Veterinary experience

[thehopefulvet]

These are not the same thing.

yeah right it's shady!!
It won't let me link the site but the product is called "Nagayu" and they call them "C02 tablets" but then list the ingredient sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)
I don't know what's really in them and the box we get them in is in another language. Trying to solve this mystery..

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[thehopefulvet]

No, the dog definitely realizes, trust me. And you may use the powder just for grabbing the hair, but not every single person is doing that. Some people dump powder in the canals for drying. Some people just use it for the hair, but don't clean the ear as thoroughly as they think they are. You just said you just use a cotton ball and wipe the ear, so if that really is all you do, it's definitely not thorough. A thorough ear cleaning involved CTAs and pouring a bit of cleaner into the canal itself. Now you might better understand why I cringe when people talk about powder. The only places I've ever known to do a real thorough ear cleaning is a vet clinic. I'm not saying to run out and start using CTAs at a groomer's, you can potentially cause harm with them if you're not careful/trained...but you can imagine that any water/shampoo that may have gotten into the canal will still be there, as well as any powder that found it's way into the canal. I wipe the external ear of my dog/cats when I'm doing my weekly stuff, but anytime I bathe I make sure to at least get a little bit of a drying cleaner in their canals and let them shake out any excess. You don't have to irrigate a healthy ear necessarily, but it helps to dry out any residual moisture.

I've never heard of these tablets but a quick google search is telling me that these are designed for a dog's coat, not it's ears Although the website I'm looking at (as well as some of the Amazon products) also claim that the CO2 tablets cause CO2 to cross the skin, enter the bloodstream, and increase blood flow. I swear people will believe anything you tell them...it just sounds like a gimmicky product to me. If someone is crushing/breaking a tablet and adding water, that's obviously not okay especially if it fizzes.

oh yeah it fizzes... it goes inside the hand-shower and sprays out all bubbly. No scent or anything but yeah my boss will spray it directly into the ear canal and even tells the owners.. I just use it on their bodies and otherwise try not to advertise it to customers lol.

 

[pp9]

oh yeah it fizzes... it goes inside the hand-shower and sprays out all bubbly. No scent or anything but yeah my boss will spray it directly into the ear canal and even tells the owners.. I just use it on their bodies and otherwise try not to advertise it to customers lol.

Yeah idk..I'm seeing different ingredients/claims for the same name across several websites so it just seems iffy/gimmicky/poorly regulated. I feel like I would avoid it in the ear for several reasons: 1. if it's still snap crackle poppin' a little while later, that dog is going to start itching/head shaking like crazy 2. if it's releasing CO2 to create the fizz and the ear is swollen from being irritated while being cleaned or because it was already infected, that ish is probably going to hurt a little. There's always a gimmick out there. People already put coconut oil in ears. I'm waiting for them to start dissolving charcoal tabs and putting them in ears and asking why there is rock solid debris completely obstructing their dog's ear canal...

 

[thehopefulvet]

Yeah idk..I'm seeing different ingredients/claims for the same name across several websites so it just seems iffy/gimmicky/poorly regulated. I feel like I would avoid it in the ear for several reasons: 1. if it's still snap crackle poppin' a little while later, that dog is going to start itching/head shaking like crazy 2. if it's releasing CO2 to create the fizz and the ear is swollen from being irritated while being cleaned or because it was already infected, that ish is probably going to hurt a little. There's always a gimmick out there. People already put coconut oil in ears. I'm waiting for them to start dissolving charcoal tabs and putting them in ears and asking why there is rock solid debris completely obstructing their dog's ear canal...

ughh yes people are crazy about the coconut oil fad!! That and olive oil. I had this one client who insisted she never needed to bathe her yorkies, they just needed olive oil combed through their hair once a week. Those poor dogs. Eventually we had to tell her to stop coming because the oil hair was ruining our blades and she would complain that the cut was uneven.. well if your dog comes in a slick oily mess and you won't let us bathe or dry them, it's gonna look a little wonky!

 

[DVMDream]

Also I have volunteered/shadowed/worked for several different vet clinics now and seriously the doctors and techs will have so much less experience handling animals independently than you, it's hysterical. A ton of vets and techs don't know how to clip nails without cutting the quick, have never heard of a nail grinder or ear plucking powder, they knick skin while shaving for surgery even using low power trimmers and 5-in-1 blades.. As a groomer you handle a dog or cat all entirely on your own and learn how to safely perform services on them without being bit or harming them in a way that they just don't have time to teach in vet or tech school.

