What Does It Take to Be a Veterinarian?

By Ruthie Bently

Have you ever looked at the framed certificates on your veterinarian’s wall? Do you know what it takes to become a vet? Anyone interested in becoming a vet should have a love of animals and be able to deal with the emotions of their owners or caretakers. You need to be good at math, psychology, English, physiology and anatomy of many species and understand numerous medications (both capabilities and side effects) and when to prescribe the right one. You need to like school, taking tests and studying a lot.

For vets in rural areas there can be emergency calls on nights, weekends and holidays. Imagine a call in the middle of a cold winter night for a farm animal with a breech birth in an unheated barn. You need to be able to perform surgery, both routine and emergency; blood and needle phobics need not apply. One vet, when queried about the hardest part of practicing veterinary medicine mentioned euthanasia; whether an animal was too ill and it was the kindest thing or because there were no loving homes for them. The same vet said the most rewarding part of their job is working with animals and seeing the happy faces of pets and owners.

High school students interested in becoming a veterinarian should concentrate on getting good grades. You need to have a great head for memorizing facts. Vet school selection committees require good grades in science, biology and math, and look at your background situation and previous experience with animals. To be considered for admission to a vet college, a student must complete pre-vet medical course work as an undergraduate. This takes three to four years of college study; courses required include physics, English composition, chemistry, math and biology. While a Bachelor’s degree may not be required, a large percentage of students entering vet school have them. Many students with an eye on vet school select an undergraduate major in agriculture, biology or animal science, as the courses overlap vet school requirements. If you’re interested in specializing in a more exotic species (e.g., lions, dolphins, elephants) you will need to take courses in marine biology or zoo medicine.

Each vet school’s admission requirements are different, and contacting the college closest to you is suggested. Before entry to vet school, each applicant is required to take the (GRE) Graduate Record Examination. Evaluation letters from people you’ve worked with help the school evaluate your work ethic and character. A vet hospital work history and letter from a veterinarian documenting this can assist you and may be required. Some vet colleges are affiliated with the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) and require this form from an applicant as well. The deadline for the VMCAS is almost a year in advance of when you start the vet program.

There are 28 accredited schools of veterinary medicine in the United States. They receive their accreditation from the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association). These are the only schools recognized where a veterinary medical degree can be attained in the U.S. The vet schools are usually located at state colleges, and preference is given to applicants of the state, though some accept a limited number of non-resident applicants. Veterinary students take the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) in their final year of school. If they pass the NAVLE, meet state license requirements and finish their veterinary degree program successfully, a student becomes a licensed vet eligible to practice veterinary medicine in the U.S.

A vet school teaches many subjects and a graduating veterinarian can go into many fields. The majority of veterinarians go into private practice, but there are also openings in teaching and research (at vet schools); regulatory medicine (the elimination or control of animal diseases that can affect humans, testing animal vaccines, as food inspectors for the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service; public health (help control and prevent diseases that affect both humans and animals, FDA employees testing food additives and medicines, the Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife Service); United States Military (biomedical research and development, care of government-owned animals, food safety and public health officers), private industry (biomedical and pharmaceutical research).

Vets never stop learning, as the needs of their patients are constantly changing. They need to keep current on new medications and drug therapies, new treatments and techniques, as well as diseases and infections that can affect our pets and possibly us. Vets take continuing education courses to keep their knowledge up to date, and some of these are required to keep their license current. Most vets read several medical magazines and books every month, not just veterinary ones. Some vets may go on to study for a specialty (behavior, orthopedics, geriatrics, cardiology, dermatology, nutrition) and there are exams to qualify for these as well. Many vets pass on their knowledge to other vets by speaking at conferences after they have been certified in their given specialty.

I have been blessed with most of the vets that have taken care of my animal companions over the years. A few had a lousy bedside manner, “dumbed down” their conversations with me, and had a “do as I say” attitude. They didn’t last long. A good vet will listen to all your concerns and discuss them with you. They will explain any procedure that needs to be performed and why. Any time you need to speak with them about an issue with your pet they will talk with you in a language you can understand. And their care and compassion for your animal will be evident.

