Pets

Can you talk about your experience as a solo equine ambulatory practitioner and how it helped shape your career?

Thriving as a Solo Equine Ambulatory Practitioner: A Career-Shaping Journey

Can you talk about your time as a solo equine ambulatory practitioner and how it should help shape your career? I would love to do this. So, originally, when I decided to become a veterinarian at five years old, it's because I was going to be a horse vet and funny, quick story. I actually told my dad, I wanted to work with horses, I love them. And so I wanted to be a horse trainer and he said, why don't you rethink this? How about being a horse doctor, which you would make a little more money and still get to work with horses. And so here, Liefeld my passion. I met a lot of amazing equine, fats and started doing it, and it, absolutely was right decision for me, it was long hours. It was hard work, but I am a horse person, I love them. I grew up with him. And I understand the meaning and how important they are to the people that own them. And so it continued to show me how important the human human animal. Bond was how important good client communication was. I did a lot. I did an internship and I worked 80 hours a week. Weeks I was on call, you know, seven days a week joined the practice was on call 50% of the time, it was working, you know, six days a week. So just really jumped right in learned a ton sought on a horse has got really good quicker as a vet because of all the experience and I think really set me up for Success, just starting to be brave out in the field. Try things figure them out and just do my very best. So it was a great start to my vet career and I think it helped me be better overall.

When I decided to become a veterinarian at five years old, it was because I wanted to work with horses. I did an internship and worked 80 hours a week and joined the practice where I was on call 50% of the time. This experience taught me the importance of good client communication, the human-animal bond and gave me the confidence to be brave and try things out in the field. This experience really set me up for success early in my career.

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I would love to talk about my experience as a solo equine ambulatory practitioner and how it shaped my career. When I was five years old, I knew I wanted to work with horses. My dad suggested becoming a horse doctor instead of a horse trainer, as it would offer more financial stability while still allowing me to work with horses. This decision aligned perfectly with my passion.

Being a solo equine ambulatory practitioner involved long hours and hard work, but I loved every moment of it. Horses have always been a significant part of my life, and I understand the deep bond between horses and their owners. This experience emphasized the importance of effective client communication and the significance of the human-animal bond.

During my journey, I completed an internship where I worked 80 hours a week and was on call seven days a week. When I joined a practice, I was on call 50% of the time and worked six days a week. This immersive experience allowed me to learn and grow rapidly as a veterinarian. I gained valuable skills and became more confident in my abilities. It taught me to be brave, try new things, and figure them out in the field. I always strived to do my best.

Overall, my time as a solo equine ambulatory practitioner provided a strong foundation for my veterinary career. It helped me become a better veterinarian and prepared me for future success.

What inspired you to become a veterinarian and focus on equine medicine?

Becoming a Veterinarian: The Magical Connection with Horses

What inspired you to become a veterinarian and focus on equine medicine? That's pretty easy. So, growing up, I was a horse girl, I showed in computed on the national level and I would find my self constantly drawn to the barn, wanting to spend time with horses, I really felt like they understood me. If I was upset about something maybe got an argument with a parent. I would go out and just climb on my horses back and lay there and there's something that just soothes me and I know it sounds crazy but if your horse Person, you really get it. And so, I really felt connected to them. I enjoyed competing at a really high level on them. I saw, what sort of athletes they could be and there's a lot of really wonderful women veterinarians that I got to Shadow and see other were helping these animals that were just so so important to me. And so I very early on one wanted to spend more time with horses and get paid for it and to use my skills and my communication and my science mind to help them any way that I could. And so her. We went to that school to become an equine that or a horse doctor and I definitely did that. I loved it for five years. I think that it made me a better emergency veterinarian today. I still have horses in the backyard, my daughter rides and it's still very much a part of my life. I just have a little more time to do it now, but I really think that horses are magical and if you get it, you get it. And if you haven't been around before, there's something special to experience with them.

Growing up I was a horse girl, I felt connected to them and wanted to help them in any way I could. So I went to school to become an equine veterinarian and I still have horses today.

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What inspired me to become a veterinarian and focus on equine medicine? It's quite simple. I was a horse girl growing up, actively participating in national-level shows. I was always drawn to the barn, finding solace and understanding in the presence of horses. Whenever I was upset or had an argument, I would climb onto my horse's back and feel a sense of soothing connection. It may sound crazy, but if you're a horse person, you understand.

I felt a deep connection to horses and witnessed their incredible athleticism through competing at a high level. I had the opportunity to shadow and learn from amazing women veterinarians who were dedicated to helping these animals that meant so much to me. Early on, I knew I wanted to spend more time with horses, get paid for it, and utilize my skills, communication, and scientific mindset to assist them in any way possible.

I pursued my education to become an equine veterinarian, or as some call it, a horse doctor. I loved every moment of it for five years, and I believe it has made me a better emergency veterinarian today. Horses are still a significant part of my life, with horses in my backyard and my daughter riding. There's something truly magical about horses, and if you understand it, you understand the special experience they offer.

Why do you prefer emergency over general practice work?