It is hysterical that you can't spay a dog. Seriously, hysterical.


For all the shadowing you have done you still don't understand that clipping nails and grooming dogs are NOT A VET'S JOB.

Just like spaying a dog is not your job.

I can trim nails fine, sometimes I quick them, I don't trim 7-8 dog's nails per day every day. I might trim some nails once a week to every other week or less. Oh and I knew about nail grinders back when I was a tech at 17 years old. We used them on every single dog. So, yes, vets and vet techs do know about nail grinders. The issue is that they take longer and we don't have time to be sitting around grinding nails when we have patients with actual medical issues that need to be addressed. Heck, I would love it if people would stop bringing in pets for nail trims, not really something we should be taking the time to do in a veterinary setting (minus the exception of a broken nail or other nail disease).

Do you know how many groomer mishaps I have repaired?

You aren't perfect and this post completely shows your lack of knowledge about what a vet should/should not be doing as well as your "holier than thou" attitude.

 

[DVMDream]

The other thing is that handling for medical procedures is going to be different than handling necessary for grooming. This should be very obvious to anyone.

 

[pp9]

The other thing is that handling for medical procedures is going to be different than handling necessary for grooming. This should be very obvious to anyone.

Right? Grooming should never be a painful experience. Meanwhile, we're poking at wounds, giving injections, placing catheters, etc.

Although while we're on the topic of grooming restraint, I'm going to mention how much I hate grooming tables. All it takes is one second while you're back is turned for a dog to hop off and start strangling himself. I've seen it happen through the window at a Petsmart. Girl started panicking and the dog was thrashing so much she couldn't get it back on the table. I was about to run in to help when the other groomer grabbed scissors and cut the leash.

One of the clinics I was an assistant at had assistants do grooming (I hated it), and we weren't actually allowed to hook a dog up to the pole on the grooming table for this reason

 

[DVMDream]

As for the ear plucking/ear powder, if you ask 10 different vets you will get 15 different opinions.

You can not manage an ear infection in a dog whose ear canal is packed full of fur. There are no clippers of a decent size to get in there to remove all the hair. I will clip up what I can, then gently pluck the remaining few hairs. You will find vets who scream about how this is inappropriate due to inflammation, etc, etc. Luckily, we have medications for inflammation, many of the medicated ear cleaners have anti-inflammatories in them.

As for the powder being in the way. That is why you clip the hair first and you have the ability to clean after so then you are cleaning out that powder. I prefer that no one dumps the powder into the ear, but instead is conservative with it. However, it does clean out easily with ear cleaner.

I would not recommend plucking ear hair on every single dog. I don't think that is appropriate. If the dog is doing well, no inflammation and no infection, its ears should be left alone minus normal maintenance cleaning. There is no need to pluck hair just because it is there especially if it isn't causing any issue.

 

[DVMDream]

Right? Grooming should never be a painful experience. Meanwhile, we're poking at wounds, giving injections, placing catheters, etc.

Although while we're on the topic of grooming restraint, I'm going to mention how much I hate grooming tables. All it takes is one second while you're back is turned for a dog to hop off and start strangling himself. I've seen it happen through the window at a Petsmart. Girl started panicking and the dog was thrashing so much she couldn't get it back on the table. I was about to run in to help when the other groomer grabbed scissors and cut the leash.

One of the clinics I was an assistant at had assistants do grooming (I hated it), and we weren't actually allowed to hook a dog up to the pole on the grooming table for this reason

I would have been fired working there. I can't groom an animal to save my life. That is why when I pick up the clippers, I am not going for style, unless naked is a style so I can see that wound or operate on that abdomen or mass or whatever.

 

[thehopefulvet]

It is hysterical that you can't spay a dog. Seriously, hysterical.


For all the shadowing you have done you still don't understand that clipping nails and grooming dogs are NOT A VET'S JOB.

Just like spaying a dog is not your job.

I can trim nails fine, sometimes I quick them, I don't trim 7-8 dog's nails per day every day. I might trim some nails once a week to every other week or less. Oh and I knew about nail grinders back when I was a tech at 17 years old. We used them on every single dog. So, yes, vets and vet techs do know about nail grinders. The issue is that they take longer and we don't have time to be sitting around grinding nails when we have patients with actual medical issues that need to be addressed. Heck, I would love it if people would stop bringing in pets for nail trims, not really something we should be taking the time to do in a veterinary setting (minus the exception of a broken nail or other nail disease).

