I was driving to work yesterday morning, feeling COMPLETELY miserable. Flu-like symptoms, my body ached like it had been beaten and rolled down a hill. I was freezing, then two seconds later, sweating. My head was pounding and I had a very painful baseball sized lymph node under my right armpit. Don’t worry, though, I wasn’t going to spread a horrible sickness among co-workers (this time), but instead, I had gotten vaccinated two days prior – my third COVID-19 vaccine (a booster) and it hit me like a truck. I kept thinking to myself “Ugh! I just want to go home. This is going to be a long day. I can’t call in sick though because I already have a completely full schedule and can’t just leave my co-workers to take all of my cases.” Such is the life of a vet. Don’t worry, there’s awesome parts too (just not in this blog).
Training to be a vet is sort of like boot camp for a marine (but not at all the same). Once you enter vet school, they start the mental and physical conditioning. Not only is there no rest for the weary, but if you’re weary, there’s extra work. They start with a grueling schedule of 8 hours of advanced science/medicine classes per day – 8am-5pm, then expect you to go home and review the material (they approximate an hour per hour of class). Then, the testing starts. This means studying night after late night into the early morning, internally debating whether more review or sleep will be better for you (psst! Get the sleep). One professor described the onslaught of information vs retention as throwing a giant pile of horse crap at a wall and hoping some of it sticks.
After three and a half years of dragging your brain across a cactus field, the clinical rotations start. Vet school clinicians (drill sergeants) are notoriously miserable themselves, and therefore, feel the need to make sure everyone else is also miserable. I can’t blame them, necessarily, they are dealing with the hardest cases (most animals don’t come to the vet school unless there’s a super complicated issue that a general practitioner can’t deal with), they are doing it on very little income, and they are having to “babysit” over eager students who, despite having studied for 3.5 years, don’t know squat. **side note: some of the senior clinician are absolute SAINTS – made to teach AND a master of their field. And some are literally trying to drag you down to hell with their miserable selves – none shall be pictured.**
While a student, you are expected not to complain about not sleeping because someone always has to comment how they’ve been up for 32 hours straight (to which I guess you are supposed to bow down to that person?). You are expected not to complain about being hungry – you may, I don’t know, end up eating some horse or dog food because you are so hungry and it doesn’t look too bad when you’re holding a horse for the 90th hour and haven’t been allowed to move. You are not to use the bathroom while people are around – thou shalt not flaunt your excessive time allotment by urinating when others cannot.
You are expected to show up NO MATTER WHAT is going on. Snow storm? In Georgia, where snow plows are a thing of fairy tales? Better start hiking or you won’t hear the end of it when you finally manage to drag yourself (and wreckage of a car) into the hospital. Have the flu? Might as well resign vet school before calling in. I mean, technically, they’ll have to allow you to stay home, but you may be excommunicated for showing an ounce of self care. Also, you’d be so much cooler if you just took some ibuprofen and pushed on. Vomiting? Just bring a bucket and you can empty it during your bathroom breaks which don’t exist. Pregnant? Just get out. (There were actually a few classmates who were brave enough to have kids during vet school and they are all amazing women and vets to this day).
You made it to graduation, yay!! You somehow also survived the SIX HOUR test you have to take to apply for a license. Some will go on to start their career, while some will choose to get internships with the idea that this will ease them better into the work field (because when you graduate, despite the physical and mental torture and water boarding of information, you still know nothing, but are happy to be alive). Some internships are AMAZING (I’ve been told), but some are just a way to get you to do the crap work, while getting crapped on (pun intended), further breaking you down (because now it’s about breaking your soul) all with the exciting wage of $25,000/year – with the ($100K+ with 6-12% interest) student loans lapping at your heels.
You can then, enter a residency if you choose to be specialized in a certain discipline (surgery, medicine, oncology, ophthalmology, etc) – typically you will need to be at the top of your class (I was NOT) and even more into self torture than most. This option is three years of more intensity than anything previously experienced, with, again, little pay – but from what I’ve heard, you won’t need the money anyway – sleep at the hospital, never eat, etc.
