You might think that veterinarians just get play with animals all day. You're wrong.

I first began job-shadowing at my local veterinary clinic, a mixed animal practice, a little over three years ago. I go there about once a week.

I first wanted to (and still want to 8 years later) become a veterinarian when I was in high school. I had the idea that the job would involve helping animals, mostly. While, of course, veterinarians work with animals, after job-shadowing all this time, I learned that it is so much more than that.

The veterinarians that I have observed certainly do treat animals and do routine checks on them; however, there is a side to vets that some may not notice. They must build relationships with the clients. The vets let the clients know that they can truly trust them with the life of their pet as a result of these relationships. Being a veterinarian seems to be as much of a social career as it is a medical one.

Veterinarians must hold it together, emotionally, even when the career is very demanding. If a diagnosis for an animal is poor, the vet has to maintain composure and be strong for the client. I have seen some clients celebrate with the vet as a result of a healed animal and others use the vet’s shoulder to cry on when they know it is time for their animal to be euthanized. I have seen the veterinarian work early in the morning after being up nearly all night and still wide-awake and cheerful for farm calls and in-house appointments later that day. I have seen the joy on people’s faces when a dog was saved by an emergency intestine resection or when a cow and calf were saved when the vet went to a farm to help birth the calf. I have seen the vet juggle being on call, staying relatively well-rested and healthy, and maintaining a social life.

The job, which certainly turns out to be a lifestyle, is very demanding both emotionally and physically, but with each animal that is saved, I have seen that it is worth it.