Do you know how many groomer mishaps I have repaired?

You aren't perfect and this post completely shows your lack of knowledge about what a vet should/should not be doing as well as your "holier than thou" attitude.

OK I have already replied to many people's response to this.. here's the jist. I am sorry. I am not perfect. I am humble. You really don't need to be so angry, you misunderstand my tone. I have been put down by so many doctors and techs with that sam attitude of "every groomer just cuts dogs fora living" I was slightly pleased when I discovered that every vet I worked for could barely clip a nail. That's my personal experience, that's the vets I worked for, that was my little triumph feel good about myself moment. I do not know everything, I do not pretend to know everything. I am eager to learn and I am learning every day.

But between going to tech school and grooming school which was the question the OP had, I stand by grooming school. I am a good groomer I am proud to be a groomer I have learned a lot being a groomer that will only make me a better vet.

I do not have a holier than thou attitude, you don't know me, I'm sorry if this seems hostile, I genuinely respect everyone in the veterinary profession and someday hope to be a vet myself. Let's all just get along please

 

[EB73674]

It's hysterical in a sense that I worked for vets who had been veterinarians for 20+ years and when they went to do nail trims they would just already grab the quick-stop and make every nail bleed, require two people to hold the dogs on the ground to do it.. Where I worked as a groomer there was a vet clinic in the back of the store I was in connected to us and the techs and doctors toootally talked down to us and just berated us like we were stupid. Seeing that they can't even clip nails yeah made me laugh. All I'm saying is that having a background in grooming will only make you a better doctor, not that anyone in the veterinary profession is somehow lesser for not being good at that. And the ear thing varies doctor to doctor, state to state, person to person. I personally only pluck if the ear is matted or especially greasy, and I have learned to do it in a easy one pull way myself that dogs barely even flinch for. Yes I use a 10 or 40 in the ear to prevent hair build-up, but actually at some salons I worked at it was not allowed to shave the ear for risk of injury. And then vets would be mad that clients were asking them to shave the ears. It really needs a clear consensus but I've worked in three states, two countries, and it varies all over the place what pet owners, groomers, and veterinarians opinions are on ear plucking.

I work at a surgical center as a volunteer and yes it's the techs that shave. They had five in one blades and didn't even know they could change the length setting on them. Never had even heard of clipper-vacs and would have one tech vacuuming while the other clipped. I'm thinking we would all benefit if vets and groomers tried to understand each other better instead of getting aggressive/defensive toward eachother!

nothin but respect for the veterinary professions, I'm hoping to become a DVM one day too!

I can understand your frustration at being condescended to by hospital staff. But you need to understand that, while you trim nails and have options like dremels for 7-8 or more dogs daily, I (as a tech) have maybe 2 or 3. You are simply faster and better at it because you do it ALL day. You literally went to school for it. I did not. This is why I usually recommend going next door to the Salon for nail trim's, with the added benefit of you guys are cheaper, so I'll give you that business. I won't touch on the restraint portion since others have already done that, but I will say this. Petsmart did not teach me to restrain safely. Being a technician did. I did not learn how to safely hold a cat for any type of procedure until I became a technician. Vets are often the last option for people who have aggressive or severely scared animals for their overall care, including (often) grooming. We get the animals that you say are no longer welcome back. I'm certainly not saying you don't deal with aggressive or difficult animals - I know that's basically ALL you deal with - but we will have to find a safe way to handle those pets for the rest of their needs going forward. Maybe they will not be allowed to spend extended time in the hospital, maybe they need to be heavily sedated before examination, maybe they need to be seen by a mobile vet. You get the option to reject those pets forever. We often do not. Bear that in mind as you go forward in your veterinary career.

 

[DVMDream]

OK I have already replied to many people's response to this.. here's the jist. I am sorry. I am not perfect. I am humble. You really don't need to be so angry, you misunderstand my tone. I have been put down by so many doctors and techs with that sam attitude of "every groomer just cuts dogs fora living" I was slightly pleased when I discovered that every vet I worked for could barely clip a nail. That's my personal experience, that's the vets I worked for, that was my little triumph feel good about myself moment. I do not know everything, I do not pretend to know everything. I am eager to learn and I am learning every day.

But between going to tech school and grooming school which was the question the OP had, I stand by grooming school. I am a good groomer I am proud to be a groomer I have learned a lot being a groomer that will only make me a better vet.

