Ever since I was a child, I have always wanted to be a vet. My parents tried to convince me to consider other professions in the interest of balance, but I was stubbornly single-minded about it. I read the books of James Herriot (1), a country vet practising in Yorkshire, England from the 1940s onwards, and was hooked. The thought of meandering around the beautiful English countryside attending to sick cows, horses, and sheep appealed. I loved animals anyway, and the thought of doing surgery was fascinating, so it seemed the ideal profession to go into...
A very interesting blog!
I'd like to ask a question or two, if i may?
I understand that a love of animals and their welfare attracts people to the profession and that being a vet can be a vocation.
Every visit i have had to make, i got the feeling that the vet genuinely cares for our much loved dog!
Our Alfie, a Bichon Frisé, has no fear of going to the vet, so i guess it to be true.
But is it?
Some animals i've seen have been returned to their owner in stress.
Is it just a case that some animals cope better than others?
Behind the scenes, are they treated like a van driver cares for parcels, or do vets really see them as family members?
Is there such a thing as a bad practice or do you all follow a code of practice?
I'd like to ask a question or two, if i may?
I understand that a love of animals and their welfare attracts people to the profession and that being a vet can be a vocation.
Every visit i have had to make, i got the feeling that the vet genuinely cares for our much loved dog!
Our Alfie, a Bichon Frisé, has no fear of going to the vet, so i guess it to be true.
But is it?
Some animals i've seen have been returned to their owner in stress.
Is it just a case that some animals cope better than others?
Behind the scenes, are they treated like a van driver cares for parcels, or do vets really see them as family members?
Is there such a thing as a bad practice or do you all follow a code of practice?
great article! your passion for this profession is truly extraordinary, even if the story of the deer (well the deer in the garage) didn't make me want to think about it too much... I think that there must be exceptional wildlife in this part of England, I have heard that red deer are almost extinct in some places (is this true now ?) . I know that it is mainly that passerines and predatory birds suffer greatly from excessive urbanization and pesticides.
just a question regarding the profession: do you work more with cattle and large animals (zoo and circus animals) or more with domestic animals, or even you work with both?
and also: has anyone ever brought you a wild animal so that you could save it?
just a question regarding the profession: do you work more with cattle and large animals (zoo and circus animals) or more with domestic animals, or even you work with both?
and also: has anyone ever brought you a wild animal so that you could save it?
@Rankrotten said in #3:
> A very interesting blog!
> I'd like to ask a question or two, if i may?
> I understand that a love of animals and their welfare attracts people to the profession and that being a vet can be a vocation.
> Every visit i have had to make, i got the feeling that the vet genuinely cares for our much loved dog!
> Our Alfie, a Bichon Frisé, has no fear of going to the vet, so i guess it to be true.
> But is it?
> Some animals i've seen have been returned to their owner in stress.
> Is it just a case that some animals cope better than others?
> Behind the scenes, are they treated like a van driver cares for parcels, or do vets really see them as family members?
> Is there such a thing as a bad practice or do you all follow a code of practice?
it all depends on the vet and especially the professionalism of the vet. Yes, there were some scandals, but also HUGE great stories! I think that 70% of veterinarians take care of their patients' animals with care and kindness. it's a job where you need a lot of calm and patience because each animal is different and can react differently. the veterinarian must be able to keep the animal as calm as possible.
> A very interesting blog!
> I'd like to ask a question or two, if i may?
> I understand that a love of animals and their welfare attracts people to the profession and that being a vet can be a vocation.
> Every visit i have had to make, i got the feeling that the vet genuinely cares for our much loved dog!
> Our Alfie, a Bichon Frisé, has no fear of going to the vet, so i guess it to be true.
> But is it?
> Some animals i've seen have been returned to their owner in stress.
> Is it just a case that some animals cope better than others?
> Behind the scenes, are they treated like a van driver cares for parcels, or do vets really see them as family members?
> Is there such a thing as a bad practice or do you all follow a code of practice?
it all depends on the vet and especially the professionalism of the vet. Yes, there were some scandals, but also HUGE great stories! I think that 70% of veterinarians take care of their patients' animals with care and kindness. it's a job where you need a lot of calm and patience because each animal is different and can react differently. the veterinarian must be able to keep the animal as calm as possible.
