Dr. Chris Bern
21 Years Experience
Cartersville, GA
Male, 49
I have been a practicing veterinarian since 1997, but have been in and around the profession since 1984. I am a general practitioner and see most pet species, from dogs and cats to parrots and snakes. In my job I do everything from routine vaccinations to complex surgeries and difficult medical cases. Becoming a vet takes hard work and dedication but can be very rewarding.
You don't have to like math, but you do have to be good at basic algebra. Personally, I don't like the subject. But I have to calculate drug dosages, fluid rates, and similar things multiple times every day. If I get them wrong I could severely under- or overdose a patient.
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It is possible to sedate a dog for a nail trim, and I've done this many times. However, the cost can vary a bit in different areas of the country and depending on what medications are used. Ask your local vet about this.
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Great questions!
First on vaccines....Since I started practicing back in the late '90s the attitude around vaccines has changed quite a bit, as has the science behind them. What we use in the 2010s are not the same as what we used 20 years ago. Vaccines are safer and more effective, with longer accepted duration of immunity (for many of them). Most vets have also gone to more of an approach of looking at the lifestyle risks of pets in determining which vaccines are needed. Do we over-vaccinate? Personally I don't think so. However, we do need to be judicious as to which ones we give. One of the reasons why pets live longer, healthier lives is because of preventative vaccination. If we stop using this important health tool we'll start seeing greater epidemics of disease. Simply put, vaccines save lives. Don't believe me? Talk to my many clients who failed to get their dog vaccinated for parvo and watched them die.
Heartworm preventative is ABSOLUTELY essential! The medicines we give are not toxic to the dogs, and this is a 100% preventable disease. At my location alone we've had 10 dogs test positive in the first 7 months of this year alone. I've treated far too many dogs for heartworms over my career and there is no reason for this. Heartworms are deadly, extremely expensive to treat, and completely preventable.
I realize that it's easy to look at a healthy pet and wonder if vaccines and heartworm prevention are worth it. But spend some time around dogs who have died of preventable diseases and you'll change your mind.
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This is always a tough situation. Veterinary clinics operate on a very small profit margin, so believe me when I say that most vets aren't wealthy and are happy to make ends meet. Because of this vets can't really afford to treat pets who come through the door with no method of payment. A vet who does this frequently will go out of business quickly (and it's happened many times). When a vet expects payment, it's simply because they have many bills to pay, not because they are "money hungry".
There are several options for clients with money difficulties. Pretty much every vet accepts credit cards, and many also accept Care Credit. Some vets may have an emergency fund filled by donations from other clients, but it's rare to have that set up. We will sometimes see if people can borrow money from friends and family. Some shelters and rescue organizations can help out in treating pets for people who are genuinely in need.
But the situation inevitably comes up that a client doesn't have money or credit, yet the pet needs treatment. Remember that the responsibility for care is on the pet owner, not the vet. The person who accepted that pet into their family is the one who is supposed to provide care for the pet, not the doctor. We as vets provide a professional service and it's only fair to pay us for the time and facilities that we have invested. In these cases we often refuse treatment. Or we may do minimal care such as placing a bandage and sending home antibiotics, even if we don't think these are sufficient. We try to help out as much as we can without putting our livelihoods in danger.
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Nurse Practitioner
Could a nurse practitioner do the job of a primary care physician?
Farmer
Do friends with office jobs look down on what you do?
Sr. Software Engineer
Is it basically impossible for a skilled programmer to be out of work these days?
Honestly, I'd have to see her in person to make a specific recommendation. From the photos it looks like the damage is pretty extensive, and may not be repairable. If so, it would likely need to be done by a surgical specialist, and I would estimate easily in the $1000-2000 range. But you should talk to a local vet who can examine her.
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I've always been fascinated by animals and science and loved watching nature shows growing up. For me it was just a natural progression from an interest in biology to wanting to help the animals. That interest started very young, and I just made the decision that I would become a vet. It was such a strong desire that I never stopped trying for it.
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Most veterinary schools require specific courses, but not a specific degree. I've known people who get into a veterinary college without a Bachelor's degree, but they have all of the required classes. Each school differs slightly in their entrance requirements, so check out a few of the schools to which you might apply and see what they require.
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