I do not have a holier than thou attitude, you don't know me, I'm sorry if this seems hostile, I genuinely respect everyone in the veterinary profession and someday hope to be a vet myself. Let's all just get along please

I didn't say you have a holier than thou attitude. I said your post portrayed that attitude and it does as many people have pointed out. You have since clarified. Great.

The OP asked about vet experience not grooming, she just mentioned she's in grooming school. Grooming will get you great animal experience, of course. I'm not saying you can't learn about animals with grooming but you do not learn proper veterinary restraint. Comparing grooming restraint to restraint needed for vets is comparing apples to oranges. Comparing a vet clipping a dog to a groomer is like comparing a surgical nurse shaving an area on a human to a barber. It isn't the same. It isn't intended to be the same.

 

[meningealworm]

OK I have already replied to many people's response to this.. here's the jist. I am sorry. I am not perfect. I am humble. You really don't need to be so angry, you misunderstand my tone. I have been put down by so many doctors and techs with that sam attitude of "every groomer just cuts dogs fora living" I was slightly pleased when I discovered that every vet I worked for could barely clip a nail. That's my personal experience, that's the vets I worked for, that was my little triumph feel good about myself moment. I do not know everything, I do not pretend to know everything. I am eager to learn and I am learning every day.

But between going to tech school and grooming school which was the question the OP had, I stand by grooming school. I am a good groomer I am proud to be a groomer I have learned a lot being a groomer that will only make me a better vet.

I do not have a holier than thou attitude, you don't know me, I'm sorry if this seems hostile, I genuinely respect everyone in the veterinary profession and someday hope to be a vet myself. Let's all just get along please

It's fine to feel good about the things you're good at, and have been specifically trained to do (and have lots of practice doing). It's silly to carry that over to mocking someone for not being as good at it, when they don't have specific training in it. I certainly never got explicit training on clipping nails during vet school. Because, as a vet, it isn't my job. I think by now enough people have tried to explain this, so hopefully anyone who has worked or trained in a specific field of animal work will take it to heart - your knowledge, skill, even expertise in that area is not a replacement for being open-minded to learning how to become a good veterinarian. Assuming that you already know how to do something - restrain, place catheters, give meds, whatever it is - will NOT help you. Coming in with a know-it-all attitude can, and will, hurt you both in what you learn and your relationships with hospital techs, clinicians, and other students.

 

[SkiOtter]

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Extremely unrelated but my brain deleted half of the letters in your username and keep reading your name as “mealworm”

 

[OP8]

IMO if they are paying you, they can ask you to clean. Otherwise, the idea is for you to to shadow and learn so you can have some semblance of an idea of what a veterinarian does and if this is the career you want to pursue. If they can't allow you to observe, find another clinic.

Edit: When I was doing the pre-vet thing, I totally did a lot of cleaning as a "volunteer" BUT the veterinarian was good about letting me observe anything I wanted AND she ultimate gave me a job that summer. I just have a lot less patience for people who want to waste my time with meaningless jobs these days lol.

It was a no pay volunteer, I showed up on time and even stayed past 5 hours on some days. Today I emailed the supervisor and HR manager to inform them that I wouldn't be going for 3 weeks due to a GRE prep course I have scheduled at my college. The HR manager emailed back immediately asking to call her, she told me that my skills could be used elsewhere (general practice) and that my volunteering was only set for 4 weeks. While their supervisor told me I could stay with them for a while. There seems to be a lot of miscommunication and I am disappointed that I can no longer be there. It was amazing seeing their surgeries and I really hoped I could learn more from a doctor or two there. I asked her if there was a possibility of volunteering another month but she didn't know how to answer at me then said I could look it up.

I would have to agree that you should not be tasked with the responsibility of gathering or administering any meds to any patient. You have 80 hours of experience now, give or take. You are a volunteer. No one was supervising you. You could have innocently made a fatal mistake just out of ignorance because you're new to the field (not saying you would have, but think about it). In other words, you're a liability that isn't necessarily covered under the doctor's/clinics malpractice insurance. If anything, a tech or doctor should be breathing down your neck as you draw up and give a drug. It's not fair to you to be left alone with such a huge responsibility, either. It's definitely true that even the most experienced person can make a mistake (human nature), but I think it's far more likely for a brand new shadow to not fully understand the prescription, forget to flush air out of an IV line (or not even know to do it), etc.

You are there to learn/get experience, not just to get a letter. A letter of recommendation could come later, but focus on learning right now.