@Rankrotten said in #3:
> A very interesting blog!
> I'd like to ask a question or two, if i may?
> I understand that a love of animals and their welfare attracts people to the profession and that being a vet can be a vocation.
I would almost go further and say that being a vet is a vocation in the vast majority of cases!
> Every visit i have had to make, i got the feeling that the vet genuinely cares for our much loved dog!
> Our Alfie, a Bichon Frisé, has no fear of going to the vet, so i guess it to be true.
I am glad to hear this
> But is it?
> Some animals i've seen have been returned to their owner in stress.
> Is it just a case that some animals cope better than others?
Absolutely! Some animals love coming to see us, especially the "regulars" that maybe need treatment for an ongoing condition. Some animals sadly suffer from extreme anxiety at the vets and I would say most animals are a little nervous but cope fairly well with the reassurance of the owners and veterinary team.
> Behind the scenes, are they treated like a van driver cares for parcels, or do vets really see them as family members?
Since I now work as a veterinary locum, which means I fill in the staffing gaps in different vet hospitals and clinics (due to vacancies, annual, sick and maternity leave, etc) I am privileged to see inside a lot of different practices.
In my experience, the vast majority of vets, nurses, and lay staff love the animals they care for and treat them very well around the back, even when no one is looking. Some hospitals also have CCTV to protect staff, patients, and property.
> Is there such a thing as a bad practice or do you all follow a code of practice?
Yes, of course, there are "bad practices", and "bad vets" just as there are bad people in the world. In my experience, they are not that common. All vets practising in the UK are Regulated and Licenced by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) who carry out inspections and hold all UK Veterinary Surgeons to account. They also carry out investigations and apply sanctions (where needed) in the case of alleged negligence or misconduct. All UK vets and nurses must adhere to the relevant legislation and the Code of Conduct
This is the Code of Conduct for vets:
www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/
In Ireland, this function is performed by the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) who carry out investigations in a similar way to the RCVS.
> A very interesting blog!
> I'd like to ask a question or two, if i may?
> I understand that a love of animals and their welfare attracts people to the profession and that being a vet can be a vocation.
I would almost go further and say that being a vet is a vocation in the vast majority of cases!
> Every visit i have had to make, i got the feeling that the vet genuinely cares for our much loved dog!
> Our Alfie, a Bichon Frisé, has no fear of going to the vet, so i guess it to be true.
I am glad to hear this
> But is it?
> Some animals i've seen have been returned to their owner in stress.
> Is it just a case that some animals cope better than others?
Absolutely! Some animals love coming to see us, especially the "regulars" that maybe need treatment for an ongoing condition. Some animals sadly suffer from extreme anxiety at the vets and I would say most animals are a little nervous but cope fairly well with the reassurance of the owners and veterinary team.
> Behind the scenes, are they treated like a van driver cares for parcels, or do vets really see them as family members?
Since I now work as a veterinary locum, which means I fill in the staffing gaps in different vet hospitals and clinics (due to vacancies, annual, sick and maternity leave, etc) I am privileged to see inside a lot of different practices.
In my experience, the vast majority of vets, nurses, and lay staff love the animals they care for and treat them very well around the back, even when no one is looking. Some hospitals also have CCTV to protect staff, patients, and property.
> Is there such a thing as a bad practice or do you all follow a code of practice?
Yes, of course, there are "bad practices", and "bad vets" just as there are bad people in the world. In my experience, they are not that common. All vets practising in the UK are Regulated and Licenced by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) who carry out inspections and hold all UK Veterinary Surgeons to account. They also carry out investigations and apply sanctions (where needed) in the case of alleged negligence or misconduct. All UK vets and nurses must adhere to the relevant legislation and the Code of Conduct
This is the Code of Conduct for vets:
www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/
In Ireland, this function is performed by the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) who carry out investigations in a similar way to the RCVS.
