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My Pet World: Preventive Vaccine Was Not Necessarily Risky

By Steve Dale, Tribune Media Services on

The Winn Feline Foundation has worked on solving HCM for many years. In fact, I set up the Ricky Fund at Winn devoted specifically to funding investigators studying this disease. Learn more at http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/RickyFund.html.

Q: I love your column. I'm about to enter college and am thinking of becoming a veterinarian. Any advice? Also, where do you think I can go to learn more about animal behavior? -- D.C., San Diego, CA

A: Chicago veterinarian Dr. Sheldon Rubin was in practice for 46 years and now speaks to veterinary students about the profession whenever asked, as a sort of veterinary ambassador. "Near your location, the closest veterinary school is at the University of California-Davis. I bet they offer an open house; most schools do," Rubin says. "Talk to professors and students."

"With summer break around the corner, try to find a job working with animals, particularly at a veterinary clinic," Rubin adds. "Not only will the experience be meaningful to you, but the experience will also be very helpful in the competitive task of getting into veterinary school."

Leadership and communication skills also impress those who determine who gets into vet school. Those same skills, of course, will serve you well in life. Grades are exceedingly important. There are typically more applicants each year than spaces available at the limited number of veterinary schools.

As for your interest in behavior, veterinarians have lots of opportunities to become boarded specialists in everything from neurology to cardiology and behavior. There are currently about 50 boarded veterinary behaviorists in the U.S. (www.dacvb.org). There are also certified applied animal behaviorists (Ph.D. behaviorists). The largest group is certified dog and cat behavior consultants (members of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, www.iaabc.org). I suggest you check out their website, find a consultant near you, and offer to "shadow" on behavior calls and/or teaching dog training classes. Students also sometimes work as "assistant dog trainers."

 

Consider reading both popular and more scientific books on animal behavior. I've just published two ebooks ("Good Dog!" and "Good Cat!"), both compilations of behavior questions posed in this column, available wherever ebooks are sold.

Learn more about becoming at veterinarian on this page (and others) produced by the American Veterinary Medical Association: http://www.avma.org/careers/VetSchoolAdmission101.asp. Check the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges website at www.aavmc.org.

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Steve Dale's NEW EBOOKS, "Good Dog!" and "Good Cat!", are available on all major eReader devices and platforms. The basic version of each book is $2.99. An enhanced version of "Good Dog!" with embedded videos is available at iTunes for $4.99. For details, check the "Good Dog!"Facebook page. Write to Steve at Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207. Send e-mail to PETWORLD(at)STEVE DALE.TV. Include your name, city and state. Steve's website is www.stevedalepetworld.com


(c) 2012 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.

 

 

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