TulsaPets Magazine July 2023

20 TulsaPets • July / August 2023 VETS ARE FIRST-LINE RESPONDERS Veterinary medicine is often perhaps thought of as dogs and cats, horses and cows, and any number of animals. While private prac- tice seems to be the best-known aspect of veterinary medicine, there are numerous career paths. Medical device and pharma- ceutical companies use veterinarians in product development and technical support to other veterinarians. Corporate practices often have greater opportunities for leadership, development, and strategy. The U. S. Army is the armed services branch responsible for all animals, food safety, and disease surveillance for the entire Department of Defense, where veterinarians oversee those duties as commissioned officers. Almost any specialty found in human medicine has a coun- terpart in veterinary medicine. Academia and research can be rewarding careers. The U. S. Public Health Service, including the office of the U. S. Surgeon General, provides services throughout the nation. Some veterinarians become entrepreneurs in veterinary medicine–related services and products. The U. S. Department of Agriculture and each state uses veterinarians for various reasons. Veterinarians are part of collaborative and comparative research in biomedicine, zoonotic diseases, gene therapy, and more. Over 20 years ago, a small meeting in Washington, D. C., created the “One Health” concept, where veterinarians and our human health counterparts share information as it applies across species. The knowledge of viruses like Feline Leukemia Virus was the foundation in the study of HIV. Orthopedic surgical procedures have been invented by veterinarians to then be adopted by human surgeons. Your pet’s primary-care veterinarian is the first-line responder to your pet’s health and a vital component of public health. What most people see at their veterinarian’s office is just a glimpse of the opportunities in veterinary medicine. TULSA VETS THIS IS AN AMAZING TIME TO BE A VETERINARIAN! I was the kid who always was bringing home crows and crawdads growing up. Loving animals, being able to show and train horses, dogs, cats, and birds and develop quality relationships with owners have been a focus in my life. I have prac- ticed veterinary medicine for 45 years and it has been so rewarding to be in so many areas working with a full gamut of animal and youth care. There have been amazing changes on how we approach the care of animals. Twenty years ago fewer than 10 percent of people did preanesthetic blood work; now we are having over 90-plus percent com- pliance just as in the human models. It is so important to know the condition of the animals you care for prior to the surgery or status condition that you are treating for. The explosion of knowledge is amazing and then there is always Dr. Google! The pandemic created tighter bonds with owner/pet trends. The trends are to have more four-legged than two-legged kids. You are only limited by yourself as to the quality and rewards shared when practicing vet medicine. From the thrill of high-pressure ER to a more laid-back small-town practice and everything in between keeps this a NUMBER ONE pro- fession to be in! Any human specialty can also be found in veterinary medicine and surgery without all the bureaucracy. Work- ing with Tulsa State Fair Ringmasters, 4H, FFA Youth, the OVMA Birthing Center, and collegiate polo groups and so many other animal bond groups has given back far more rewards and personal relation- ships than I ever thought would happen. Tulsa is a big city but a very small town, and I love giving back to this community! There will be a shortage of quality grad- uating veterinarians for quite a while as the demand continues to surpass our ability to produce. Many states including Oklahoma have special scholarships to pay for DVMs and especially those working in the rural areas of practice where there are the largest shortages. Over 50 corporate groups also have bonus incentives and pay for some indentured time to work for them as well. The trend also is a profession that has over a 60 percent female base. Veterinary practices often are much more flexible with the working hours and allowing 20- to 40-hour weeks so that many young fam- ilies can spend more time in the family’s developing years. I love it more today than at any other time prior! I chose a high-level quality practice with an emphasis on surgery and exotics. Your pathway can be anything from veterinary assistant to a full-fledged surgeon and practice owner. This is a truly rewarding profession on so many levels! Dan G. Danner, DVM, BS Danner Veterinary Hospital Russell Donathan, DVM Crestwood Crossing Animal Hospital