@CSKA_Moscou said in #4:
> great article! your passion for this profession is truly extraordinary, even if the story of the deer (well the deer in the garage) didn't make me want to think about it too much... I think that there must be exceptional wildlife in this part of England, I have heard that red deer are almost extinct in some places (is this true now ?) . I know that it is mainly that passerines and predatory birds suffer greatly from excessive urbanization and pesticides.
>
> just a question regarding the profession: do you work more with cattle and large animals (zoo and circus animals) or more with domestic animals, or even you work with both?
>
I used to work with both domestic and farm animals in my first job, then I worked more with cattle and sheep for a while, and now, due to chronic lung problems brought on by too much exposure to mouldy hay and straw, I have had to give up working with farm animals entirely and now work in companion animal practice, mainly night shifts in emergency and critical care in 24-hour vet hospitals with cats and dogs.
> and also: has anyone ever brought you a wild animal so that you could save it?
Yes, we do have members of the public (MOP) bringing us sick and injured wildlife from time to time. We are obliged to treat it at least with first aid, or if it is not possible to save it we can humanely put it to sleep. Often we will treat the initial sickness or injuries and then when it is well enough, transfer it to a wildlife rehabilitation centre if possible. We also never charge the MOP for this.
I have treated foxes, songbirds, badgers, hedgehogs, swans, buzzards, falcons, and egrets, amongst other things.
Once a truck driver brought us in a buzzard that he saw lying stunned on the road after it had been hit by a car. He parked his truck over it to protect it from traffic, retrieved it from underneath, and brought it in. We treated its injuries, rehabilitated it, and then when it was better, the truck driver took it back to near where he found it and released it. He sent us a video of it flying back to its environment, which we all found touching.
> great article! your passion for this profession is truly extraordinary, even if the story of the deer (well the deer in the garage) didn't make me want to think about it too much... I think that there must be exceptional wildlife in this part of England, I have heard that red deer are almost extinct in some places (is this true now ?) . I know that it is mainly that passerines and predatory birds suffer greatly from excessive urbanization and pesticides.
>
> just a question regarding the profession: do you work more with cattle and large animals (zoo and circus animals) or more with domestic animals, or even you work with both?
>
I used to work with both domestic and farm animals in my first job, then I worked more with cattle and sheep for a while, and now, due to chronic lung problems brought on by too much exposure to mouldy hay and straw, I have had to give up working with farm animals entirely and now work in companion animal practice, mainly night shifts in emergency and critical care in 24-hour vet hospitals with cats and dogs.
> and also: has anyone ever brought you a wild animal so that you could save it?
Yes, we do have members of the public (MOP) bringing us sick and injured wildlife from time to time. We are obliged to treat it at least with first aid, or if it is not possible to save it we can humanely put it to sleep. Often we will treat the initial sickness or injuries and then when it is well enough, transfer it to a wildlife rehabilitation centre if possible. We also never charge the MOP for this.
I have treated foxes, songbirds, badgers, hedgehogs, swans, buzzards, falcons, and egrets, amongst other things.
Once a truck driver brought us in a buzzard that he saw lying stunned on the road after it had been hit by a car. He parked his truck over it to protect it from traffic, retrieved it from underneath, and brought it in. We treated its injuries, rehabilitated it, and then when it was better, the truck driver took it back to near where he found it and released it. He sent us a video of it flying back to its environment, which we all found touching.
@QueenRosieMary said in #7:
> I used to work with both domestic and farm animals in my first job, then I worked more with cattle and sheep for a while, and now, due to chronic lung problems brought on by too much exposure to mouldy hay and straw, I have had to give up working with farm animals entirely and now work in companion animal practice, mainly night shifts in emergency and critical care in 24-hour vet hospitals with cats and dogs.
>
>
>
> Yes, we do have members of the public (MOP) bringing us sick and injured wildlife from time to time. We are obliged to treat it at least with first aid, or if it is not possible to save it we can humanely put it to sleep. Often we will treat the initial sickness or injuries and then when it is well enough, transfer it to a wildlife rehabilitation centre if possible. We also never charge the MOP for this.
>
> I have treated foxes, songbirds, badgers, hedgehogs, swans, buzzards, falcons, and egrets, amongst other things.
