How do people afford this?

[igorsMistress]

@Molpet That's too bad. It's good they still get out though. Darn coyotes
I've noticed my birds are eating more now that the grass is mostly brown and the bugs aren't so plentiful.
I haven't kept track on the change in cost since I added a few chicks so I won't know for sure how much any meat might cost this time, but going to track it if we have anyone go broody in spring. Thanks for the link, I'm going to read that article now

 

[aart]

I would get my vet degree and work in a poultry house with populations, but it just doesn't seem realistic. But it would break my family's hearts.

Why is that? They should want you to do what will make you happy......tho you do still have to be able to pay your bills
My daughter wanted to be a vet, top grades all thru school, too easily I guess as she never learned to study and organic chemistry kicked her butt sophomore year. She wanted to totally drop out, but the money had been set aside so I told her she had to finish, I don't care what kind of degree you get or what you do for work/career as long as you can pay your bills. And she has, finally proud she persevered thru the college thing, it taught her lessons that had nothing to do with the degree.

I would love for one day when someone asks me what I did for a living to be able to say, I am a veterinarian. I would be so proud of myself, but its just a word. The average person does not know what it truly means to be one.

Vet love animals but having to deal with people is the hard part...course that often the hard part of any job. Haha!

 

[BantyChooks]

Vet love animals but having to deal with people is the hard part...course that often the hard part of any job. Haha!

Agree. I've heard too many horror stories to count, from vets AND ex-vets.

 

[pitbullmomma]

I would love for one day when someone asks me what I did for a living to be able to say, I am a veterinarian. I would be so proud of myself, but its just a word. The average person does not know what it truly means to be one.

Agree. I've heard too many horror stories to count, from vets AND ex-vets.

Wow, I'm glad you guys kicked in. I'll admit, I was very hesitant to post my story, for fear of being judged, being called a Debbie Downer, or getting nasty feedback. I almost deleted my post. People think, "if you love animals you should become a vet" if you are somewhat smart, and you have the passion for saving and loving small critters that most of on this forum have, and they have no idea of the reality of what it takes to become a vet, and then actually be in the field.

I have so many horror stories. And of course, the good stories. But yes, more nights than I can count I was at the clinic till 11 or 12 at night, charting. Doubting myself and my decisions. Dealing with angry people, ignorant people, and cases like hairy dogs in the summer with diarrhea with maggots packed in their vulvas and anuses, having to put them down because their owners didn't want to deal with it. Dealing with stress and depression (that many, many of us in the profession have, unfortunately, and which is exacerbated by the demands of the job), constantly being compared against the more brilliant/younger/better surgeons/ healthier colleagues with more stamina and less personal-life demands. The list goes on.

Yes. I can say I am a doctor. I used to proudly declare that I was a veterinarian. But the cost to my personal life, physical and mental health? Not worth it. My mom used to brag about her daughter the vet. But this daughter was an unhappy, mental wreck of a human with nonstop stress and anxiety issues during her short career.

I was happier as a waitress, as a bartender, as the school nurse I am now, than I ever was as a vet. You can love animals and care for them and NOT have to be a vet, lol.

I have no regrets in life. I like to think life is a big learning experience, that there are no mistakes, it is all part of your path. HOWEVER--if I could redo it? The one thing I would take back is the 2 years of pre-vet, the 4 years of vet school which is beyond horrible, and the years of practice where I was the most mentally unhealthy and desperately unhappy I ever was in my entire life. Just so I could say I finally followed my dream, and was a vet, and was and am a doctor. Not worth it.

Your mileage may vary. Like I said, everyone's path is different. But I caution people considering this profession to talk to as many (honest) different vets as they can, find out how their personal lives balance out, outside of work, and try to get the full picture.

As I tell people, it ain't all Animal Planet.

 

[igorsMistress]

@Molpet the info in that link is fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing. I found the taste test very interesting. I might mix up the flock some more and try a couple listed to see if we like the taste.

 

[pitbullmomma]

Thank you so much for saying this. It seems as though everyone automatically assumes that if you love animals and you want a good job and education you go to vet school. No creativity. I've interned with several vets and have seen first hand that all they do is stay at work and deal with the same crap all the time. They sit on their computers tying up reports, check to see if the tech cleaned the ears on the tenth dog of the day correctly, and deal with cheap and irresponsible owners. I saw a woman walk out on her dying hamster so she wouldn't have to pay for it to be put to sleep. I also heard one vet on the phone with a customer begging for medicine. I've even see a vet tech make a 2nd year vet graduate cry because she didn't give a shot correctly. I thought I would do something different. I would get my vet degree and work in a poultry house with populations, but it just doesn't seem realistic. But it would break my family's hearts.