I should have known better when this occurred. I will keep this in mind for another volunteer opportunity. Last summer I looked around my area to potentially be a volunteer or to shadow a vet but all places told me no due to liability reasons. How hard is it to find a place that will take a pre-vet student? There was a veterinarian at my college a few years ago but sadly he retired before I could take one of the upper division science classes with him. I'm feeling stressed because my graduation is getting closer, I know I need those hours in my application and a letter in the future from a vet. I started quite late because I had no idea when I graduated high school that you would need animal experience and vet experience, the letters of recommendations, etc. I'm a senior but still have 2 more years left, I hope to attend a school the year I finish my undergrad. Is there any other advice you both or anyone else has for me? Questions I should ask if I can't volunteer or shadow for longer than a month? Or how to approach a veterinarian for my letter so that they are aware from the beginning?

 

[mmmdreamerz]

It was a no pay volunteer, I showed up on time and even stayed past 5 hours on some days. Today I emailed the supervisor and HR manager to inform them that I wouldn't be going for 3 weeks due to a GRE prep course I have scheduled at my college. The HR manager emailed back immediately asking to call her, she told me that my skills could be used elsewhere (general practice) and that my volunteering was only set for 4 weeks. While their supervisor told me I could stay with them for a while. There seems to be a lot of miscommunication and I am disappointed that I can no longer be there. It was amazing seeing their surgeries and I really hoped I could learn more from a doctor or two there. I asked her if there was a possibility of volunteering another month but she didn't know how to answer at me then said I could look it up.



I should have known better when this occurred. I will keep this in mind for another volunteer opportunity. Last summer I looked around my area to potentially be a volunteer or to shadow a vet but all places told me no due to liability reasons. How hard is it to find a place that will take a pre-vet student? There was a veterinarian at my college a few years ago but sadly he retired before I could take one of the upper division science classes with him. I'm feeling stressed because my graduation is getting closer, I know I need those hours in my application and a letter in the future from a vet. I started quite late because I had no idea when I graduated high school that you would need animal experience and vet experience, the letters of recommendations, etc. I'm a senior but still have 2 more years left, I hope to attend a school the year I finish my undergrad. Is there any other advice you both or anyone else has for me? Questions I should ask if I can't volunteer or shadow for longer than a month? Or how to approach a veterinarian for my letter so that they are aware from the beginning?

I’m sorry this situation didn’t work out...but that probably just means there’s another better one out there. Be persistent. Go in person with resumes.

If you still have two years left you have plenty of time IMO. I didn’t know I wanted to be a vet right away and managed to accumulate all my experience in two years just working all my breaks/summer. You can do this!

 

[OP8]

I’m sorry this situation didn’t work out...but that probably just means there’s another better one out there. Be persistent. Go in person with resumes.

If you still have two years left you have plenty of time IMO. I didn’t know I wanted to be a vet right away and managed to accumulate all my experience in two years just working all my breaks/summer. You can do this!

It’s okay, I am glad that they gave me an opportunity at least. I got a sense of what surgery in a specialty clinic looks like! I appreciate the positivity and helpful advice.

 

[mmmdreamerz]

It’s okay, I am glad that they gave me an opportunity at least. I got a sense of what surgery in a specialty clinic looks like! I appreciate the positivity and helpful advice.

Sounds like it was a lot of miscommunication on their part. If you find the right general practice you’re probably a lot more likely to get to observe (and maybe even do!) more.

 

[OP8]

Sounds like it was a lot of miscommunication on their part. If you find the right general practice you’re probably a lot more likely to get to observe (and maybe even do!) more.

I really hope so, I plan to look at more clinics closer to my area and see how it goes. Would you know if emergency care would be more willing to take on volunteers long term?

 

[mmmdreamerz]

I really hope so, I plan to look at more clinics closer to my area and see how it goes. Would you know if emergency care would be more willing to take on volunteers long term?

Here’s a suggestion...are you asking to volunteer when you are approaching clinics? It might be better to ask to shadow instead, for a couple reasons 1) there’s more of an expectation that you want to learn and not do laundry 2) the clinic doesn’t feel pressured to let someone without any experience do things they aren’t comfortable with. They key is to get your foot in the door, make a good impression, and let them let you come back. Don’t ask if you can shadow for any length of time. Start with explaining that you are a prevet student who wants to explore veterinary medicine as a career and ask if you can come for the day and see where it takes you.

