What can anyone tell me about being a Vet?

Question

I'm 14 years old and live in New Zealand, so I would preferably like NZ vets to answer my questions. When I'm older I would really like to be a Vet Nurse, or hopefully a Vet Technician. Can anyone tell me what subjects I need to be taking? I guess I am pretty smart because I'm in Stream 1 in my school and my class is completing NCEA Level 1 early, or at least trying to. So, am I smart enough to become a Vet? Any other tips or facts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

If you are math and science oriented, that will be half the battle.  This is what my granddaughter wants to do too.  In fact she is looking for schools for next year as she graduates from highschool.  I set up a day for her with our local vet and she got to spend a Saturday seeing what all that they do as a vet. tech. and she got a little hands on experience.  It helped her make her decision of what she wanted to do.  You might also like to volunteer your time at an animal shelter.  It's wonderful that you know what you want to do in life at your age.  Best of luck to you.

Answer 2

I am a professional vet for over thirty years,I am very happy because I am helping animals who can not talk and complain when they are sick and in pain. I have to know how to treat them and remove their sufferings.

Answer 3

*Get good grades, do well in math and science.

*See about gaining some experience prior to college. Such as, volunteering/working at a vet clinic, animal shelter, etc.

*Go to college and continue getting good grades. (vet tech or pre-vet and veterinary college)

*after college see about doing an internship/residency

http://www.nzvna.org.nz/faqs.htm

New Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association

FAQs

I would like to work as a veterinary nurse, how do I get started?

All the details you need are on course providers page of this website. It is recommended that gain some experience with animals (not necessarily in a veterinary clinic) before enrolling.

http://www.vets.org.nz/CareerPet/Educati...

New Zealand Veterinary Association

Basic Requirements

To become a veterinarian, one has first to achieve very high marks in related school subjects, including Science, Maths and English. Entry to the course is difficult because of the high standards necessary.

The veterinary course at Massey University (the only Veterinary School in New Zealand) is a five year course, and students need to get predominantly A and B grades to qualify with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree (BVSc). This degree then allows one to become registered as a veterinary surgeon in New Zealand.

Some veterinarians in New Zealand come from overseas, but they must have obtained a degree that is equal to the BVSc at Massey University before they can register as a veterinarian in New Zealand.

The registration is done through the Veterinary Council of New Zealand. Veterinarians register once only, but each year a veterinarian must pay for and be provided with an Annual Retention Certificate.

During the course veterinary students learn three main areas:

    * all about the normal structure and function of animals;

    * all about diseases and injuries, and the effects those have making the structure and/or function abnormal;

    * how to give advice to prevent diseases and injuries, and they learn how to diagnose and fix those diseases and injuries that do occur, so that the abnormal animal can be returned to normal.

This last area involves learning all about medicines and surgery.

Once the veterinarian has qualified and become registered they are then available to serve the community, and the animals in New Zealand. By this stage they are very skilled and highly trained people.

For those veterinarians who go into clinical practice, the profession insists that provision is made for services to be available 24 hours of every day, so that animals can always be sure treatment is available.

You may wish to write to the Academic Programme Director of the Batchelor Veterinary Science Programme at the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, for further information on the veterinary course.

http://www.vets.org.nz/education/educati...

http://www.vnca.asn.au/displaycommon.cfm...

Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia: Training Pathways

http://www.venturescholar.org/resource/v...

Questions about Veterinary Medicine

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/anima...

Becoming a Veterinary Technician

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/anima...

Becoming a Veterinarian

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/anima...

Veterinary Education

http://www.navta.net/education/index.php

National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.

Answer 4

I am not a vet nor from New Zealand, but I have a daughter who is an aspiring veterinarian in the USA.

I suggest studying a lot of math and science.  

Do you have a Red Cross (or similar organization)?  If so, they have a booklet on First Aid for pets that might be of interest to you.

See if you can shadow your veterinarian, volunteer at your local animal shelter.  Document your experiencs with your own animals.  My daughter and I might actually travel to New Zealand to volunteer with the Kakapo Recovery Programme-that might be an option for you.  Check with local zoos, etc. for programs you might be interested in participating in.

In the United States, getting into vet school is a very competitive process so it is important to have good grades and to make sure you stand out in other ways, especially your interest in animals.

I do not quite understand your Stream 1/Level 1, but here a high school student can take some college level courses for dual credit.  So, rather than taking math and science at the high school you can take them at the community college and get both high school and college credit for the same course, allowing you to get ahead.

I hope this helps, and I wish you the best!