There's often a lot of "that vet is an idiot" comments that float around this site. As someone will a very good vet I'm often shocked about the stories I read on this site about vet's recommending scary things or giving out inaccurate info....I always wonder where they pick thinks like that up....well, now I know...it's their early education in college!

I'm taking Dog and Cat management this semester (almost done ALMOST DONE...can't wait to get my degree then get the hell out of here!!!)


Since I'd like to work with dogs I thought that this class would be good idea...most of my class are the pre-vet track students, most have already applied to vet school, some have already gotten in. These are people who will BE vets, a good chunk of them small animal....

The class is....I...I don't even...The class is HORRIBLE. I liked this professor (he taught my freshman animal anatomy class as well as a horse breeding class) but EVERYTHING he has ever said to me in those classes I'm now questioning (I just spent two hours fact checking my notes from those classes). His little stories about his past pets are TERRIFYING (he's lost 11 cats to coyotes in 5 years and doesn't see keeping them inside as an option....his current cat pops out kittens like i eat potato chips and he sees no reason to vaccinate her against rabies despite the fact she's outdoor and routinely hunts bats). His dog management is also scary! He had two (intact, opposite sex...see where this is going) newfie cross littermates....he goes on and on about the dominance the male displayed (the worst thing he's talked about is that the dog leaned on his leg once when he was walking through a door...when it was 6 months old...)...how the dog was stupid for not understanding complex human emotions.

Last lecture was about how Cleopatra used to hunt jaguars using leopards and cheetahs (yes....Jaguars...as in, the south american big cat)...today's lecture was how border collies are terriers and any breeder who's ever produced a dog who's ended up with hip dysplasia is a horrible breeder....We also covered the St. Bernard, one of the most vicious war dog breeds ever to exsist....

And don't get me started on the nutritional information he's giving us....

The worst part....my class thinks he's a genius...this is a class for the PRE-VET track part of the major...these people are going to vet school TO BE VETS.....I'm dreading the training part (coming up soon)...I can't imagine his training methods are logical...

Want to know why some vets recommend stupid things? THIS is the reason!!!!

that's part of the reason I use my horse vet for my dogs, when I need her. But you have to admit, there are exceptions to the rule. I have worked for 2 of them - 1 in CO and 1 here in AZ before switching to equine medicine.

Lynne, did you think the bulk of the students were anything like that when we went to CSU?
I was in awe of many of my classmates. I felt it was an honor to attend.
It was an ag+equine based program, though.

I can't believe no one else caught the bit about jaguars. That's pretty basic (I would have caught it in 5th grade, but I was a nerd.) I'd bet a pair of home-made pies that Cleopatra hunted with Pharoah hounds or something similar, not any sort of big cat. That is really scary.

Do you get to do anonymous evaluations at the end of class? I hope so.

My vet owned GSDs most his life, been real happy with him

Jamie- I'm so sorry, that sounds like it sucks. I had to sit through something similar today at lunch... it wasn't an entire class though!

That's really scary, Jamie. I'm sorry you have to deal with that.

Fortunately, the vet clinic I go to has 2 really great vets. Sadly, the one that I really loved has moved on. She was one of those rare vets that besides being knowledgeable took a personal interest in you as well as your dog. It's a credit to her that Callie did so well when she was in the acute phase of her pancreatitis and got her seizures regulated on phenobarb so quickly. I love the clinic, but if she does come back up to this area it's going to be really difficult not to at least switch and take Callie to her again.

 Quote: Betty Landercasp

Lynne, did you think the bulk of the students were anything like that when we went to CSU?
I was in awe of many of my classmates. I felt it was an honor to attend.
It was an ag+equine based program, though.

Betty - sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I was at dog class.

I have been a little gunshy to respond the way I really would normally to some of the threads for fear of recriminations.

You are right, tho. I think if the thread is read correctly, this is a pre-vet program which is in my experience nothing classes, that give you nothing to fall back on if you don't make it into vet school. Also, almost all instructors in vet school are vets who are well respected and have chosen to go into

 Quote: lynne peck

Betty - sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I was at dog class.

I have been a little gunshy to respond the way I really would normally to some of the threads for fear of recriminations.

You are right, tho. I think if the thread is read correctly, this is a pre-vet program which is in my experience nothing classes, that give you nothing to fall back on if you don't make it into vet school. Also, almost all instructors in vet school are vets who are well respected and have chosen to go into

This man is a vet, many of our professors are, this one is not practicing anymore (he was "old" when my father had him....he must be at least 85 now....seriously, he's ancient). He's a "horse guy" more than dogs but all of the dog related classes are taught by him (luckily there aren't many if this is the info he's giving out)

The program is the pre-vet track of the animal science degree. I'm animal science WITHOUT the pre-vet part which means I'm getting a biology degree with the ability to inseminate cows, collect stallions, handle various farm animals, and castrate most farm animals. This class is a 3 credit elective for me though it's recommended for all on the pre-vet track who want to go into small animal veterinary practice.

At our school our animal science program is pretty much a bio program except with more animal specific examples (our nutrition is animal nutrition, we have the option of animal genetics rather than human, etc).

 Quote: betty landercasp

Lynne, did you think the bulk of the students were anything like that when we went to CSU?
I was in awe of many of my classmates. I felt it was an honor to attend.
It was an ag+equine based program, though.

Betty - sorry I didn't reply sooner, but I was at dog class.

I have been a little gunshy to respond the way I really would normally to some of the threads for fear of recriminations.

You are right, tho. I think if the thread is read correctly, this is a pre-vet program which is in my experience these are very basic classes, that give you nothing to fall back on if you don't make it into vet school or are intended for other studies. Also, almost all instructors in vet school are vets who are well respected and have chosen to go into education after practicing for many years and are highly respected in the fields. Most college students entering vet school usually have gained a bachelor's degree in some other field, just in case they don't get accepted. At CSU, just being in the pre-vet program first doesn't guarantee a placing as it doesn't all revolve around schooling, but pre=vet also doesn't gain a degree. So if you don't make it, you have nothing to fall back on - is that how you remember it, Betty?

I am a little upset with the way people are always cutting down vets and telling all their little stories about how they did something completely against normal recommendations and then hold it up and say "See, the stupid vets don't know what they're talking about". Bet you don't say that when you find out you have cancer and your doctor says here's the recommended medications and therapy and you say "nope, I think your advice is dumb and I can handle it myself". What happens the next time your pet has an inguinal hernia and you say oh, I know it will close up by itself, the other ones did. Then a loop of intestine falls through the hole and is strangulated, the intestine ruptures, your pet gets peritonitis, but hey, you saved a few bucks waiting!

I know you all are going to slam me and that's ok - but alot of the statements on here are so "stupid client" - didn't look at it that way did you?