Is there time to take care of a dog?

[DOGandFELine]

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I was wondering if anyone knew if there would be time to take care of a dog during the first year of vet school? I heard that the first year is killer and there isn't much time for anything else but school and studying. So would a dog be wise? I mean what about letting it out to potty, having enough time to train it, loving it, etc.?
Thanks

 

[horsybaby]

The students I have chosen to listen to say it is tough, but it is all about choices.You make the time and prioritze to what makes you happy

 

[HeartSong]

I think there is time. Of course it is easier if the dog is already housebroken and has some training. But the last 6 weeks of my first year I hand raised an abandoned puppy that was 4 days old when I got him. That meant bottle feeding him every two hours and taking him out to potty even during the night. I took him to class with me so I had to try to keep him quiet. I also had my adult dog at the same time but she didn't need anything except being fed, let outside, and an occasional walk. I can't say that it was easy, but I made it through and would do it all again.

Now I have two dogs and my roommate has a dog. It helps too if you have a roommate that has a dog and both of you are willing to help take care of each other's dogs.

 

[DrDRBaker2B]

I have that same fear. I want to get something furry that I can love and be loved by while in school. I am much more of a dog person that a cat person so I want a dog. However I am worried about the time issue. I can't make up my mind if I want a dog or cat!!🙁
To add to the question already posted, should I get a dog this summer and potty-train it, etc. or wait and get one when I get to school? My mentor said there are plenty of opportunities to adopt the pets that are for school usage (spays & neuters) What do ya'll think?

 

[wivet2011]

I have that same fear. I want to get something furry that I can love and be loved by while in school. I am much more of a dog person that a cat person so I want a dog. However I am worried about the time issue. I can't make up my mind if I want a dog or cat!!🙁
To add to the question already posted, should I get a dog this summer and potty-train it, etc. or wait and get one when I get to school? My mentor said there are plenty of opportunities to adopt the pets that are for school usage (spays & neuters) What do ya'll think?

I'd probably consider getting a dog over the summer so that you can bond and train without worrying about studying for class. But that's just my opinion!

 

[Vet2be2012]

I would probably wait until you start school, know a little bit more about your living situation, and time availability, and then decide if there is enough time to take care of an animal. Dogs are much more difficult to have than cats. Especially with most students living in apartments, you will probably have to take the dog out every time they have to go to the bathroom. This alone is difficult. You will also have to take them out probably at least 1 hour a day. And when you are not home, they may have separation anxiety and do some things that are not so pleasant in the apartment. I have been watching my neighbor the past few months. She loves her 2 dogs and wouldn't ever consider not having them, but she has had a sacrafice a lot of time for them. These issues often lead to abandonment. I have 3 kittens right now in my studio apartment. It hasn't really been too much of a problem as far as them being here, but I definitely have had a sacrafice a lot as far as where I can live, how I will bring them home(overseas), etc. These are(were) foster kittens. Actually, they still kind of are but I was never successful on placing them. I think I will always stick to foster animals because as a student, I can't commit to 18 years of providing a good, stable home. Good luck in the choice you make with getting a new puppy, or adult(who would already be house trained and well behaved).🙂

 

[ckgilabert]

I saw her at the park and she says that she still takes her dog out at night for a long walk. she found it on the street and decided to rescue it. cute dog too. 🙂

 

[kate_g]

I am much more of a dog person that a cat person so I want a dog.

I used to say that before I got cats. None of my cats are stereotypically cat-like, and one is as much of a dog as any real dog I've ever seen. Follows me around the house, comes when called, etc. These were all rescue kittens so it was kind of luck of the draw, but if you took your time and visited a bunch of shelters, you might find an adult cat with a fully developed personality that will satisfy your dog craving.

My mentor said there are plenty of opportunities to adopt the pets that are for school usage (spays & neuters)

I've heard this a lot - animals from the spay/neuter labs, animals adopted for the blood donor program, animals "borrowed" from the shelter for behavior classes... I have the feeling you'll be inundated with very adoptable animals as soon as you get to school.

 

[Hollycozza]

I used to say that before I got cats. None of my cats are stereotypically cat-like,

As a cat person I think that the thing about cats is that almost NONE of them are "stereotypically cat-like", eg "unfriendly" "only come when they want something" etc etc etc

almost always these descriptions come from people who haven't had a cat!

While we've been in vet school a number of my "non-cat-person" classmates have become cat peopl 🙂

 

[pressmom]

Here are my thoughts. If you have your heart set on getting a puppy, think about the size and type of living situation you will have and adopt accordingly. You'll really want to have the summer to get through those first 6 or so months (longer if you're housebreaking a small dog--TRUST ME!) If you're up for an adult (and a lot of times they come with their own issues), it may work out to get one when you're in school. You could even wait and get one from the vet school. But let me tell you about my dogs that I love dearly...

I got Preston when he was a puppy and I was at a time where I was just working as a nanny and had finished college for the first time. (Meaning, I had plenty of time for a puppy.) I think something bad happened because he is really insecure and scared of loud noises. A two years ago (when he was about a year and a half old) he developed separation anxiety. He is crated while I am gone, but when I get back, sometimes he chews the carpet. This will be the second apartment I will have to replace the carpet in. I'm buying a house for vet school and will hopefully be able to afford to put down tile. He also vomits a lot. A lot. And is on a special limited ingredient diet.

Henry, my other dog, I got as a rescued adult from the SPCA. He was found on the street, and I know nothing about his time before me. He is incredibly sweet around people, but very aggressive around other dogs. Walks are a constant nightmare in an apartment complex. He also came with calcium oxlate stones and is on a special diet. This is his second UTI since Feb. He just finished peeing on my bathroom door. If I'm around, I have to take him out every 4 hours, and if I'm not, he'll usually pee in the house.

