Small, Large, or Mixed Animal?

[wishes]

In going around to veterinary school interviews this year it seemed to be the case that most students intend on ultimately going into small animal practice with varying degrees of conviction (from, "dogs and cats are my favorite" to "if I ever have to touch a cow again it will be too soon," and everything in between).
I realize that many of us, myself included, will have to pick tracks once we are in veterinary school. Do any of you plan to go into equine or some other sort of large animal or all you all small animal folks? How many of you plan to go on to do an internship or residency?
As for me, I am extremely undecided and really wish that I could do it all. Can any of you offer an opinion on if there is still a future for true mixed practice veterinarians?

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[HorseyVet]

As for me, I am extremely undecided and really wish that I could do it all. Can any of you offer an opinion on if there is still a future for true mixed practice veterinarians?

I've been shadowing at a mixed animal practice for some time and the answer really seems to be a clear no. Yes, there are some places where mixed animal practices are established and are essential but they're dying out fast. I also should note that athough their practice is mixed...the veterinarians themselves aren't....That is..there is one vet there that really really knows horses and another that really knows small. They are both competent enough to get by with both for certain things (partially because of experience) but not enough that one could totally take over for the other for all matters.

I think for a new student/graduate to say "I want to do mixed"...is well kind of naive. If you are lucky to work at a mixed practice you will build skills in both sectors over time, but to think you can be a one man show in the begining is not realistic in most situations.

I am not going to a school that tracks, but I will focus on equine and intend to do a residency (boarded in large animal surgery). I really dislike the idea of being ignorant of small animal so I hope to find a place where I can work primarily with horses but still keep my hands wet in small animal (80 large/20 small). I really am considering working at multiple hospitals when I get out in order to make this happen. Down the road, especially if my mobility becomes compromised to age or injury, I plan to switch to 20 large/80 small and maybe go back and get boarded in small animal surgery.

Anyway, that's the short version.

 

[birdvet2006]

Can any of you offer an opinion on if there is still a future for true mixed practice veterinarians?

If you don't mind going to another country, like here in the UK, you won't have a problem finding a genuinely mixed practice to work in. They will even give you a car and accommodation (but less money to balance out the difference, I think).

The majority of my classmates are heading off towards mixed practice or large animal work. The UK, and Scotland in particular, is still mostly rural. Those green fields separated by stone walls or hedges that you see in movies (think: James Herriott), are truly still found here - everywhere.

 

[frozen_canadian]

The same is true here in Canada. Many small towns still have the one/two-man practice where the vets do everything, and ideally that is where I would like to end up. I would imagine the same thing is true in certain parts of the states, particularly in the midwest. It may be a different story on the coasts. For most small towns it is impossible to support two practices. Therefore I think the need will always be there for true generalists.

 

[Apollo84]

I want to do Small Animal, but since I am a huge rabbit lover, I want to do rabbits too. I'm sure schools are different but does that seem like I need to do an Exotics or Wildlife track just to get some education on rabbits? Then again all the vets I know who see rabbits learned everything after vet school it seems. If I have to do Small Animal and rely on myself to learn about rabbits, i can accept that.

 

[Chouzan]

A million years from now (or so it seems) , I'll be doing equine medicine, and I'll probably do both an internship and residency. I'm not decided on exactly what, either equine med/surgery or equine reproduction. I did originally want to do a neurosurgery residency, and I might do more than one residency... My target vet school doesn't track, so I'll have plenty of time to really nail down what I want to do.

The clinics around here (Caldwell, Idaho) are almost exclusively small animal. There are 1 or 2 in the surrounding area that are small animal but will treat large.

 

[Iain]

I did originally want to do a neurosurgery residency, and I might do more than one residency

They have equine neurosurgery? That sounds like a lucrative field - no horse I have ever had has had a properly functioning brain!!

I aspire to work with equine, not sure what role yet - definately like the very sick horses though.

 

[wishes]

Many small towns still have the one/two-man practice where the vets do everything...I would imagine the same thing is true in certain parts of the states, particularly in the midwest...For most small towns it is impossible to support two practices. Therefore I think the need will always be there for true generalists.