Finally, it’s time to start your career. Due to the mental, physical, and spiritual beating you have endured, you’re perfectly happy and, in fact, eternally grateful for your first job offer. $42,000/yr? YES!! That’s almost twice as much as you were making as an intern, living on literal beans and rice!! You’re going to be rich!! (you might even be able to add some CHEESE to your beans and rice). From here, it may be a good 2-3 years before you don’t think you’ve made a huge mistake and that you’re a failure and imposter, and then 7-10 years before you realize your worth – as a vet, but mostly as a person.
So, now, you’re finally comfortable in your own skin, you work hard, contribute your all, but also expect respect from your boss, co-workers, and, especially, clients. Finally, it’s time to start realizing what there is to love about veterinary medicine. *See next blog*
For awhile in high school I considered going to get school. I joined the military instead. After reading this I definitely made the right choice. Would have ended up a vet school washout.
Vet school not get.
Vet school not get.
OMG, Dr. Emily, the bladder stone. Yikes! Glad that your horse was okay after that.
Great post as usual. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say about the good stuff that’s happened during your career.
I love this blog. You explain so much into becoming a Veterinarian. You are a fantastic on at that. You have shared your family, your cases which you have had before. I really look forward to continuing reading your future blogs. Thank you.❤💙
Great blog, can’t wait for next post!! Thanks so much. Funny as usual!!
I love these posts! You are always so down to earth and real.
Sounds like that was the perfect training for working at Pol Vet! I feel so bad for not realizing how exhausted you were. When I watch the reruns now, I can see it clearly on your face and in your posture. I hope you have an easier time of it now. Although you are an incredible vet and I miss seeing you treat your patients, hopefully, you can get some rest now and then, and can eat something other than beans and rice!
It took me a minute to find the wild hog. I thought you had mixed up the photos (if not the species)
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
You are well loved Dr. Emily, just as our current vet and each one we have had when we moved. I am in awe of each of you. Thank you!
Would you be willing to share which Vaccine you went with in a private E-mail if you don’t want to reply here? Pfizer? Moderna? Johnson & Johnson? I saw a video on Rumble where a pathologist working at the Mayo Clinic explained that the first two shots would go OK but the third one would flatten you for about two weeks and the fourth would kill most people. I’ve talked with people from work and they confirmed that their first booster shot flattened them for two weeks. They will NOT be getting any more vaccine shots. I also talked to two people today who said they got their third shot yesterday and they felt fine. Just trying to sort this out. I’ve had COVID at least twice and it definitely is dangerous. But which is more dangerous…COVID or the vaccine?
I got Pfizer. I haven’t heard of anyone being flattened for 2 weeks, Tony had zero reaction and me and a friend were only down and out for 2-3 days. My friend had COVID infection and a year later everything still smells rotten to her, so I’ll take the 2-3 days of crap feeling especially if you can just take some ibuprofen and get back to yourself. I cannot take ibuprofen because my stomach tries to die.
Ron, I agree with jinj88.. I had Pfizer shot x3. No problems. My brother had Moderna also no problems. If you have questions talk to your Doctor,Nurse or Health Department. Covid is far worse than the Vaccine. Covid can be deadly especially if you have other problems like heart disease, cancer, diabetes, overweight, or smoke. Please get your vaccine.
Good article on what it takes to be a DVM . Looking forward to blog #2. Congratulations on you’re degree.
I know your fans and most of all your patients are glad that you were able to endure and morph into the wonderful vet that you have become. I hope at the end of most days you can say it was all worth it.
I miss you on The Incredible Dr. Pol. You had the most interesting cases. The horse who broke his leg was very moving. The owner said she knows you would have saved him if you could. Very moving. Winston, of course. The emergency cases were moving. Dr. Ray has left Dr. Pol for family situation. You added so much to that show. I know the practice you are in now is very busy because my son could not get an appointment for his new puppy. I hope you are enjoying Virginia. This is one of the most beautiful times of the year. Spring is the other beautiful time. By the way, I am a Senior Citizen and I had zero reaction to the three Moderna shots I have received. One of my sons had bad reactions to the two he got, plus he had a 12 day fight with Covid last Dec. Crazy how it hits some people and not others.
