Zoo Medicine

[Reader19]

Hi guys, I'm pretty new to SDN, but I've found it very helpful so far. I currently volunteer at a zoo, just doing general care and handling, and have been at it for over half a year. I really enjoy it, and it's getting me thinking about the possibility of being a zoo vet. My other vet experiences have been in SA and LA, so I'm right in the middle of scheduling some shadowing hours with a zoo vet.

Besides shadowing, what else can I do to learn about zoo medicine? Anybody want to be a zoo vet or familiar with what it entails?

Thanks 🙂

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[kermit123]

Try using the search in the top right. There are a bunch of old threads when I just looked in there that have a ton of people talking about zoo med.

 

[drwildlife]

You sound like just where I was a few years ago. Zoo Medicine, in my opinion, is one of the most exciting fields you can get involved with. Not only would you be caring for amazing animals but, you could also be participating in some world-changing research in the field of conservation.

My little internship/ongoing volunteer program at my zoo led to me getting an internship at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute this past month. I even got invited to come back to work with their Clouded Leopard breeding program! 😎

I know there are a lot of zoo pre-vet programs out there, I can't name any off the top of my head but, there should be some threads about them somewhere on here.

When are you expecting to apply?

 

[Reader19]

I'm applying for the class of 2016, so I don't have much time before I need to get the skeleton of my personal statement down. I'm applying to Colo, Wash, Oregon, Cornell, Penn, Wisc, and Georgia.

My biggest concern is having enough medical experience with wildlife to support my interest in zoo med. For several reasons, I may not be able to shadow for another couple weeks, so I don't expect to have many hours before I apply.

Thanks for the welcome!

 

[bunnity]

I would suggest getting involved in wildlife rehabilitation. Especially if you work at a larger center, you should be able to do nursing care with wild animals that are native to your area. I did an internship at a wildlife rehab center and it was one of the best experiences of my life.

If you're in PA by any chance I can recommend some places; otherwise check out this link for a search of licensed rehabbers:
http://www.nwrawildlife.org/

 

[Reader19]

Just signed up to receive more info at a local wildlife rehab center! Thanks 🙂

 

[drwildlife]

Do you live near any zoos? You could look into shadowing some keepers as well as the zoo veterinarians. Knowing how to tell an animal is sick is one thing, but, knowing how they act on a day-to-day basis can be just as helpful. When working as a zoo veterinarian, the keepers will be your clients. So, in my point of view, it's nice to be able to see from their perspective.

Wildlife rehab is also a good area to get involved with 👍

 

[New Foundland]

I see Zoo/wildlife medicine as very interesting, but quite poorly accessible..
Maybe I'm wrong or uninformed, but this is the sense I get..
I don't know a ton about the field, but I understand that there are only around 100 ACZM diplomates (specialists)..
Of course there'd be jobs that don't require specializing, but the small # of diplomates gives you the impression that it's a very competitive and "elite" field of practice.

Jobs in actual zoos I expect are virtually impossible to obtain, especially if you didnt grow up near a local zoo or obtain prior experience at one.

Outside of unobtainable zoo positions, I would expect to encounter a lot of issues with finding a wildlife vet job..
I'd expect a number of things:
Difficulty finding a job
Poor compensation/wages
Life inflexibility (having little choice in where you live, possibly having to live in a non-urban area or foreign country)


Of course, these are mostly just my speculations. If anyone could respond to this and give an overview or the job prospects (or job statistics) in the field, that'd be great.


I would love to find out that I'm mistaken about the field of zoo/wildlife medicine...

 

[StartingoverVet]

some zoo med threads you should probably be interested to browse

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=721779&highlight=zoo
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=586453&highlight=zoo
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=502867&highlight=zoo

 

[drwildlife]

I see Zoo/wildlife medicine as very interesting, but quite poorly accessible..
Maybe I'm wrong or uninformed, but this is the sense I get..
I don't know a ton about the field, but I understand that there are only around 100 ACZM diplomates (specialists)..
Of course there'd be jobs that don't require specializing, but the small # of diplomates gives you the impression that it's a very competitive and "elite" field of practice.

Jobs in actual zoos I expect are virtually impossible to obtain, especially if you didnt grow up near a local zoo or obtain prior experience at one.

Outside of unobtainable zoo positions, I would expect to encounter a lot of issues with finding a wildlife vet job..
I'd expect a number of things:
Difficulty finding a job
Poor compensation/wages
Life inflexibility (having little choice in where you live, possibly having to live in a non-urban area or foreign country)


Of course, these are mostly just my speculations. If anyone could respond to this and give an overview or the job prospects (or job statistics) in the field, that'd be great.