And thank you for not taking what I wrote the wrong way. I am a strong believer of "follow your dreams." But now--after what I went through--I am also a strong believer of "know what you are getting into." Everything you wrote above, there? Seen it, done it.

There are SO many horror stories, that people don't know. Among the saddest are the stories of vets that have suicided, that have hooked themselves up to an IV of Fatal Plus and done away with themselves, because of all the pressure and stress and expectations and heartbreak of this job. Look up Sophia Yin. Do a google search of vets and suicide, I believe it's the second highest rate of all professions. Why? The compassionate nature of the people who get into this profession get swallowed up by the ugliness that comes along with it.

You have to do what is right for YOU. Your family--if they are truly loving and supportive--will get over it, and be happy that you are doing whatever you love, and whatever allows you to live a happy, healthy, balanced, and sane life, whatever is is you choose to do. And if not? They will get over it. Trust me. Hearts don't really break, but they do stop, eventually. And once they do, you can't get your life back. SO you have to live it in the way that makes you happy. Whatever that means to you.

 

[pitbullmomma]

Thank you so much for saying this. It seems as though everyone automatically assumes that if you love animals and you want a good job and education you go to vet school. No creativity. I've interned with several vets and have seen first hand that all they do is stay at work and deal with the same crap all the time. They sit on their computers tying up reports, check to see if the tech cleaned the ears on the tenth dog of the day correctly, and deal with cheap and irresponsible owners. I saw a woman walk out on her dying hamster so she wouldn't have to pay for it to be put to sleep. I also heard one vet on the phone with a customer begging for medicine. I've even see a vet tech make a 2nd year vet graduate cry because she didn't give a shot correctly. I thought I would do something different. I would get my vet degree and work in a poultry house with populations, but it just doesn't seem realistic. But it would break my family's hearts.

And thank you for not taking what I wrote the wrong way. I am a strong believer of "follow your dreams." But now--after what I went through--I am also a strong believer of "know what you are getting into." Everything you wrote above, there? Seen it, done it.

There are SO many horror stories, that people don't know. Among the saddest are the stories of vets that have suicided, that have hooked themselves up to an IV of Fatal Plus and done away with themselves, because of all the pressure and stress and expectations and heartbreak of this job. Look up Sophia Yin. Do a google search of vets and suicide, I believe it's the second highest rate of all professions. Why? The compassionate nature of the people who get into this profession get swallowed up by the ugliness that comes along with it.

You have to do what is right for YOU. Your family--if they are truly loving and supportive--will get over it, and be happy that you are doing whatever you love, and whatever allows you to live a happy, healthy, balanced, and sane life, whatever is is you choose to do. And if not? They will get over it. Trust me. Hearts don't really break, but they do stop, eventually. And once they do, you can't get your life back. SO you have to live it in the way that makes you happy. Whatever that means to you.

 

[song of joy]

I would love for one day when someone asks me what I did for a living to be able to say, I am a veterinarian. I would be so proud of myself, but its just a word. The average person does not know what it truly means to be one.

Beware of defining your worth by what you do, rather than by who you are. Jobs, careers, titles, and possessions come and go, but you are always of great worth in God's sight. Make sure you have a true picture of who you are and why you are here. Many will try to define you and your purpose, but who is most qualified to do so?

 

[pitbullmomma]

Do a google search of vets and suicide, I believe it's the second highest rate of all professions. Why? The compassionate nature of the people who get into this profession get swallowed up by the ugliness that comes along with it.

Wow, I just took my own advice and did a Google search, and this was one of the first studies that popped up. So I stand corrected! This makes me feel a tiny bit better about my decision to leave the field....
Suicide in veterinary medicine: Let’s talk about it
Debbie L. Stoewen
Author information ► Copyright and License information ►


Several studies have identified a link between suicide and occupation (1), including the healthcare professions and our own profession. The rate of suicide in the veterinary profession has been pegged as close to twice that of the dental profession, more than twice that of the medical profession (2), and 4 times the rate in the general population (3).

 

[aart]

@pitbullmomma I wonder of large animal vets have a better time of it than those in a companion animal practice? Anthropomorphs often have no logic.