Thanks for scaring the crap out of me! I am scheduled for the third Moderna shot on the 18th. Pray for me! At least I may have a good excuse for blowing off the gym on the 19th.
Mine was the Pfizer and Tony got it at the same time as me and he had zero side effects.
Hello Emily and family. so happy to go into my emails a while ago and there was your post.. i thoroughly enjoyed it, although i can only imagine how difficult it was to go through vet school.. sleepless nights and all that hard work and studying.. but i am sure it was all worth it.. i watch the show and i am always happy when i see you, and i am sure you know by now that you are missed so much.. i hope you feel better soon. i am due to get my booster in December and i am a little nervous, but would much rather be sick for a few days than to get Covid… take care of yourself and your beautiful family.. looking forward to your next post…
You are definitely a special person and caring.
You are a trooper and special person. Large animaI practice is grueling and you have my respect. I grew up on a farm and was more interested and had more aptitude for the machinery. I got a mechanical engineering degree worked in tractor design.
My advice stop getting the vaccine. Thanks for you posts!
My advice. Stop getting the vaccine. Thanks for your posts!
Dr. Emily, it’s still great to see you once in a while on Dr. Pol’s show. You are the best and am so sorry about your bad reaction to the booster. My wife and I both got Moderna boosters and had no reactions at all. As we all know so well…everyone is different. Waiting anxiously for ‘the rest of the story.’
Your post hits home. I spent one year in vet school and then was tapped on the shoulder by the draft board. I opted to get my service time behind me and then resume vet school. Getting out of the army in mid-winter I had to wait til September to resume matriculating so I took a job working with horses 🐎 (hunters, jumpers, TBs) and then spending forty years as a racing official.
Now, at 88, I’m happily retired, but…BUT, I still have regrets about not returning to vet school .
One other thing, my dear young lady…..having watched you perform over the years I’m not buying your remark about not being at the top of your class.
Sadly, I’ll probably never have the opportunity to meet you, but I will always remain so extremely proud of you as a person, a vet, a wife and a mother.
May the Lord give you His Peace ☮️
I’m am proud of you-being a Georgia belle and all, being a nationally famous vet notwithstanding. Pol vet’s is just not the same. JLB in Gwinnett County
I’m am proud of you-being a Georgia belle and all, being a nationally famous vet notwithstanding. Pol vet’s is just not the same. JLB in Gwinnett County
And, contrary to this site I “ain’t” said this before.
I hope you are feeling better. I was sick and fevered a full ten days after my third shot. I will not be getting a fourth.
3 Pfizer shots and 0 reactions. Having a mild 2 or 3 reaction is certainly better than getting Covid. GO SCIENCE!
Great blog! I have enjoyed every one and look forward to the next one. Btw I had the third shot of Moderna two weeks ago. Sore arm only.
Doc. I always enjoy your Blogs. Great to see you on the Pol re-runs. Tony is a very lucky man. Looking forward to your next installment.
Hope you have enjoyable and uninterrupted Thanksgiving.
Best regards.
A dedicated woman to make it through all that “punishment” and still be sane.
I totally get that Med schools are exactly as you described. What I don’t under stand is why. It seems that graduating well trained vets and MDs could be accomplished without torturing them and making their lives miserable during the process. The I went through and show should you kind of mentality has not been proven to be and effective method of joining a group any more than hazing pledges in fraternities..
Thanks for the blog. You have a gift for writing and a loveable personality! Best wishes for wonderful holidays!
Unless I missed it you forgot to say only people with photographic memory should attempt to be a vet because they have to memorize everything about too many species in stead of just a regular MD memorizing a mere human with two little changes.