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.
Many times! And by many different species! Here's a list just of the top of my head....dogs, cats, bearded dragon, snakes, parakeets, cockatiels, hamsters, guinea pigs, a horse, and probably others I can't think of right now. Thankfully most of those were minor, but I do have some scars on my hands and arms from the bad ones. We try to avoid these kinds of injuries, but at some point they are inevitable.
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Great question! And one that is often hotly debated even among veterinary specialists.
Let's start with the last part. Titer tests really aren't very valuable, and most immunologists that I've heard from don't advocate for them. The problem stems from the fact that we really don't know what a protective titer level is for pet diseases. And the titer level can vary from one lab to another. In one study samples from the same patient were sent to different labs, each lab giving a different result. If a titer is really high we can assume it's protective, and if it's really low we can assume that it isn't. But the middle values are a gray area and there is no consensus on what constitutes a protective level in these areas. Titers are also far more expensive than a vaccine, putting them out of reach for many pet owners.
So basically titers are expensive and unreliable in predicting whether or not a pet is protected against a disease.
How often for each vaccine? There is a lot of "it depends" in this answer. For example, we know that a rabies vaccine needs to be boostered one year after the first one. But after that it depends on which vaccine is used as well as local laws. Most rabies vaccines carry a 3 year duration of immunity after the first one, but states or local jurisdictions may require it to be given more frequently than that. We know that some manufacturers have proven a 3 year duration on vaccines for canine distemper and parvo virus, but not all have. We also know that bordetella and leptospirosis vaccines don't last more than a year, so they have to be given more frequently.
There is a lot of discussion over whether or not some vaccines may be protective for 7 years, 10 years, or longer. While some data suggests this may be the case, I haven't seen any conclusive proof of this and respected specialists still advocate for annual or tri-annual vaccines.
How does this come into my own practice? I believe in risk assessment for each pet. So an indoor-only cat doesn't need feline leukemia vaccination after kittenhood, and a dog doesn't need a lyme vaccine unless it lives in an endemic area or has a high risk lifestyle. I recommend re-vaccinating based on the manufacturer data and warranties, while choosing vaccines that have the longest duration of immunity.
Hopefully that answers your question, as there are many sides to this issue.
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Technically yes, but it would be very difficult and likely unnecessary. Currently in the US you attend 3-4 years of undergraduate college, then 4 years of veterinary college. To specialize you typically do an internship for 1 year, and then 3-5 years of specialty training. You would need to do this for each specialty, so if you wanted to be board-certified in both opthalmology and surgery you would be looking at around 10 years AFTER vet school to achieve this goal. During that time you would be making nearly nothing and pushing off your student loans even further, which wouldn't be a good idea financially. I know do know vets who have double certifications, but usually not in such different fields. For example, I know vets who are specialized in both internal medicine and nutrition. But most specialists focus on one field.
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I always loved animals and found science and nature shows fascinating. I wanted to pursue medicine but didn't have an interest in working with humans. I wanted to help animals who were sick and injured, and veterinary medicine was the way to go. As I got older, especially after college, I realized that I liked the human-animal bond and wanted to foster that as well.
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I treat all kinds of animals so it's kind of hard to say. But I really like dogs. Not all of them, because some are pretty bad and aggressive! I love the bond that people have with their dogs, as it's different than what we see with any other kind of pet.
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Most vets do have children and have an adequate family life. But it can be tough. Thankfully the times of working 60+ hour weeks are mostly over, and younger vets are looking for more work-life balance than previous generations. I typically work about 45 hours per week, though my days can sometimes be 10 or more hours, and I don't always leave on time every night. You will have to make some compromises and sacrifices, meaning you may not be there for every moment, game, recital, or other event. I have two children and don't feel like I've missed out on anything and am very involved in their activities. But there have been some times that I've missed things my kids were doing because of my work schedule. It can be tough to find the right balance, but it's not impossible. You'll need to really sit down and think about what is more important to you....being a vet or having open flexibility for your family. You won't always get both.
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The only actual degree you need is a veterinary doctorate. But most people get a Bachelor's degree (usually in Animal Science or Biology) before going to vet school. Outside of the US it may be different and I am only familiar with the US requirements.
The most important things about being a vet have nothing to do with your degree. You need to be compassionate while having an ability to distance yourself when you see death an injury daily. You need to be flexible and able to change mental directions at a moment's notice. You need to be a quick thinker with strong science skills. You need to be very resilient considering you're working long, hard hours for comparatively low pay. It's not easy!
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