I worked in the same clinic all through undergrad (actually this is the first summer in many I haven’t worked there). When I started there I had exactly zero experience with vet med. I approached the vet about shadowing, she continued to let me come back, I made myself useful where I could be and stayed out of the way when I couldn’t be. Eventually, I was pretty useful around the clinic and she hired me to the point where I could basically come and work whenever I had free time from school. I learned a lot, did a lot, and I know for a fact she wrote me a phenomenal letter of recommendation.

Opportunities exist. You just have to find the right one🙂

 

[pp9]

I should have known better when this occurred. I will keep this in mind for another volunteer opportunity. Last summer I looked around my area to potentially be a volunteer or to shadow a vet but all places told me no due to liability reasons. How hard is it to find a place that will take a pre-vet student? There was a veterinarian at my college a few years ago but sadly he retired before I could take one of the upper division science classes with him. I'm feeling stressed because my graduation is getting closer, I know I need those hours in my application and a letter in the future from a vet. I started quite late because I had no idea when I graduated high school that you would need animal experience and vet experience, the letters of recommendations, etc. I'm a senior but still have 2 more years left, I hope to attend a school the year I finish my undergrad. Is there any other advice you both or anyone else has for me? Questions I should ask if I can't volunteer or shadow for longer than a month? Or how to approach a veterinarian for my letter so that they are aware from the beginning?

You can always try to work up from reception, that's what I did. It doesn't work out for everyone but you don't have to start out shadowing/volunteering. A lot do, but I may have been lucky in that I never actually did anything for free at a vet clinic.

There are also other places to get vet experience-shelters, wildlife rehab, etc etc. Be persistent and don't give up.

 

[SkiOtter]

Banfield also hires vet assistants and I think other people on here have said they train you for everything.

 

[DVMDream]

Yeah if you are designated as a volunteer, then your primary responsibility is your volunteer duties, not observing. If your duties are caught up, then you can ask to follow along/see what the vets are doing.

If you start it off as shadowing stating you are interested in a veterinary career, then the expectations are different. Also, never jump straight to a "can I shadow for 1, 2, 3 or more months." Start it off as can I shadow the vet(s) for a day, I am trying to gain insight into veterinary medicine as a career. This way if it doesn't work for either you or them there isn't that commitment that either of you feel the need to uphold. If it goes well you can say "thank you for this opportunity, I greatly appreciate it, would you be willing to allow me to shadow for a longer period of time?"

 

[OP8]

Sounds like it was a lot of miscommunication on their part. If you find the right general practice you’re probably a lot more likely to get to observe (and maybe even do!) more.

Start with explaining that you are a prevet student who wants to explore veterinary medicine as a career and ask if you can come for the day and see where it takes you.

There was! I went today and the HR manager spoke to me. She told me I can come back to get the letter I would need but I had to explain to her the process of the VMCAS, she told me she'd get that arranged by next summer when I plan to apply. But it just seemed really weird to me that she would be the one doing it. No one else was aware that was my last day and I really wanted to approach the chief of staff but I didn't do this, instead I got his email to ask him if he could help me find another clinic where I could shadow or volunteer. I don't mind cleaning or helping if I could be of use.

You can always try to work up from reception, that's what I did. It doesn't work out for everyone but you don't have to start out shadowing/volunteering. A lot do, but I may have been lucky in that I never actually did anything for free at a vet clinic.

There are also other places to get vet experience-shelters, wildlife rehab, etc etc. Be persistent and don't give up.

That's where I am struggling at, I will send you a message. I'm only able to either volunteer or shadow until I can hopefully earn a job after my undergrad. I've been at a shelter since October but I only walk the dogs. I emailed the boss to see if she could possibly help me meet with a veterinarian there to get me started with something. There's a lion habitat I could go to and see if they accept me too. That's it for the wildlife here in NV that I'm aware of.

Banfield also hires vet assistants and I think other people on here have said they train you for everything.

Would you know if they allow shadowing?

If you start it off as shadowing stating you are interested in a veterinary career, then the expectations are different.

Thank you, I have been sticking to the volunteer because I thought this would allow me to stay for longer periods but I will ask to shadow for a day and see where it takes me.

Thanks everyone for your replies and helpfulness. I feel like it's been so difficult to get started somewhere.

 

[SkiOtter]

Would you know if they allow shadowing?

