RVC students - Several questions!

[BVSc2016Hopeful]

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So, I am about to return to school for my prevet prereqs after spending 5 years as a vet tech and 6 years as a barn manager/show groom post high school.

I would like to study abroad, but would need to bring my dog with me if I get accepted. This puts RVC #1 on my list as it is an english speaking country and there is the ability to bring my dog in without quarantine. Anyone done this?

My goal is the teach, anyone do a combination Bsc(Hon)/BVetMed?

I know that expressing interest in large animal medicine increases your chance of acceptance in the states, is that true of RVC?

The 6 year program for those who did not get accepted into the 4 or 5 year program - is that available for international students as well?

I would love to hear experiences of older, returning students that got accepted and what I should do in the next 2-3 years to increase my odds! 🙂

Thanks!

 

[lei325]

The BSc/BVetMed course is usually for students who don't have a previous degree (i.e. 18 y/o's). If you have a previous degree, then it's not worth it; you don't need it to go into teaching. The 6-year course (which I believe is this one) is just for people who want to do a combined degree so they can do research when they get out (I think?). You'd have to email RVC to see if it's available to international students; generally they usually just have the masters programs and the BVetMed courses open for international students.

As for the pets: I have classmates that have brought over dogs; it's not that you don't have to quarantine, you just don't have to quarantine them over there. The quarantine period is in your own home (which makes it a heck of a lot easier and less stressful for both you and the animal).

Unfortunately, I'm not an older returning student (but I did get in after a 2 year gap between applying and school), but there are a few students in my year (I'm in my first year in the 4-year program) who are older, non-trad students, and they brought spouses and animals with them with little to no trouble. So it's possible! I would just try your hardest to get good grades, varied animal/vet experience, and get a solid GRE score.

 

[BVSc2016Hopeful]

Thanks for the info! I did look up the requirements for bringing my dog over, and it's nothing I can't do (microchip and rabies titer for a year before I leave). I just can't imagine my poor 7 year old dog sitting in quarantine for 6 months over there!

I'm getting good grades so far (we'll see how O Chem treats me!), and I have lots of varied animal and vet experience (large, small, exotic, worked emergency and ICU at a vet school, LOADS of horse experience), and I'm already studying for the GRE! 🙂

 

[BClove21]

Thanks for the info! I did look up the requirements for bringing my dog over, and it's nothing I can't do (microchip and rabies titer for a year before I leave). I just can't imagine my poor 7 year old dog sitting in quarantine for 6 months over there!

If you are in the continental US it should only be 6 months before you leave for the rabies titer. 🙂

 

[chii chan]

Thanks for the info! I did look up the requirements for bringing my dog over, and it's nothing I can't do (microchip and rabies titer for a year before I leave). I just can't imagine my poor 7 year old dog sitting in quarantine for 6 months over there!

I'm getting good grades so far (we'll see how O Chem treats me!), and I have lots of varied animal and vet experience (large, small, exotic, worked emergency and ICU at a vet school, LOADS of horse experience), and I'm already studying for the GRE! 🙂

You don't need to quarantine if you've done the 6 month quarantine in your home in the US before the animal flies, assuming blood titres were correct and the vaccine is not due. Then 24-48 hours before departure, deworm for tapes and apply flea/tick stuff (Advantix or Frontline). Then voila! No quarantine!

 

[futurevet3000]

I got my dog's rabies titer done the other week, because it takes a good 25 days through idexx to get it completed. I hope this was not too early, I figured just get it done now because if I do go over, it will probably be a bit earlier than August to get my living situation figured out. I did not realize we had to "quarantine" pets here beforehand, just assumed that as long as everything was okay paperwork wise and dog was up to date that it was good to go. Better look into this a bit more. But yea, its definitely possible, just an expensive endeavor but one well worth it. I am already worrying about how he handles being cargo luggage . Time to stock up on the ace.

 

[pyxystyx]

Hey guys, 1st yr here, brought my dog and husband with me, although it definitely wasn't easy bringing either...

Yes, rabies titer must be done 6 mos before, assuming it's okay you just can't leave any earlier than 6 months to the day that the blood was drawn for the titer. But, the "results" are good for another 4 months, I believe? (don't quote me, I didn't pay too much attention as we wanted to fly out A.S.A.P. So I went on the day after our six month day 🙂 )
On the dog stuff, my best advice is just to do your homework, go to the APHIS website, talk to your airline way in advance, and make your plans for this based on what THEY say, not what you hear from your friends, on this forum, or even from your vet (if they contradict). I know a couple students who were planning to bring their dogs that now may not be able to, at least for a while, because they didn't have all their duckies in a row.
Also, yes make sure you get your dog acclimated to his/her crate as far ahead as you can, as depending on where you're coming from, they could be in there over 16 hours (we are from California- not so many of us from CA here, so your flight/wait time could be less)

Um, and the Ace will be a no-go. If I recall it's DEFRA that doesn't allow it, or any drugs really, to be given to animals coming into the UK. Virgin Atlantic even asked me to remove my food bowl on the kennel before drop-off because they feel it can be a choking hazard.

