ALSAGER ANIMAL CARE CENTER

SO YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT A CAREER IN VETERINARY MEDICINE......

A lot of kids will say they want to be veterinarians when they grow up. They have a certain passion for animals and want to take care of them. As they grow, they still love animals and want to enter the veterinary field....or do they?

Veterinary Medicine is a very intriguing field. There are many jobs one can hold in veterinary medicine. You can be a veterinarian, a technician, a veterinary assistant, kennel help, or a receptionist. All of these fields are equally important. You must have a passion for animals, as well as their owners.

The veterinary business can be very rewarding. On the other hand, it is not always as fun as it seems. Over the years we have encountered many individuals who love animals, but when they get a look on the inside, it is not always what they expected. It's always fun to cuddle new puppies and kittens and to see that critically ill patient miraculously recover, but there is a down side, just like human medicine. Some patients do not get well, and it is heart wrenching. There is also euthanasia, which in all aspects is very humane, but can tear your heart out nonetheless. Did we mention there is also the lovely stench of diarrhea, anal glands, and other foreign odors you will encounter on a daily basis??

If you are really interested in veterinary medicine, there are several sites that can help you in your decision. A really good way to know if this is the field you would like to pursue, is to volunteer at a veterinary hospital or another animal organization.

Michigan State University offers a program called Vet-a-Visit. you can find out more about this program at http://cvmstudent.cvm.msu.edu. You can also learn more about the veterinarian or technician programs at MSU at http://cvm.msu.edu. There are other veterinary colleges around the nation, but MSU is Dr. Mark's alma mater, therefore it has to be mentioned. Go Spartans!

If you are interested in becoming a veterinary technician, there are several veterinary technician programs offered in Michigan. Wayne State University, Macomb Community College, and Baker College offer a 2 year veterinary technician program. Michigan State University offers a 2 and 4 year program for technicians, contact them at http://cvm.msu.edu.

Contacts:

Wayne State: Karen Hrapkiewicz, DVM 313-577-1156

Macomb: Ms. Francis 810-286-2096

Good Luck on your journey to an exciting career in veterinary medicine!