I would love to find out that I'm mistaken about the field of zoo/wildlife medicine...

I hear this view a lot and I understand where it's coming from. Becoming a zoo veterinarian is very competitive, and yes, it does take a lot to get to that point in your life. But, I think it can be one of the more rewarding fields to go into.

Think of this way - we're facing a mass extinction crisis. Conservation projects are popping up left and right. Instead of zoos being purely focused on entertainment purposes, they're looking towards the conservation side - good breeding and good care. I'm not saying there is going to be more jobs within the next few years but, the interest/need for it seems to be increasing.

As for growing up near local a zoo, I certainly did not. But, I've put in an effort to get that experience. I drive almost three hours one way to volunteer at a zoo in a neighboring state. I think that's what sets apart a lot of people. It is a hard field that you have to be willing to go that extra mile (sometimes even literally) for but, if you have the passion and confidence to do it, it is possible.

 

[moosenanny]

Think of this way - we're facing a mass extinction crisis. Conservation projects are popping up left and right. I drive almost three hours one way to volunteer at a zoo in a neighboring state.

I'm not trying to pick a fight, but it seems like driving six hours to volunteer at a zoo is contributing more to conservation problems than solutions.

 

[GreennWhite]

You need to get a lot of experience, as much as you possibly can. Network, network, network.
The zoo community is very small and very close knit - they know everyone. It is very difficult to get into that community, and yes the number of job openings are VERY small.
You really need to see if the job description is exactly what you're looking for. If you can't shadow a zoo vet, then try connecting with them to see what their day-to-day is like, and see if that interests you.

I set myself on the path of zoo medicine: B.S. in zoology, worked at two zoos, networked, etc. I loved the keeper aspect of it but found out I wasn't too thrilled with the vet aspect of it. The vets I shadowed seemed to do more paperwork and necropsies than treating animals, not many surgeries, and lots of prescribing medications. Just didn't seem like what I envisioned myself doing for the rest of my life.
I'm also interested in the people/owner part of vet med. I like teaching people, explaining things, etc. so now I'm leaning more towards exotic animal/wildlife private practice with a little emergency medicine to keep me even more on my toes. I think that will give me the right balance of people/surgeries/handling weird and interesting animals.

I certainly wouldn't be adversed to being a part-time relief/on-call zoo vet, they need vacations too! I am still going to try to get a 4th year rotation at a zoo, as I am overall madly in love with my zoo experiences.

Key thing is, get your butt out there and get some experience!

 

[lostbunny]

I think what you're doing now is great and you should keep at it for as long as you can fit it into your schedule- and as long as you still enjoy it.

Also, something I've really been looking into are programs like Global Vets (OVC and Montreal) and other schools that have programs involving wildlife vet stuff abroad (Murdoch offers Conservation Medicine, and I watched a YouTube vid on a 4th year student who went to Africa with a few other students as part of one of their modules), and I've been researching programs that take you to Africa and work on reserves (imagine... taking blood from a rhino!). Once you are a vet student, I think its easier to dip your feet into the world of zoo and wildlife. But it still worth getting out there and getting as much as you can as a pre-vet.

 

[drwildlife]

I'm not trying to pick a fight, but it seems like driving six hours to volunteer at a zoo is contributing more to conservation problems than solutions.

Contributing more to conservation problems...?

I've been involved with countless global projects. It seems like it's helped. But, maybe that's just me. If you're talking about gas emissions, the weekend trip is the only driving I do except to pick up groceries. Everything I else I do is by bike or walking.

 

[moosenanny]

I definitely admire your dedication to drive such a long distance. I just think it is on the extreme side. I walked four miles round trip to volunteer at the St. Louis Zoo for three years during undergrad (through rain or snow or oppressive humidity/heat), but then again, I was fortunate to have a wonderful zoo within walking distance. And now I drive just 12 miles to make it to my Los Angeles Zoo summer internship. I guess I'm spoiled to have amazing zoo's in "my backyard" so it's hard to relate driving 6 hours to volunteer!

 

[drwildlife]

I think it's hard for people to realize that not all states have such wonderful organizations for students to volunteer at. Arkansas barely has anything. We do have the Little Rock Zoo, but, no offense to them, they have went through several different periods of losing their AZA accreditation. As for volunteering opportunities there, none exist for some strange reason.

Memphis Zoo took me in and I've been going there ever since.

