There are probably as many paths as there are applicants.
First, do a reality check. Enjoying animals isn't enough. You also need to like science and have solid communication skills. A good head for business and an ability to deal with a variety of people are helpful.
If your experience with animals is limited to pets, try to find a job or volunteer position in veterinary medicine. This will give you a better understanding of the field and what the other demands will be on a vet's time and energy.
If you are having problems in academics now, address these problems immediatly. Rarely will academic struggles fade away on their own, and weaknesses in foundation skills will follow you through college. Deal with lapses in motivation and study skills now, before you start college.
When in college, pursue a major that interests you, and if you are still interested in vet medicine, adjust your course schedule to accomodate the demands of vet pre-reqs (which vary among the vet schools.) There are successful vet applicants whose degrees are not in the sciences, but a non-science degree does put more demands on early planning. I do not think there is one 'ideal' degree to pursue. Also, realize that if you don't get into vet med, you may want to have a degree in a field where you can pursue a career. Unfortunatly, a lot happens in a few years and your desire or ability to pursue vet med may change unexpectedly.
Find a college that fits you. A good fit can be the difference between success and indifference in school, or even the difference between obtaining a degree or dropping out. If you are a first generation college student, consider finding schools that offer programs to help such students. These programs may include things like assessment of fundamental skills, study skill development, balancing family and educational obligations, etc.
You can apply to vet school as soon as you have completed most of the pre-reqs. Depending on the school, you can have a handful left for completion at the time of application. Applications are due generally at the beginning of October the year before you would start vet school if admitted. Some schools have earlier/later dates for submission of supporting materials such as supplemental applications, transcripts, etc. Most schools use an electronic submission process called VMCAS. Again, everything varies among the schools, so you need to keep an eye on the school's websites for changes. Also, you will need to take the GRE for most schools (MCAT is accepted for some) which most students take the summer before they apply, though it could be taken earlier (the schools I applied to required it within 3 years.) Some vet schools require only the completion of pre-reqs for admission while others want a degree completed.
Many schools require breadth/depth of knowledge about the veterinary field. This means practical experience working with a vet med professional either in practice or conducting research. Track any hours you spend working with a vet. You will also need letters of recommendation (LORs) so keep an eye out for professors, researchers, and veterinarians that would be able to right a strong recommendation for you. Working for a variety of vets across fields will increase your awareness of the opportunities and challenges of the field. Generally, vets fall into categories likes small animal, mixed animal, large animal, exotics/zoo/wildlife, lab animal, public health, research, equine. There are also specialists within fields like dermatologist, nutritionist, etc.
Vet school is a professional program, treated like medical school. Funding through loans is available. Scholarships are less common. It isn't cheap, and you may want to keep debt minimal while attending undergrad (college) to prevent really high loan bills after vet school and keep vet school options open.
