Need info on these veterinary fields that i'm interested in.

[FutureVet90]

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If vet school doesn't go well, i decided to be a vet technician. but if vet school does happen, i was interested in these certain fields and wanted info on them (salary, job description,pros and cons,etc).

Veterinary internal medicine (i'm interested in small animal)

edit: veterinary radiologist

veterinary behaviorists

veterinary pharmacology

veterinary nutrition

 

[krist]

All very competitive fields...only the best and most driven vet students go on to specialize, and you named several of the most competitive specialties. And info on the salaries can all be found much more accurately through a simple google search.

 

[krist]

I don't know how much you know at all about vet school so I'll start with the basics. You go to vet school for 4 years after completing pre reqs or a bachelors at an undergrad university. If you want to and are able to, some vet school grads go on to do internships (often more than 1), and then some of those will be accepted into residency positions which is how you become specialized in the fields you mentioned.

 

[FutureVet90]

I don't know how much you know at all about vet school so I'll start with the basics. You go to vet school for 4 years after completing pre reqs or a bachelors at an undergrad university. If you want to and are able to, some vet school grads go on to do internships (often more than 1), and then some of those will be accepted into residency positions which is how you become specialized in the fields you mentioned.

thank you. i already know you have to complete a bachelors before considering vet school. i'm majoring in biology (pre-vet). the residency positions to become specialized in those fields, is what i wasn't aware of.

thanks.

 

[moosenanny]

Residency tacks on quite a bit of time to your schooling. For instance, the residency program I am/will be pursuing will add 5-6 years on after I graduate from vet school - IF I am lucky enough to be accepted into internships and residency all on my first tries (highly unlikely).

However, instead of pursuing a residency and board certification, you can also "specialize" in any of the topics you listed - meaning you just take a special interest in that area and learn as much about it as possible: take as many electives covering the topic while in vet school as you can, focus your CE (continuing education) on the topic, and shadow/informally intern with someone who is boarded in that field.

One of our most beloved professors told our class we should all specialize in something - not necessarily through residency, but through becoming extra-proficient in a topic. It will help you market yourself for jobs, too, beyond just satisfying your interest in that area.

 

[krist]

thank you. i already know you have to complete a bachelors before considering vet school. i'm majoring in biology (pre-vet). the residency positions to become specialized in those fields, is what i wasn't aware of.

thanks.

You actually don't have to complete a bachelors degree before vet school (although many people do) lots of schools will consider you for admission as long as you have met the pre reqs and minimum number of credit hours

 

[bigkittinteef]

This might be a silly question but is it possible to go straight into a residency, without an internship?

 

[Minnerbelle]

This might be a silly question but is it possible to go straight into a residency, without an internship?

Nope not silly at all. It really depends on the specialty (or sometimes the actual residency program itself I think). Some require it, others don't. There are even specialties that let you sit for boards (e.g. ABVP) without a formal residency. So definitely check the websites for the actual specialty you're interested in and it should tell you.

I went to a lunch talk that said of the people who went into internships because they wanted to do a residency (as opposed to because of lack of confidence of not able to find job or whatever), only 25% got a residency spot 😱

 

[jtom]

This might be a silly question but is it possible to go straight into a residency, without an internship?

The only other route I am aware of is that you go into private practice for a few years.

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

Nope not silly at all. It really depends on the specialty (or sometimes the actual residency program itself I think). Some require it, others don't. There are even specialties that let you sit for boards (e.g. ABVP) without a formal residency. So definitely check the websites for the actual specialty you're interested in and it should tell you.

I went to a lunch talk that said of the people who went into internships because they wanted to do a residency (as opposed to because of lack of confidence of not able to find job or whatever), only 25% got a residency spot 😱

This. Clinical and anatomic pathology do not require a rotating internship because, when you think about it, are the things you focus on in an internal medicine internship going to help you that much in path? Ok, ok, I'm sure some could yes, such as bloodwork eval...but knowing how to do a TPLO does not help you reading slides.

Residency spots in general are extremely competitive, even in the fields that you would not think were that competitive. Eg, I was competing with 20+ other people for my one spot two years ago (I learned this after being accepted). Makes me very thankful to be where I am.