The current veterinarian at the Kansas City Zoo, Dr. Kirk Suedmeyer, told me he used to drive 1.5 hours to the St. Louis Zoo just to sweep floors at their hospital 👍

 

[elmele]

I'm applying for zoo medicine for c/o 2016 too! Something that's super easy and quick is to see if you can get email interviews with some zoo vets from around the country. I did that back in high school for a school project and it worked out really well! (All the zoo vets' responses are what got me hooked on zoo medicine in the first place!).

Just look around at zoo websites and send an email to the vet (or administrative person so they can forward it) and ask if you can send them a few questions. It's really interesting to hear about things like what an example day looks like, how they balance loved ones and work, what they're favorite part of the job is, etc.

How cool would it be to mention in your personal statement that you've interviewed zoo vets and have really gotten a better idea about what the profession is like?! Good luck!

 

[New Foundland]

some zoo med threads you should probably be interested to browse

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=721779&highlight=zoo
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=586453&highlight=zoo
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=502867&highlight=zoo

Thanks,
Unfortunately, after reading through these three threads, my initial stance hasn't changed the least bit..

Still read no mention of the viability of job prospects outside of Zoos (i.e. wildlife).. so I guess I'll continue believing they are not very good, hah.

Best of luck to everyone pursuing this path though 👍

 

[drwildlife]

Just a side note - if any of you are interested, Big Cat Rescue currently has a civet recovering in their hospital. You can watch him from the recovery cam at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bigcathospital

 

[Reader19]

Just a side note - if any of you are interested, Big Cat Rescue currently has a civet recovering in their hospital. You can watch him from the recovery cam at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bigcathospital

Super cool!

 

[squirrelsrule]

Thanks,
Unfortunately, after reading through these three threads, my initial stance hasn't changed the least bit..

Still read no mention of the viability of job prospects outside of Zoos (i.e. wildlife).. so I guess I'll continue believing they are not very good, hah.

Best of luck to everyone pursuing this path though 👍

That is what is stopping me from getting totally hooked on the Zoo/wildlife stuff. I LOVE wildlife rehab with all my heart and my dream job would be to work as a vet at a wildlife center. There are virtually no jobs though, and I would not be happy doing necropsies all day in other wildlife vet jobs or working in a zoo. So, I am planning to go into small animal emergency care.

 

[drwildlife]

That is what is stopping me from getting totally hooked on the Zoo/wildlife stuff. I LOVE wildlife rehab with all my heart and my dream job would be to work as a vet at a wildlife center. There are virtually no jobs though, and I would not be happy doing necropsies all day in other wildlife vet jobs or working in a zoo. So, I am planning to go into small animal emergency care.

Luckily, I'd be just as happy working as a zookeeper 😀 Actually, our main panda keeper is a veterinarian. She said she worked two years as a vet then realized she'd rather work with animals that loved her than just knew her when they were poked and messed with. I'd be making less money but, I'd be happy.

Or going into shelter medicine - i.e. spay and neuter programs.

 

[drwildlife]

Sorry for the overload of posts but, also if you want to see some things you could potentially get involved with with zoo medicine check out this link - http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/sn/show.do?show=137812

It's about Dr. JoGayle Howard who worked for the Smithsonian for many, many years. She's a huge inspiration of mine. Sadly, she passed away last year due to cancer but, she made so many amazing contributions during her career.

You know you've done something good when they make a tv show about you!

 

[New Foundland]

Luckily, I'd be just as happy working as a zookeeper 😀 Actually, our main panda keeper is a veterinarian. She said she worked two years as a vet then realized she'd rather work with animals that loved her than just knew her when they were poked and messed with. I'd be making less money but, I'd be happy.

Settling for working as a zoo keeper is one thing, but going through a DVM program and then settling as a zoo keeper?
That might conceivably make one person happy, but I wouldn't count on it as a viable fallback option for 95% of people..

 

[drwildlife]

That might conceivably make one person happy, but I wouldn't count on it as a viable fallback option for 95% of people..

I wasn't saying it's for everyone. Just that that's an example.

You say settling as a zookeeper as if it's a bad thing 😛 I wouldn't say she just settled for it. She chose it.

 

[squirrelsrule]

I wanted to be a zoo keeper or work at six flags when I was younger, but after I got into wildlife rehab, I just can't be happy working with wild animals that will never be free. I'd love to work on a breeding program or something like that, but just day to day working with caged animals would make me very sad. I know exhibits are amazing now, but in the end, the animals aren't free. I am glad that there are people out there that love it and make the animals lives better, but I couldn't do it.