CANIDAE “Ask a Veterinarian” Page

Do you have a question you’d like to ask a vet about your pet’s diet, nutrition or health? Visit the “Ask a Veterinarian” page on the CANIDAE website to read articles written by a specialized team of veterinary consultants. If you don’t see your question listed, you can submit it. The most popular questions and their answers will be posted.

CANIDAE 2010 Scholarship Recipients

CANIDAE has awarded their 2010 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Scholarships which supports applicants that have chosen to pursue a career path and life dedicated to the health and welfare of our pets. The program winners are Rebecca Tanaka Reader (Tufts Cummings School), Stephanie Heilman (Ohio State University), Kendra Creighton (University of Michigan at Ann Arbor) and Richard Boisvert (University of Calgary, Canada). Each winner received $2,500 from the $10,000 program.

Read more articles by Ruthie Bently

tiny gems from tanya bond

copyright tanya bond, reproduced with artist's kind permission

This buttery, glowing oil pastel is the work of Irish artist Tanya Bond. She has created a sizable body of work, much of which portrays animals both everyday and more fanciful (her charming and funny Paddy the Rat is a great example of the latter). Now, as you get lost in those green eyes and that oh so soft fur, I want you to know that this work is in truth a tiny 2.5" x 3.5" ACEO (Art Card Originals & Edition). To execute that level of depth and detail in such a space - I find that masterful.

Bond often works in such a size, as she says: "I'm a self-taught artist working in various media, primarily in oil pastels. Most of my paintings are tiny ACEOs - miniatures the size of a credit card which are quite tricky to paint, but the end result makes it worth the extra effort. When I paint animals I always intend to place them in some cosy or humourous surrounding, something that would put a smile on your face."

The intimate scale of these works lend themselves well to a happy little gift of an image, the sort of art that centuries before our own would tuck into a snuffbox or a locket to cheer a person in an ordinary moment. You can see many more of Tanya Bond's animals and her other selections if you'll head to her Etsy shop and to her blog, tanyabond.com, in which she often talks about good practical solutions for various art challenges.

Do Dogs Get Scared, and What Scares Them?

By Linda Cole

We think of our dogs as being fearless in their protection of us if an intruder were to ever enter our homes. Most dogs will protect their property, but dogs are like us when it comes to things they're afraid of. Dog behavior can be hard to figure out, but we can understand when dogs get scared, even though we don't know why some things scare them.

Thunder is a sound a lot of dogs and cats are scared of. I know a big boom certainly gets my attention. A normally happy dog can show different levels of dog aggression when they become nervous because of loud, sudden sounds. Some dogs have issues with separation anxiety or they may be afraid of another dog in the home or even a neighbor's dog. And sometimes the big bad scary thing is a cat that intimidates the dog.

Dogs get scared by things that are unfamiliar or confusing to them. Wild animals that wander into their yard can make a dog nervous. I've always enjoyed sitting outside at night with my dogs in their dog pen. One night about ten years ago, we had an expected visitor who scared all of my dogs so much it gave me goose bumps, and still does to this day. We were sitting outside on a beautiful night with the moon shining down on the freshly fallen snow. The town clock had chimed midnight and all was quiet. The dogs were wandering around the pen when suddenly they all huddled around me. None of them uttered a sound. I didn't think anything of it until I saw what scared them – a coyote had quietly stolen up on the other side of the pen and was watching us. He was a beautiful animal, but I quickly decided it was time to go inside. I still sit outside at night with my dogs, but I always bring a good flashlight and pay attention if they huddle around me suddenly.

Dogs get scared by all kinds of things we take for granted. Last winter a dog was found wandering around the parking lot of a local restaurant. When the manager couldn't find her owner, he asked if we'd take her. She'd apparently been lost for quite awhile and was extremely skinny. She's doing fine weight wise, but this dog is scared of going up and down stairs and going outside at night. When we started turning on the ceiling fan in the living room and kitchen, she'd sit in a corner never taking her eyes off that spinning monster above her. She doesn't like thunderstorms, sudden movements, loud noises, flashlights or all the little noises cats and animals make outside as they roam around in the dark. A breaking stick can send her tearing back inside with her tail between her legs. We can only guess what she went through as a lost dog. She is making good progress though, one scary thing at a time.