Do you have time to take care of my dogs? I don't think they're that difficult (someone here probably has more difficult ones), but I'd say it's a pretty fair question.

 

[Vet2be2012]

Dogs can be very difficult to take care of in a student situation. It seems to be less of an issue when you have a family and a house. A family who adopted one of my kittens has 3 dogs, 2 of which she has a crate during the day. This is a very common issue due to separation anxiety. Dogs are great, so just make sure you are ready for all the problems that will come with them. The amount of love they give in return makes it worth all the problems, but unfortunately, which is why our shelters are so full and euthanasia is common, most people are not willing to deal with certain issues with dogs.

I personally am a cat person, but do love dogs too, and get all the affection I need from my cats. Not that I wouldn't want to have a dog, I would, but I know that now, and maybe never, would be a good time to get one. Abandonment is just not an issue for me, and so I don't want to get into a situation which I can not handle. It's not fair to them, nor to anyone else, if they're not happy. People who haven't had cats do tend to think of cats in the stereotypical way because most cats they see, run away from them. This is how many cats are with strangers. It's usually due to not having enough contact with a lot of people, while dogs do because dogs have to go for walks everyday, etc. However, cats tend to adapt better to most family and student situations, and are fine with small apartments, etc. I have 3 right now in my apartment, and it has never been a problem. They are happy, and have no separation anxiety issues. Although if I just had one, I could see that that may become an issue. Just think about it very carefully. It might also help to look at the animals on petfinder.com and talk to the different rescues and foster homes to see if there are animals who would be fine in your situation(whatever that might be). Animals in foster homes gives the foster parents a chance to know pretty much everything about the animal and therefore, they will know how that animal will do in different living situations. Good luck.🙂

 

[Quaggi]

I'm in my first year of vet school right now and I adopted one of my school's retired teaching beagles in September. Sampson had never been a pet before; he was not housetrained, and chewed on everything. But now he's totally housetrained and for the most part he's a good dog. I do have to crate him during the day, but considering a cage is all he's ever known, it works out fine. I didn't find that it took too much time to train him, he can wait to pee while I'm at school, and it's awesome having him around. Even though there are some inconveniences, I don't regret adopting him at all and I would recommend getting a dog to any vet students, especially if you're planning on living alone! My roomate also adopted a dog and we both agree that we cant live without them now!

-Bari

 

[PdxYOSHI]

Well, I have both a dog and a cat and love them both and would never give them up. That being said, it is much more difficult and expensive to rent with them. Some places charge rent for your animals, there are weight restrictions, and extra money for deposits. I also have a husband who helps take care of the animals. Cats are generally more self-sufficient and you can leave them for a couple of days or a night alone and they're fine. My dog requires much more time and attention despite the fact that she is house trained, affectionate with everyone, and doesn't have a destructive bone in her body. Anyone thinking about pets should consider their living situation first and then if you still want a dog consider an older animal...my 6yr old pooch is way easier to take care of compared to when she was 1-2yrs old and bouncing off the walls. But its definitely do-able. My dog survived 8 hr days while I was in grad school and I'm sure she'll do just fine with vet school.

 

[DOGandFELine]

Thanks for all the advice. I will probably just wait til I get to school to get any kind of pet to make sure I will have time.

Thanks so much for the help!👍 👍 👍 👍 😀

 

[mochavet]

Just a thought, but I am moving to Australia to attend Murdoch University and have been trying to find my two 6 year old dogs new homes. I have been having trouble finding people I can trust to take good care of them, but I think I could trust a fellow vet student. I also realized a long time ago that I will likely have to split them up🙁 . Let me know if you might be interested. I could share pictures and tons of info about them.

 

[DOGandFELine]

What kind of dogs are they?

 

[cyrille104]

 

[JumptheMoon]

I don't get it.

 

[AuburnPreVet]

but I think I could trust a fellow vet student. .

Random thought:

I wouldn't be so quick in making this assumption. I know several pre-vet & vet students, and even a vet or two... that I wouldn't let within 10 yards of my 3-legged hamster. 😎

 

[mochavet]

AuburnPreVet: Yeah, you are probably right, but I wouldn't just hand my dogs over to someone without first doing some screening. Actually, I'm having a hard time trusting anyone to take them, not even family. I was trying to spare them the 40 hour flight in cargo and the minimum 30 day quarantine in Australia, but now I'm thinking I just may end up taking them with me. I don't know, it is such a hard decision. BTW, my female is a lab malamute cross (malador?) and my male is anyone's guess. I think he looks like a lab crossed with a pit bull, but then he maybe part boxer too, I don't know.

 

[Hollycozza]

one of my classmates brought SIX cats and a dog from California to Sydney. Plus one little daughter and another on the way! And his wife, of course 🙂

 

[mochavet]

one of my classmates brought SIX cats and a dog from California to Sydney. Plus one little daughter and another on the way! And his wife, of course 🙂

Six cats and a dog? That must have cost him a fortune. I'm such a baby when it comes to this. I just imagine my dogs dying of heat stoke as they sit in the belly of a plane that's been delayed on the runway when it is 110 degrees outside.😱

 

[chris03333]

I saw her at the park and she says that she still takes her dog out at night for a long walk. she found it on the street and decided to rescue it. cute dog too. 🙂

Now you have met 2 girls from western with a dog (hello)😀
and I have 2 cats (plus a husband to help take care of them)
I did not get them until after I started vet school so I could be sure I could handle having them. They have helped me keep my sanity.