I am from a small rural town in Alaska, and the situation there is similar to what you describe. Unfortunately in Alaska I believe there is a tendency toward mediocrity in that most veterinarians work on a little of everything, but very few practioners are extraordinary in any particular area. Indeed I have been cautioned against mixed practice for this reason, as the quantity of information required to stay on the cutting edge of treatment of mixed patients would be difficult to manage.
I am also very interested in specializing (in something) to a degree, and it seems in many ways specialized training could preclude you from being a versatile mixed species veterinarian. Perhaps this is not the case, however.

 

[kate_g]

I'm sure schools are different but does that seem like I need to do an Exotics or Wildlife track just to get some education on rabbits?

I don't think so, but of course it would depend on the exact program. It seems that even places that do tracking leave you *some* room for electives, so you could do the required small animal stuff and then find a couple of elective courses that are going to deal with rabbits (e.g. you might get rabbits/ferrets/rodents as part of a package deal on "slightly-exotic but still pretty routine mammalian housepets").

 

[Chouzan]

They have equine neurosurgery? That sounds like a lucrative field - no horse I have ever had has had a properly functioning brain!!

Its not only equines, its other animals too, but I've always figured that for alot of reasons equines would be the mainstay, at least for neurosurgery. Sadly, most non-vets I've talked to seem to think its an extravagance that only the wealthy and horse breeders would do. I don't quite agree, I think there would be alot of seizure consults and epilepsy, perhaps... The surgical aspect though, I think would be mainly equine.

 

[dvm'08]

i want to do diagnostic imaging... probably with horses - maybe small. maybe both.... depends on which will give the best income..............

 

[HorseyVet]

I don't think so, but of course it would depend on the exact program. It seems that even places that do tracking leave you *some* room for electives, so you could do the required small animal stuff and then find a couple of elective courses that are going to deal with rabbits (e.g. you might get rabbits/ferrets/rodents as part of a package deal on "slightly-exotic but still pretty routine mammalian housepets").

You may want to try to do an externship or similar experience at a lab animal facility that uses rabbits. You're probably not going to get to learn the procedures you will need for pet rabbits, but at least you'll be able to see/learn more about the anesthesia and recovery side.

Just a thought.

 

[UKYWildcat]

:snips:

I've been shadowing at a mixed animal practice for some time and the answer really seems to be a clear no.



I really dislike the idea of being ignorant of small animal so I hope to find a place where I can work primarily with horses but still keep my hands wet in small animal (80 large/20 small). I really am considering working at multiple hospitals when I get out in order to make this happen. Down the road, especially if my mobility becomes compromised to age or injury, I plan to switch to 20 large/80 small and maybe go back and get boarded in small animal surgery.
QUOTE]



I don't really think that mixed animal practices are dying out - I think there are a heck of a lot more graduates that simply don't want to do any form of large animal, particularly cattle.

I'm curious, Horsey - why do an equine surgery residency then work in small animal practice? It seems like a whole lot of time wasted on specialty training to work in a completely different area. I guess I've just never heard of someone going that route or even ever mentioning it. I haven't ruled out an internship/residency in large animal surgery but there's no way I could do equine - 1. I don't have testicles the size of basketballs (or any, for that matter) and 2. My ego actually fits in a building with someone elses'

Where are you headed in the fall?

 

[HorseyVet]

I don't really think that mixed animal practices are dying out - I think there are a heck of a lot more graduates that simply don't want to do any form of large animal, particularly cattle.

It seems, at least in the area I'm in, that there are fewer and fewer small cattle farms (20-30 or less head). The industry is moving to large feed lots and dairies, so more people who specialize in bovine will be needed to just do bovine at these places. I'm not at all opposed to working with cows, but it seems that its getting to be somewhat where swine and polutry is right night....specialize or don't do it scenario. There will always be a 4H hog or steer here and there but other then that I think it's going to be just specialists.

I'm curious, Horsey - why do an equine surgery residency then work in small animal practice? It seems like a whole lot of time wasted on specialty training to work in a completely different area. I guess I've just never heard of someone going that route or even ever mentioning it.

I was thinking of switching to small way down the road...like when I'm in my mid-late 50's. A lot of people just wind up with decreased mobility as they get older and if that happens to the point where you can't really do horses anymore in the same capacity, a lot of people switch over. I really enjoy all of the fancy soft-tissue and orthopedic surgery done in dogs and cats and deciding to do equine over small was difficult. I may not end up switching ever but I'm at least telling myself that now in part to make me more comfortable in my choice. A lot can happen in the next 30 years or so, so obviously I'll have to see where everything goes.