It can be challenging when dogs get scared. Some can become aggressive or develop behavioral problems related to whatever it is that scares them. Most dogs are happy, carefree pets who eagerly wait for us to return home and take them out for a game of catch or a walk. But we all have things that scare us, even though we may not admit it. If something scares a dog, they do remember it. I know the dogs I had at the time of our brief encounter with the coyote remembered the smell that scared them enough to huddle beside me. I don't know if I was supposed to protect them or if they were trying to protect me.

Dogs get scared of the vacuum cleaner roaring across the living room carpet, snakes hidden in tall grass, a trip to the vet, and getting their toenails clipped. Some dogs get scared riding in a car, being yelled at, and being around unfamiliar dogs or people. Fear is a normal response to something that isn't understood and there's a difference between a fearful dog and one who is scared by something that confused him and caused his reaction. However, dog aggression can result from both. For most dogs who get scared, once whatever it was that scared them is gone, they will return to normal.

Most of the time when dogs get scared, their fear will pass, but it's up to us as responsible pet owners to recognize if it’s nothing to worry about or if it's something we need to help them understand.

Read more articles by Linda Cole

The Flying Houndz Frizbee Trick Dog Show

By Julia Williams

It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Jeff Wright’s Flying Houndz, a team of six talented canine athletes who excel at what they do. On the surface, one might describe this as “performing dozens of different tricks with flying discs.” But what these dogs really do is amaze, thrill and delight audiences nationwide.

These extraordinary canines are powered by CANIDAE dog food, and they’re part of the company’s Sponsored Dog Program. CANIDAE accepts only the very best canine athletes for sponsorship, and the Flying Houndz are a perfect example of how premium dog food can contribute to athletic excellence.

Sadie, Sampson, Vegas, Ace, Tango and Turk leap, flip, vault, dance and spin. They perform high-flying acrobatic feats and catch flying discs with remarkable ease. The professionally trained canines perform before crowds of every size, from as small as a few hundred to as large as 25,000. Fairs and festivals, pet expos, sporting events and schools are just a few of the places the Flying Houndz have entertained spectators with their exciting show. Depending on the venue, their show lasts anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes.

The newest member of the Flying Houndz pack is Gizmo, a 3 month old male Border Collie who Jeff says is “very smart and learning quickly.” Gizmo began playing with the Frisbees in his very first week with the family, so it seems certain he will be a great addition to the show when he makes his debut in 2011.

Like many pet owners, Jeff and Misty Wright consider their dogs to be an integral part of their family, their “canine kids” if you will. These dogs are not used solely for the purpose of entertainment. Above all, they are loved and appreciated for the unique beings they are and for what they bring to the family. The Wrights have adopted most of their dogs from shelters and rescue organizations, and are grateful to have each one in their family, regardless of what they can contribute to the show.

Some of the dogs, like Sadie who is considered the “star” of the show, utterly adore their time in the spotlight and can’t get enough of it. Others were rescued from sad situations such as being raised in a puppy mill or found as a frightened stray, and they’re still a little timid about performing. Jeff takes baby steps with these dogs and makes sure they only do what is comfortable for them at the time. Their well-being and health are always a top priority.

As responsible pet owners, the Wrights nurture their dogs emotionally, and rely on CANIDAE All Natural Dog Food to keep them healthy and fit. Because these dogs are serious athletes, Jeff has done a great deal of research to determine their nutritional needs. He believes it’s vital to learn as much as possible about the food he feeds his dogs to ensure they not only perform to the best of their ability in the shows, but live long and healthy lives as cherished members of the family.

“When competing and performing, my dogs are always at their best on CANIDAE. The choice of ingredients is superior to any on the market and is a perfect fit for the needs of my dogs. Believe me, we have tried many of the top dog foods and none have shown the results that CANIDAE has. My dogs not only maintain their energy throughout the day, but they are happy, have beautiful coats, and are gleaming with good nutrition inside and out.”

Jeff has been performing with his dogs for about four years, and it’s clear to me (and to the audience) that this is truly a labor of love. The focus of every show is to share the special bond he has with these amazing canine stars, while having lots of fun and entertaining all ages.