It's expensive, yes, although I was planning to spend 3,000 US and ended up a bit under that. And, STRESSFUL doesn't even begin to describe it... But it's totally worth it. I don't know if I would be able to survive it here without my baby puppy. (Oh and husband too) 🙂

As far as admissions, I really feel like declaring what field you're interested in isn't so much a concern to them as why you're interested in it. To me, the interview felt like they were really just trying to get a feel of who you are as a person (I know that sounds weird, but I couldn't think of another way to say it)! Overall, I just get the impression they're less concerned with getting X number of students in this box, X number of students with this degree, blablabla than the US schools. (and I also interviewed with Glasgow and have friends there, I got the same feeling there.)

Glasgow would still be an option for a school to take your dog with no "quarantine", that is if you don't mind Scotland!

Lemme know if there's anything else I can help with!

 

[futurevet3000]

no sedative 😱
this may not go over well with my dog... and now I will stress about that...

 

[BVSc2016Hopeful]

Thanks again for the additional info! My dog is well acclimated to his crate, and has flown already (from NY to AZ; about a 5 hour flight, he did great!). I knew about the no sedatives, and I'd worry about him anyway, as they say the pressurization affects how they metabolize the drugs? He's a great boy, and while I hate to have him crated for 12-15 hours (NY to London), he would be ok!

I was reading about the rabies titer, and I'm wondering if I shouldn't just do a titer with every rabies shot? He is on the three year rabies rotation, but due this spring. Should I do yearly with yearly titers once I start applying? I'm still doing my undergrad, but I know that sometimes you get notified about getting in and have to jump on a plane quickly. Also, where do you get the International microchip? He has a regular Home Again microchip, but I don't think that meets international standards.

I'm definitely going to be applying to RVC, Glasgow, Edinburgh (I actually have a friend who is teaching there now, so that would make adjusting a lot easier!), and Dublin, and probably Massey as well! I might even do Sydney and Melbourne, as they do the titers beforehand, but they still have to do 1 month of in-country quarantine. I'd hate to be away from him for so long, but I could probably suck it up and deal. 🙁

 

[futurevet3000]

Home Again Microchips are actually okay, so long as they are the 15-digit ISO ones, if I remember correctly. The states use a 10 digit one, which is not recognized by other countries' scanners. If your microchip is a 10 digit one, you can buy or rent a scanner to use if you do not want to get your pet rechipped. That is an option though, it just has to be carefully implanted. Definitely go to the DEFRA website or google PET TRAVEL SCHEME (acronym PETS, conveniently). I am going through all this now, its quite the process!

 

[shortnsweet]

Glasgow would still be an option for a school to take your dog with no "quarantine", that is if you don't mind Scotland!

Scotland? What's wrong with Scotland? It is totally the place to be...kilts, Nessie, bagpipes, haggis, kilts....

Pyxystyx...I thought we were SDN buddies!!! 😀😀😀

 

[flyhi]

Just a few comments.

No, you do not need to titer your dog every year... You need 6 mos 'quarantine' in the US from the date the titer is drawn. Then, you have only 4 mos from that time (I believe, but check Defra) to enter the country, so timing is important.

Speaking of timing, you cannot arrive in the UK before 30 days PRIOR to the beginning of your term (ours was from beginning of Fresher's week). This is a Visa issue.

 

[pyxystyx]

Scotland? What's wrong with Scotland? It is totally the place to be...kilts, Nessie, bagpipes, haggis, kilts....

Pyxystyx...I thought we were SDN buddies!!! 😀😀😀

Aaaah ha ha! No, Scotland is GREAT! We actually visited Glasgow already and are planning on going back before the end of March (to see Nessie!!!). 🙂

I just meant the weather, it being up north, and COLDER than London in general. I didn't think it was possible for a place to be colder than London, until we visited Glasgow and came back. That 5-10 degrees made a difference!

BUT... I'm from California. The weather for me has been a huge, HUGE adjustment. (I saw snow for the first time last month! Eek!) 😀
Almost everyone else in my class is from the East Coast, so for them it's all no big deal. They said the snow reminded them of home.
Meanwhile, I bundled up like the kid on A Christmas Story and ran around screaming, "It's Snowing!!!" trying to make snow angels in the park.

Half the time I feel like I should be walking around with a sign that says "Don't mind me- I'm from California". 😛

Long story short- I'm just a big wussie. 🙂