I don’t know, unfortunately!
But I definitely recommend trying to find somewhere to shadow versus volunteering because, like others have said, with volunteering you’re going to be cleaning and doing your assignments and then if you have time you might get to shadow a bit, whereas shadowing you’ll be with the dr the whole time and getting to see what a vet actually does.

 

[OP8]

I don’t know, unfortunately!
But I definitely recommend trying to find somewhere to shadow versus volunteering because, like others have said, with volunteering you’re going to be cleaning and doing your assignments and then if you have time you might get to shadow a bit, whereas shadowing you’ll be with the dr the whole time and getting to see what a vet actually does.

I will definitely start with this more often. I thought that volunteering was essentially the same thing. Thank you so much for the help and advice!

 

[TheGirlWithTheFernTattoo]

Also if you are shadowing respect that you are shadowing and don’t touch unless invited.

I got politely fired from my first shadow gig because I couldn’t respect boundaries. (Always would do cleaning and stuff despite it being someone else’s job)

 

[mmmdreamerz]

There was! I went today and the HR manager spoke to me. She told me I can come back to get the letter I would need but I had to explain to her the process of the VMCAS, she told me she'd get that arranged by next summer when I plan to apply. But it just seemed really weird to me that she would be the one doing it. No one else was aware that was my last day and I really wanted to approach the chief of staff but I didn't do this, instead I got his email to ask him if he could help me find another clinic where I could shadow or volunteer. I don't mind cleaning or helping if I could be of use.




That's where I am struggling at, I will send you a message. I'm only able to either volunteer or shadow until I can hopefully earn a job after my undergrad. I've been at a shelter since October but I only walk the dogs. I emailed the boss to see if she could possibly help me meet with a veterinarian there to get me started with something. There's a lion habitat I could go to and see if they accept me too. That's it for the wildlife here in NV that I'm aware of.



Would you know if they allow shadowing?



Thank you, I have been sticking to the volunteer because I thought this would allow me to stay for longer periods but I will ask to shadow for a day and see where it takes me.

Thanks everyone for your replies and helpfulness. I feel like it's been so difficult to get started somewhere.

Quite honestly, I don’t think that is a letter you want. You have to have at least 1 DVM letter and it doesn’t sound like you were at this clinic very long/got to know these people well enough for the HR manager to write you a letter that would be of benefit.

 

[SkiOtter]

Quite honestly, I don’t think that is a letter you want. You have to have at least 1 DVM letter and it doesn’t sound like you were at this clinic very long/got to know these people well enough for the HR manager to write you a letter that would be of benefit.

I agree. And a generic letter can actually hurt you more than help.

 

[thehopefulvet]

I can understand your frustration at being condescended to by hospital staff. But you need to understand that, while you trim nails and have options like dremels for 7-8 or more dogs daily, I (as a tech) have maybe 2 or 3. You are simply faster and better at it because you do it ALL day. You literally went to school for it. I did not. This is why I usually recommend going next door to the Salon for nail trim's, with the added benefit of you guys are cheaper, so I'll give you that business. I won't touch on the restraint portion since others have already done that, but I will say this. Petsmart did not teach me to restrain safely. Being a technician did. I did not learn how to safely hold a cat for any type of procedure until I became a technician. Vets are often the last option for people who have aggressive or severely scared animals for their overall care, including (often) grooming. We get the animals that you say are no longer welcome back. I'm certainly not saying you don't deal with aggressive or difficult animals - I know that's basically ALL you deal with - but we will have to find a safe way to handle those pets for the rest of their needs going forward. Maybe they will not be allowed to spend extended time in the hospital, maybe they need to be heavily sedated before examination, maybe they need to be seen by a mobile vet. You get the option to reject those pets forever. We often do not. Bear that in mind as you go forward in your veterinary career.

yess thank you that's what i was trying to say. Because you get to do these tasks all day that vets and techs don't have to do often you get to become skilled at them as a groomer. No insult to techs or vets love em they're brilliant but there can be benefits to grooming experience as a pre-vet student!

 

[thehopefulvet]

I didn't say you have a holier than thou attitude. I said your post portrayed that attitude and it does as many people have pointed out. You have since clarified. Great.

The OP asked about vet experience not grooming, she just mentioned she's in grooming school. Grooming will get you great animal experience, of course. I'm not saying you can't learn about animals with grooming but you do not learn proper veterinary restraint. Comparing grooming restraint to restraint needed for vets is comparing apples to oranges. Comparing a vet clipping a dog to a groomer is like comparing a surgical nurse shaving an area on a human to a barber. It isn't the same. It isn't intended to be the same.

yess I realize that I just gotta stick a neck out there for grooming. It's kind of laughed at a lot in my experience in the veterinary world but there's a lot of benefits to having a grooming background when you work in the veterinary medical fields!!

