🐶 FIELD GUIDE 10: Animal instincts

Veterinary medicine “isn’t always just puppies and kittens”

When I was growing up, the things I wanted to do for a living changed all the time. My friend Brigette has always known what she wanted to do. This is her field guide to veterinary medicine.

Skyler

PS What do you think of the new name? ↙️

Name

Dr. Brigette Hoang Adams

Occupation

Veterinarian

Soundtrack

When Brigette and I were 14, we used to lay on her trampoline and count shooting stars while blasting Hootie & The Blowfish. Since she became a vet, she has treated a few hooties but no blowfish.

Habitat

Colorado; has occasionally been spotted in Savannah, GA, Czech Republic, Puerto Rico, Vietnam and Thailand.

History

In high school, Brigette thought she was going to train animals. “I even joined my high school swim team to prepare me for the intensive swimming requirements to become a whale trainer,“ she said. It wasn’t until her senior year of high school that she decided on veterinary medicine.

“My neighbor's son was married to a veterinarian and she allowed me to work at the hospital she owned. They were understaffed, (like most veterinary hospitals) so I got a lot of hands-on training within my two weeks' time. I loved working in the hospital so much that she hired me on as a kennel technician. I worked my way up to a veterinary technician (vet nurse) position throughout my undergrad.”

Brigette earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia.

Good facts

Veterinary medicine integrates humans, animals, and the environment to aid in disease control and prevention.

“In the veterinary oath, you pledge to be a life-long learner,” Brigette says, and by nature, she is up for any challenge with new information and evidence-based medicine.

There are many career paths within veterinary medicine. Brigette works in a small animal emergency and critical care hospital. There are also large animal facilities, facilities that specialize in exotic pets and animals, and practices for wildlife care and rehabilitation. Just like in human medicine, there is also cardiology, nutrition, oncology, and many other specialisms.

Typical days are unpredictable

“I don’t have appointments, and rarely know when an emergency is going to walk through the door. If I had my ideal day in the ER, it would be fast-paced, with kind clients, and some soft tissue surgery! Obviously, treating a cute puppy or kitten wouldn’t hurt!”

Unknown, important (and terrible) fact

Veterinary medicine has the highest suicide rate of any health profession. The work “isn’t always just puppies and kittens”. One in every six veterinary professionals has contemplated suicide. Brigette says there are many theories as to why.

“Veterinarians are extremely high-achieving people. We can’t always save or help every single patient, whether it is due to medical reasons, financial constraints, or other limitations. The weight of every patient can get really heavy. We have to find ways to clean our heads and separate work from home life.”

Brigette’s recommendations for pet people

At the vet’s, advocate for your pet’s health. Always ask questions.

Get pet insurance. “You never know when an accident might happen or a life-long condition may declare itself. No one wants to make sudden, life or death decisions based on financial limitations.”

Learn more

Not One More Vet provides support to all members of veterinary teams and students who are struggling or considering suicide.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has resources to help you learn proper pet care, first aid and how to partner with your vet to improve your pet’s quality of life.

Have the traveling bug, and want to get hands-on experience with animals abroad? Here are a whole bunch of wildlife sanctuaries and rehabilitation centers around the world offering volunteer programs lasting anywhere from 1 to 12 weeks.

If you’re staying close to home, there’s almost certainly an animal sanctuary near you that needs volunteers and money. Look them up!