as far as optaining my goal of one day being a zoo veterinarian. My passion is for tigers, but I would be thrilled to work with all sorts of exotic animals ranging from raptors to rhinos! Any advise would be much appreciated 🙂

 

[fetch]

http://www.aazv.org/

http://www.aawv.net/

http://www.aza.org/

That whole "until someone dies" is a bit of a misnomer. The problem is good paying full-time jobs where you dedicate 100% of your time are not as numerous as other industries since there are only so many collections of substantial size that can afford a proper wage. A lot of companion animal veterinarians have found plenty of opportunity to work with their local zoo, especially if it is small. I had the opportunity to work on several exotic species just because I was willing (or stupid enough) to take on the challenge in the first place.

As a zoo vet, you do work with everything from raptors to rhinos. Focusing on a single species/class is the job of zoo keepers (with the exception of avian and primate veterinarians). I would look into getting a job as a zoo veterinary technician since they exist or keeper or something along those lines. Then once in vet school, look into summer externships/preceptorships at zoos under a zoo veterinarian. Most will then start with an internship after graduation. I'm honestly not sure if they are part of the intern/resident matching program (http://www.virmp.org/virmp/) or not.

 

[fetch]

San Diego is hiring for zoo keeper as I type:

https://www.hrapply.com/sandiegozoo/AppJobView.jsp?link=2110&page=AppJobList.jsp&op=reset

 

[ri23]

I worked at a great zoo for 6 years, and keeper and zoo RVT positions are also very hard to come by. You have to have a lot of experience to get into a good zoo. As for becoming a zoo vet, one of the most important things is to make connections with current veterinarians that work in zoos. I worked with an amazing zoo veterinarian, and being that it is such a small community that many of them know each other.

Originally I was very interested in zoo medicine, with a primary interest in large animals. Since starting vet school, I've already changed my mind. I plan on trying to do some consultant work with zoos however, as fetch discussed.