 

[thehopefulvet]

It's fine to feel good about the things you're good at, and have been specifically trained to do (and have lots of practice doing). It's silly to carry that over to mocking someone for not being as good at it, when they don't have specific training in it. I certainly never got explicit training on clipping nails during vet school. Because, as a vet, it isn't my job. I think by now enough people have tried to explain this, so hopefully anyone who has worked or trained in a specific field of animal work will take it to heart - your knowledge, skill, even expertise in that area is not a replacement for being open-minded to learning how to become a good veterinarian. Assuming that you already know how to do something - restrain, place catheters, give meds, whatever it is - will NOT help you. Coming in with a know-it-all attitude can, and will, hurt you both in what you learn and your relationships with hospital techs, clinicians, and other students.

I keep responding to people don't know why but yeah I don't have an attitude it was a miscommunication.. Don't think I'm better than anyone just praising the unique background experience grooming can give as a pre-vet student. Especially if OP was considering dropping grooming for tech school, because for one thing Petsmart will come after them if they don't honor their post-grooming-school contract. If anything it will help pay their way through undergrad (commission pay = less hours, more pay, more hours available to study/shadow! )

 

[OP8]

Also if you are shadowing respect that you are shadowing and don’t touch unless invited.

I got politely fired from my first shadow gig because I couldn’t respect boundaries. (Always would do cleaning and stuff despite it being someone else’s job)

Thank you for this advice, I assume petting a dog is out of the question for this as well?

Quite honestly, I don’t think that is a letter you want. You have to have at least 1 DVM letter and it doesn’t sound like you were at this clinic very long/got to know these people well enough for the HR manager to write you a letter that would be of benefit.

I agree. And a generic letter can actually hurt you more than help.

I was thinking about this last night, they never introduced me to the doctors either. Despite some of them seeing my name on the name tag they gave me. Maybe one would remember me, would it be appropriate to email them asking to shadow them and explain that I was a volunteer there for a month? This way they would get to know me more. But if it seems like it would be too much of a hassle I won't pursue it anymore. Maybe it's because I've never worked but how do policies work? The HR manager was overseeing me and she told me that the supervisor was the person I was going to report too. I never had anything to do with the doctors.

 

[Meow2124]

I don’t know, unfortunately!
But I definitely recommend trying to find somewhere to shadow versus volunteering because, like others have said, with volunteering you’re going to be cleaning and doing your assignments and then if you have time you might get to shadow a bit, whereas shadowing you’ll be with the dr the whole time and getting to see what a vet actually does.

Banfield will allow shadowing in most cases! I’ve worked at a few over the past 2 years and seen a handful of shadows come through but more importantly they will hire you with little to no experience and take the time to train you well. Really great learning experience and you have the opportunity to work with many different doctors.

 

[Polocrosse2017]

The emergency vets here encourage shadowing. I haven't had a chance to go because my job with the equine vet is keeping me swamped this summer. I'm not even sure what state I'm in! I do know it was Tunica Mississippi yesterday!

 

[outdoorsydvm]

So I'm having trouble finding more opportunities to shadow LA vets in my area. I've called a couple equine vets in the area and they seem open, I'll just have to send a resume over. The problem is I have 0 to little hours of horse-handling experience (I rode for a bit in middle school), and I don't really feel like starting from scratch will help me get my foot in the door at a busy equine clinic. Should I just keep trying other places and send my resume and see what happens?

 

[MOOSEygoosey]

So I'm having trouble finding more opportunities to shadow LA vets in my area. I've called a couple equine vets in the area and they seem open, I'll just have to send a resume over. The problem is I have 0 to little hours of horse-handling experience (I rode for a bit in middle school), and I don't really feel like starting from scratch will help me get my foot in the door at a busy equine clinic. Should I just keep trying other places and send my resume and see what happens?

I mean, they may be asking for your resume to gauge how much experience you have to see how much they have to teach you. For example, if you've been riding for 10 years, they can probably skip the safety lesson around horses (e.g., don't walk directly behind them, don't be loud or quick around them, etc.). So, send them in your resume and a cover letter and in the email or cover letter you can write that you are looking to do this to GAIN experience that you lack before you apply to vet school 🙂