Jeff says he’s “loved dogs since I could walk,” and like many youth, he played with Frisbees. So naturally, he began throwing the flying discs just for fun with his first Border Collie Sadie. This led to his discovery of disc dog competitions. Jeff and Sadie entered one, and placed third at their very first event which was a world championship with top teams from around the world!

This competition also had a canine freestyle disc event. The incredible talent Jeff saw that day inspired him to go home and immediately start practicing some tricks with Sadie. And as the old saying goes, the rest is history.

Says Jeff, “Spending time with my dogs this way is so rewarding. Learning together and particularly watching my dogs grow and overcome new challenges in training is very inspirational.” He’s also pleased to be able to bring smiles to the faces of young and old alike. One touching memory also makes him smile. It was the day an elderly lady asked to have a picture taken with one of the dogs. She didn’t have email and didn’t even know how to use a computer, so she asked Jeff if he’d mail it to her for Christmas. Jeff was delighted to print out and mail the picture to such a special fan!

When pressed to share some of his dog training secrets, Jeff says that “the key to successful dogs that are happy with life is to first train the best classic trick of all—the dog kiss! All of my dogs are trained to give big kisses! There’s nothing like watching parents take a picture of their child with my dog giving them a big kiss after a show!”

Read more articles by Julia Williams

The Joys of Owning a Giant Breed Dog

By Suzanne Alicie

There are benefits to having a small “pocket dog” you can carry around everywhere, and some people prefer smaller breeds. But for some of us, there’s just nothing like a big pushy lovable dog. Think of the Saint Bernard in the Beethoven movies. Sure, he was like a bull in a china shop and drooled a lot, but that sweet face and undying loyalty made him a scene stealer.

What actually qualifies a dog as a giant breed? There is no set weight or height requirement, however most people in the dog world consider a dog that weighs more than 100 pounds to be a giant breed. Simply put, giant breeds live up to the name. They are taller, longer, and heavier than most other dog breeds.

Because of their size you can imagine that a giant breed dog probably also needs a giant food dish! You are right; one of the hardest things about having a giant breed dog is realizing how much you will have to spend on dog food. Essentially, a single Great Dane may eat as much each day as two American bulldogs.

The expense of having a giant breed dog is one reason many owners have to give them up. Larger beds, larger collars and larger toys, as well as grooming and kennel fees are all more expensive than the same thing for a smaller breed of dog. The same goes for medications – because prescription dosages are based on the weight of the dog, you will have to give a giant breed dog a lot more of the medication than you would a smaller dog.

Giant breed dogs often have a shorter life span than other dogs, many times living as few as 6 years, with an older dog being 10 years old. They are also susceptible to more health problems with joints and bone diseases. While this may sound like a lot of issues to overcome just to raise a giant breed dog, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks.

Giant breed dogs tend to be mellow and relaxed adult dogs, of course an extra large puppy means you will have to make sure he is trained well and allowed plenty of exercise and room to explore and grow. Once a giant breed dog is fully grown they actually require less exercise than smaller dogs and if trained well can be quite happy even in an apartment.

Surely you’ve heard of the fictional giant breed Clifford the Big Red Dog. Clifford is loyal and very protective of his human, Emily. He follows her about and keeps an eye on her. This is what you can expect from a real life giant breed dog – loyalty, love and unwavering attention.

Simply put, there are pros and cons to every breed of dog and every size of dog. If you are considering a giant breed dog, make sure you can afford the greater expense, and can spare the extra time to train and attend to your pet. Once you make the decision, use a reputable breeder or look for a giant breed rescue to obtain a wonderful, loving, and very large dog.

Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie

elizabeth is a card

I can't help but do a little bragging - slash - promoting this morning: Artist friend Heather has made a series of handmade, lino cut print cards in honor of the Museum! Here's Elizabeth for your correspondence pleasure. At Heather's Etsy store you'll see a few more of our favorite biteface, plus a lovely card series based on E's first dog friend Chloe.
I wish I could make wonderful things with my hands like Heather can. I helped design them, but I'm not very good at making.

Eva Angelina soaps up before a threesome - 31 min