Specialist Training

I'm 17 (year 12) and want to be a vet, and if I graduate from uni I heard you can get specialist training to specialise, as I want to specialise in horses.

When you get special training do you stay at uni, or, do you begin to work with smaller animals at a surgery and get the training in free time?

Reply 1

xxnikkixx

where about in liverpool are you from?!

Reply 2

)(--becca--)(

Sorry I haven't a clue but I dont think you'd be necessarily working with small animals after graduation - the course trains to work with (almost) every type of animal so it was just as likely be big animal.

Maybe you get a job at an equine specialist and train through them?

Reply 3

blondey

once uve graduated, u can go and be a large animal vet and work with horses, so technically u are specialising in equine veterinary medicine. But it depends what u mean by specialising, do u want to specialise in a certain equine area, like surgery or cardio etc.
If u want to do something like that then i think u will have to do extra training, this could be a 1 year course, u may be able to train while workin in a practice (like an aprentiship) or u may need to the a specialist equine degree. it all depends on exactly what u want to do.
for instance, i, at the moment am planing on specialising in small animal surgery once i graduate. to do this i want to go work in the queen mother hospital, where i will first do a one year internship (working and learning) in small animal medicine and surgery, i will then do a three year residency in small animal surgery, then if i decide on a particular area of that, cardiovascular for example, i will specialise in that.

so really there is no real set route, thats why being a vet is such a good career, you have soooooo many options upon graduating. dont worry bout it tho, you have plenty time to decide, u dont have to do anything specific until uve finished uni to specialise. you may well change ur mind when u get to uni, u might find something else which u really really love.

hope this helps a bit,
cya

Reply 4

leggielass

You are trained as an all round vet. in the final year you do two four week electives,(specialisms) e.g. I Am doing Beef production and Sheep, but you can choose equine medicine, small animal surgery, pathology, anaesthesia etc. Most specialists have done certificates whilst in practice after uni.

Reply 5

Botticello

thanks every1!
so as soon as i graduated i could choose to be a horsey vet?

Nikki, I live in Crosby, and you?

West Derby! :smile:

Yep you can be a horse vet as soon as you qualify, but cannot call yourself a 'horse specialist' until you do further study. Not 100% of how this works but you bgin by studying for certificates and then go on to do othe qualifications. I think it takes a hell of a long time to actually specilise!