herp vet

Lrptls · 02-06-04, 12:36 AM

is it possible to study and become a vet specificaly and only for herps?

Jeff Hathaway · 02-06-04, 08:19 AM

Well you can choose to be a vet specifically for herps (though you might have a hard time supporting a practice in most areas). In Canada you can't study just herps. In fact, very little study of herps is available at the DVM level. You have to learn all of the dog, cat, horse stuff to earn your degree. I suspect that it is similar in the US.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

snakehunter · 02-06-04, 08:55 AM

I too am looking into the Exotic vet area, in our location, im in NOVA, i think a herp vet might fair well, BUT there are alot of vets that do herps in my area, i dont know about MD. tthe vets i go to are Exotic vets, that focus on animals like ferrets, avians, and herps, animals a normal vet would know what to do with, although some cat/dog vets do have the training to do herp stuff, ask around in your area, and the vet practices localy.

rwg · 02-06-04, 11:11 AM

How much training is there to becoming a vet in general in Canada abyway?

rg

Jeff Hathaway · 02-06-04, 11:30 AM

From my experience at Guelph (home of OVC, one of three vet colleges in Canada), I believe it is:

One year minimum of university before applying to vet school. Many students don't get in at first and take 2,3 or 4 years before getting into vet college.
One year 'Pre-Vet'
Four more years (including an externship) until they graduate with a DVM.

I may be inaccurate though.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

Lrptls · 02-06-04, 12:52 PM

snakehunter, that sounds like something i would really like, being an exotic vet. It would probably be better than just a herp vet too, you get a variety. can you give me any more information about it? thanks