Recommended reading for a pre-vet student?

[FutureOTMax]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi all,
I am finishing up my Jr year of undergrad, and with the pandemic I have much more free-time than I otherwise would. I'm hoping to build a foundation of understanding before vet school, and wanted to know if there are any books that would be recommended to help build a solid base of knowledge? I bought the plumb's manual and Merck's manual a while back to help me understand the meds and ailments doctors talk about while I'm working (I'm a vet assistant), and am hoping to find something to read...I was thinking something geared towards introductory A&P, but if there are better books to read as a pre-vet I'd love to hear any suggestions!

 

[battie]

but if there are better books to read as a pre-vet I'd love to hear any suggestions

As someone who has read two books for fun since my boards exam a month ago, and is graduating in 4.5 months, *do not pre-study for vet school*. Read whatever you want for fun. But for the love you hold for yourself, do not study anything for vet school outside of whatever classes you're taking. At least at my school, whatever you manage to pre-study will get blown out of the water in the first few days of lectures. It's a waste of your time and energy.

I highly recommend the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown, the Belgariad and the Mallorean by David Eddings, Tamora Pierce in general, and Patrick Rothfuss in general. I'm currently making my way through the Star Wars books.

 

[FutureOTMax]

As someone who has read two books for fun since my boards exam a month ago, and is graduating in 4.5 months, *do not pre-study for vet school*. Read whatever you want for fun. But for the love you hold for yourself, do not study anything for vet school outside of whatever classes you're taking. At least at my school, whatever you manage to pre-study will get blown out of the water in the first few days of lectures. It's a waste of your time and energy.

I highly recommend the Red Rising series by Pierce Brown, the Belgariad and the Mallorean by David Eddings, Tamora Pierce in general, and Patrick Rothfuss in general. I'm currently making my way through the Star Wars books.

Oh absolutely! I'm a total nerd and was reading Plumb and Merck's for personal enjoyment and fun, not to do in-depth studying, but just to familiarize myself... when I read unrelated stuff it's mostly Steven King, but I'll definitely be sure to check out those other recs!

 

[PippyPony]

- Tell me where it hurts by Dr Nick trout
- anything by James Herriot; it's amazing how much has changed in medicine since the 1930s, yet people & their relationship to animals remains exactly the same in so many ways

 

[PippyPony]

Oh also strongly second Bats's recommendation for Tamora Pierce. Loved her books growing up. The belgariad is good as well.

If you like fantasy, Terry Pratchett is amazing. Start with Guards, Guards!

 

[PetVet23]

- Tell me where it hurts by Dr Nick trout
- anything by James Herriot; it's amazing how much has changed in medicine since the 1930s, yet people & their relationship to animals remains exactly the same in so many ways

Oh similar to these - Ask the Animals by Dr. Bruce Coston
Similar vibe to All Creatures Great and Small, but more recent

 

[stealthoscope]

Hi all,
I am finishing up my Jr year of undergrad, and with the pandemic I have much more free-time than I otherwise would. I'm hoping to build a foundation of understanding before vet school, and wanted to know if there are any books that would be recommended to help build a solid base of knowledge? I bought the plumb's manual and Merck's manual a while back to help me understand the meds and ailments doctors talk about while I'm working (I'm a vet assistant), and am hoping to find something to read...I was thinking something geared towards introductory A&P, but if there are better books to read as a pre-vet I'd love to hear any suggestions!

Familiarizing yourself with medical terminology / Latin root words can be super helpful. If you have the opportunity to take a veterinary anatomy course, I found that helpful; I took it as an upper level science course in undergrad. Do not buy textbooks and try to self-learn anatomy from it - your time to learning ratio will be disproportionately high, it will probably be frustrating and I doubt it will give you any real edge when you get to vet school.