Becoming a veterinarian is a very rewarding professional goal. I can speak from experience! It's also very challenging, and requires a lot of investment, both of time and finances. With this edition of Q&A with Dr. Q., I hope to give you a realistic perspective of what it will take to become a vet.
A lot of people who decide to get into veterinary medicine do so at a young age. In their childhood they discover whether they have a love of animals, which often comes from having family pets from early on, and if they have a passion for helping them. If that passion stays alive through 12 years of primary and secondary education, they can attend veterinary school to acquire their DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) degree. From there they can select a specialty, such as the type of animal they wish to practice on (dogs and cats, small animals, farm animals, etc.).
One might say you need a high IQ to complete your education as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. To have a lasting career in the veterinary field, though, you also need a high EQ (Emotional Quotient). It takes a special kind of emotional strength to want to treat sick animals, who can't tell you what's wrong, who often don't understand the situation, and will sometimes act aggressively towards you as a consequence. No matter how long the animals will live for, their life span will feel too short, and you will have to explain these harsh realities to your human clientele. You have to do all of this with empathy and professionalism.
Being able to work with animals every day sounds like a dream to many people. Having the tools to help those animals who are sick and injured sounds so rewarding. Just be sure you're aware of the difficult parts of the profession, and be sure you have that EQ to match your IQ, before you commit to the profession of veterinary medicine.