>
> Once a truck driver brought us in a buzzard that he saw lying stunned on the road after it had been hit by a car. He parked his truck over it to protect it from traffic, retrieved it from underneath, and brought it in. We treated its injuries, rehabilitated it, and then when it was better, the truck driver took it back to near where he found it and released it. He sent us a video of it flying back to its environment, which we all found touching.
Good ! glad for the bird!
Do you ever take part in awareness-raising activities for the protection of wildlife? many people deliberately kill animals that they consider bad for gardens, like moles, hedgehogs, toads, snakes... when in reality they are useful animals and good to have in a garden!
P.s
take care of yourself, it is true that there can be risks of dangerous illness with moldy hay, so do not hesitate to wear masks, before - after the interventions if you are still in a barn.
> I used to work with both domestic and farm animals in my first job, then I worked more with cattle and sheep for a while, and now, due to chronic lung problems brought on by too much exposure to mouldy hay and straw, I have had to give up working with farm animals entirely and now work in companion animal practice, mainly night shifts in emergency and critical care in 24-hour vet hospitals with cats and dogs.
>
>
>
> Yes, we do have members of the public (MOP) bringing us sick and injured wildlife from time to time. We are obliged to treat it at least with first aid, or if it is not possible to save it we can humanely put it to sleep. Often we will treat the initial sickness or injuries and then when it is well enough, transfer it to a wildlife rehabilitation centre if possible. We also never charge the MOP for this.
>
> I have treated foxes, songbirds, badgers, hedgehogs, swans, buzzards, falcons, and egrets, amongst other things.
>
> Once a truck driver brought us in a buzzard that he saw lying stunned on the road after it had been hit by a car. He parked his truck over it to protect it from traffic, retrieved it from underneath, and brought it in. We treated its injuries, rehabilitated it, and then when it was better, the truck driver took it back to near where he found it and released it. He sent us a video of it flying back to its environment, which we all found touching.
Good ! glad for the bird!
Do you ever take part in awareness-raising activities for the protection of wildlife? many people deliberately kill animals that they consider bad for gardens, like moles, hedgehogs, toads, snakes... when in reality they are useful animals and good to have in a garden!
P.s
take care of yourself, it is true that there can be risks of dangerous illness with moldy hay, so do not hesitate to wear masks, before - after the interventions if you are still in a barn.
@CSKA_Moscou said in #8:
> Good ! glad for the bird!
>
> Do you ever take part in awareness-raising activities for the protection of wildlife? many people deliberately kill animals that they consider bad for gardens, like moles, hedgehogs, toads, snakes... when in reality they are useful animals and good to have in a garden!
I do try to advocate for the protection of wild animals to others on a personal level where possible, but between the two jobs, various children, cats, athletics training, competing and coaching, and chess teams organising, there isn't a lot of spare time!
>
> P.s
>
> take care of yourself, it is true that there can be risks of dangerous illness with moldy hay, so do not hesitate to wear masks, before - after the interventions if you are still in a barn.
Thanks, yeah it took a while for me to accept that I could no longer work with farm animals, but my health is so much better now it was worth it. I don't go near it now if possible.
> Good ! glad for the bird!
>
> Do you ever take part in awareness-raising activities for the protection of wildlife? many people deliberately kill animals that they consider bad for gardens, like moles, hedgehogs, toads, snakes... when in reality they are useful animals and good to have in a garden!
I do try to advocate for the protection of wild animals to others on a personal level where possible, but between the two jobs, various children, cats, athletics training, competing and coaching, and chess teams organising, there isn't a lot of spare time!
>
> P.s
>
> take care of yourself, it is true that there can be risks of dangerous illness with moldy hay, so do not hesitate to wear masks, before - after the interventions if you are still in a barn.
Thanks, yeah it took a while for me to accept that I could no longer work with farm animals, but my health is so much better now it was worth it. I don't go near it now if possible.
Very Interesting! Kudos for staying with it, it seems like a lot of training and education. Thankfully I only remember my family needing to call our veterinarian once, when one of our jersey cows collapsed with milk fever.