I really want to do a residency b/c I can't really deal with not being able to provide and understand that level of care. However, I also really like the client and patient interaction that comes with not working at a university or referral center, so I'm still very torn about that.

 

[dvm'08]

I guess I've just never heard of someone going that route or even ever mentioning it.

yeah i kinda agree with this - i cant see a boarded LA surgeon switching mid career to small animal.... Firstly, i doubt after practicing on horses for 20 years you'd be even remotely competent with small animal medicine, and secondly, seems like it would be a waste of training... i dunno - just me.

 

[Bill59]

Its not only equines, its other animals too, but I've always figured that for alot of reasons equines would be the mainstay, at least for neurosurgery. Sadly, most non-vets I've talked to seem to think its an extravagance that only the wealthy and horse breeders would do. I don't quite agree, I think there would be alot of seizure consults and epilepsy, perhaps... The surgical aspect though, I think would be mainly equine.

It's the opposite. Although neurology/neurosurgery residents may see a lot of equine patients (depending on the hospital) the vast majority of neurosurgery is small animals -- intervertebral disc extrusions, spinal stabilizations, brain tumors, etc. About the only neurosurgery done in horses is spinal stabilization for cervical spondylomyelopathy (wobblers). Seattle slew had 2 of these. But that's done at only a few places.

 

[Chouzan]

It's the opposite. Although neurology/neurosurgery residents may see a lot of equine patients (depending on the hospital) the vast majority of neurosurgery is small animals -- intervertebral disc extrusions, spinal stabilizations, brain tumors, etc. About the only neurosurgery done in horses is spinal stabilization for cervical spondylomyelopathy (wobblers). Seattle slew had 2 of these. But that's done at only a few places.

Cool, that makes me more interested in doing two residencies rather than just one... I was worried about when I get too old and cranky to work with horses (like HorseyVet) and had planned to brush up and do small animal work.

But for now, I'll just worry about keeping my undergrad GPA up enough to get into vet school...

 

[spikey]

i'm leaving my mind open to what i like when i get there, but right now:

i want to do small animal perhaps with the occassional exotic small mammal. i'm also thinking of specializing in surgery.

 

[mokadet]

My $0.02 on the mid career switch from LA/Equine to small animal.

I've know quite a few (female) vets that have started their careers doing equine or large animal and then when they wanted to start families and have (albeit only slightly) better hours they switched to a small animal practice. From what I know the switch went pretty smoothly. So, it does happen.

 

[spikey]

My $0.02 on the mid career switch from LA/Equine to small animal.

I've know quite a few (female) vets that have started their careers doing equine or large animal and then when they wanted to start families and have (albeit only slightly) better hours they switched to a small animal practice. From what I know the switch went pretty smoothly. So, it does happen.

I can second that: my boss did the same thing. I think she went from LA to mixed to small.

 

[zufuss]

I can second that: my boss did the same thing. I think she went from LA to mixed to small.

I know a few vets that have switched. One from SA-LA and one LA-SA. and one that was exclusively SA and started to get interested in Wildlife.

I don't see any hinderence to switching your field at all.

 

[UKYWildcat]

I know a few vets that have switched. One from SA-LA and one LA-SA. and one that was exclusively SA and started to get interested in Wildlife.

I don't see any hinderence to switching your field at all.

My point isn't 'switching' in general - it's doing a large animal surgery residency and boards, then switching to small animal.

 

[mdub]

still keep my hands wet in small animal

Heh, heh.

 

[lilhmbrg]

I would encourage you to think outside the box. ultimately, what you get out of vet school is what you put into it. my senior year (of which i have less than a month left!!) I knew i would get opportunities to do things I never will again. i did externships in public health and poultry, and rotations in food animal med, herd health, and small animal. i loved nearly all of them.

there is so much more to vet med than small animal. probably 90% of my classmates here at Davis are small animal. that's great, if that's their passion, more power to 'em. but your veterinary education really equips you to do so much. Explore the opportunities (don't forget summer jobs, don't take the easy way out and go back to teching at your small animal clinic, do something totally different. do research, work in government, look around online to see what opportunities sound interesting to you, and then go do them.
As for tracking... I petitioned to do the individual track because I had so many externships I wanted to do that just wouldn't fit into the established tracks. I have heard from so many vets that they or their classmates have worked in areas they never dreamed of when they started school. Be open minded!
Best of luck to you all,
Nora, UCD 2006