Exotic Animal Experience

[smilin1590]

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So I searched through the old threads and couldn't seem to find anything to fit my exact situation. Sorry if something like this has been posted. Could I count my years of owning a leopard gecko as exotic animal experience, considering it's rather different than just owning a dog or cat. Just wondering if I should count it or not? Thanks guys and gals!

 

[sofficat]

As long as it is under animal experience and not vet experience I think you can add it. Then again, I think that growing up with dogs teaches you a lot about them and SHOULD be included under animal experience, but others think that is stupid. So, take it for what it is worth.
But yes, I would add it as exotic experience.

 

[cowgirla]

On the other hand, keep in mind that some schools actually specify NOT to include time spent with your own animals.

So really, it could be on a school by school basis.

 

[Biomajir]

Here is how I see it. Just because you own an animal does not mean that you really know how to provide proper care and are up to date on information. This is especially true of exotics. I cannot tell you how many times owners have come in to the clinic that have "years and years" of experience owning a certain exotic, and in reality they are providing awful care and have no clue (not saying this applies to you). I personally don't think owning a dog should count as dog experience either. I mean, people applying to med school can't say they have medical experience because they have applied bandaids and taken pills before. Maybe if you bred geckos, or something of that nature you could use it. If you do decide to use it, make sure you have other experiences to back you up.

 

[smilin1590]

thanks for all the insightful feedback. I'll probably look further into the schools I will be applying to and see what they say about something like this. Thanks All!!!!

 

[PM2009]

I would consider adding it for sure. I added exotic experience since I have a house/pet/barn sitting business and often house sit for exotic animals. Does that mean I know everything about all of them? Nope, but I have experience and that's what the question was asking.

 

[smilin1590]

I would consider adding it for sure. I added exotic experience since I have a house/pet/barn sitting business and often house sit for exotic animals. Does that mean I know everything about all of them? Nope, but I have experience and that's what the question was asking.

I love your response. You just made my own question clearer to me! Thanks!

 

[168135]

Do gerbils count as exotic? That's what was on my bill when I took them in. Actually, they weren't even listed in the computer system... I think she had to put them in under rats 😛 And what about fishkeeping? Can that count too? Just curious!

 

[StealthDog]

I didn't list anything on my application that was just plain pet owner experience... So even though I'd owned rabbits, fish, hamsters, mice, etc, I didn't list any of that. However, I did breed and show rabbits, so I listed that under animal experience since it went beyond what the average pet owner does with his/her animals.

 

[GellaBella]

I personally didn't list any of my pets...we've owned numerous exotics...potbellied pigs, pygmy goats, raccoons, snapping turtles, ducks, chickens, rabbits, hamsters, dogs cats, you name it we've basically had it...

I mentioned it briefly in my personal statement but I did not feel comfortable adding hours to my animal experience because of ownership. Maybe I could have but I guess I kind of felt like it was me trying to pad my application and if I felt that way I didn't want the adcoms to feel that way. In fact, I left my animal experience section blank since besides pet ownership I do not have any experience that is cannot be counted as vet experience.

 

[smilin1590]

So here's my next question since someone mentioned using "showing rabbits" as animal experience. I too have done very minimal rabbit showing, should I count this? Also one of my rabbits that I had bought had a muscle disorder which handicapped her slightly, even though this is animal ownership, should I count this particular case as animal experience. There's is such an indistinct line (for me anyway) as to what I should count as animal experience and I'd like to thank everyone for helping me make this distinction 🙂

 

[Cypress]

On the LSU supplemental they say to include information regarding your personal pets. However on the VMCAS application I did not include it. Pet sitting I think is different than having a pet, and I included that in my experience. Same with breeding and showing...it's different than just having a pet.

You could consider looking into volunteering for an exotic rescue or exotic vet to get exotic pet experience to list.

So yeah...check each school you are applying to because some consider it and others don't.