From needle-eating cats to life-saving surgeries: The thrilling world of emergency veterinary work

Why do you prefer emergency over general practice work? Well, I like to live off of cortisol and caffeine now I'm just kidding. I'll show you a picture of a case I had recently and hopefully this will help explain it a little bit more. This adorable cat ate a needle and she came in to see me at the ER and I sedated her and scoped her and remove the needle and saved her life. This was us in surgery recently, and this dog had a mesenteric torsion and this is often fatal. They don't even usually make it Into surgery, but my team is so amazing that they were able to keep this dog stable in surgery and recover it and we worked so hard to save this dog for 20 hours and even though we did end up losing this patient. The owners were so grateful for how hard we tried to save it, and everything we did, and that they had that little bit of extra time with her pet before they were gone. Saving pets, helping people when they suddenly deal with their pet collapsing or having something really wrong challenging myself with really tough cases. And surgeries that not, everyone can do in this industry. Communicating with people in the toughest days that they have and relieving pain, and suffering, and pets are all reasons why I love working emergency. I definitely enjoy the healthy pets in general practice. But at this stage, I'm at in my career, I really like the excitement not knowing It's going to walk in the door and just stretching myself to be better and do better for all the pets and the people attached to them. So that's why I love emergency and I don't like sleep either. Just kidding.

I love emergency work because of the challenge, the satisfaction of saving a pet's life, and the rewards of helping people during their toughest days.

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I prefer emergency work over general practice for several reasons. Let me share a recent case to help illustrate why. I had an adorable cat come into the ER after swallowing a needle. I sedated her, performed a scope procedure, and successfully removed the needle, saving her life. In another instance, a dog had a life-threatening mesenteric torsion, a condition that often leads to fatality. Despite the odds, my incredible team kept the dog stable during surgery and worked tirelessly for 20 hours to save it. Unfortunately, we couldn't save the patient, but the owners were grateful for our efforts and the extra time they had with their pet.

The satisfaction of saving pets and helping people during their most challenging moments is one of the main reasons I love working in emergency. I enjoy the unpredictability of not knowing what cases will walk through the door and the opportunity to tackle tough cases and surgeries that not everyone can handle. Communicating with pet owners during difficult times, providing relief from pain and suffering, and the constant opportunity for growth and improvement are all aspects that draw me to emergency work.

While I do appreciate the healthy pets in general practice, at this stage in my career, I thrive on the excitement and the chance to push myself further for the well-being of all the pets and their owners. And, just to clarify, I also have a good sense of humor and don't mind sacrificing sleep for the job.

How do you think the veterinary industry has changed since you graduated in 2009?

Veterinary industry: Higher pay, increased expectations, and progress since 2009

How do you think the veteran industry has changed since you graduated in 2009? I think there's been some huge changes and one of them is that people are paid a lot more than they were paid. When I got out, I got out during the recession and we were just happy to get jobs and now my new grads are making more money than I've ever heard, or thought, they would be able to make, which is great for the industry as a whole. But on the flip side, clients are also demanding more expecting more with social media becoming more prevalent Violent. I think we're under a microscope more and more so it is more stressful but I think as an industry we're talking about things that we weren't talking about when I graduated. So we're talking more about DEA initiatives and how important it is. We are talking more about wellness and mental health and actually doing things around that. And so overall, I think the profession is moving in a much more positive better direction, we still have a long way to go, but a lot has changed and I feel really old answering this question. So thanks.

The veteran industry has changed drastically since 2009 with veterans being paid much more and having to meet higher expectations due to social media. We are also talking more about DEA initiatives and mental health, though there is still a long way to go.

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Since I graduated in 2009, the veterinary industry has undergone significant changes. One notable change is the increase in salaries. When I entered the field during the recession, simply finding a job was a relief. However, new graduates today are earning higher salaries than I ever anticipated, which is a positive development for the industry.

On the other hand, clients now have higher expectations and demand more from veterinary professionals. With the rise of social media, we are under more scrutiny and pressure to meet these expectations. This can make the job more stressful.

However, one positive change is that as an industry, we are now discussing important topics that were not widely addressed when I graduated. We are having conversations about DEA initiatives, emphasizing their importance. There is also more focus on wellness and mental health, with efforts being made to support veterinary professionals in these areas.

Overall, I believe the veterinary profession is moving in a more positive and progressive direction. While there is still progress to be made, significant changes have occurred since I graduated. It's a reminder of how time flies and how the industry continues to evolve.

As an advocate for mentorship in the veterinary industry, how do you think it can benefit young veterinarians and students?

Unlocking the Power of Mentorship in Veterinary Careers

As an advocate for mentorship in the veterinary industry, how do you think it can benefit young veterinarians and students? I think mentorship is extremely important in our industry because there's only so much you can learn in school and during your fourth year externships, and there is a lot that just takes experience and time to pick up. And so having a good mentor in practice, both for your skillset, but also for all the soft skills like communication and how to deal with difficult clients is really, really important. I think it'll help you get ahead faster if you have a better mentor. Now, the biggest question that I tell people who say they are looking for mentorship or they wanna be mentors is, what does that look like? It can be structured many different ways. So you really want to hammer out. Does that mean that someone will have you shadow for the first couple of weeks that you're working for them and then you'll gradually work up to working alone? Or does it just mean that someone is available? If you have specific questions about a case and they can look at x-rays or talk to you about the cases. I really like meeting outside of a practice to maintain a mentorship relationship and making sure that you are having time to talk about cases, talk about the things you're experiencing, the difficulties you may be having. One of the biggest issues I see in this industry is a lot of people join in practice and they're kind of quiet, they're doing their jobs, they're keeping their heads down, they're working as hard as they can. And the leadership and management group thinks that they're doing great because they're quiet, but really they're struggling and having a hard time. So establishing who's gonna mentor, what that's gonna look like specifically, I think will help us have a more sustainable career as veterinarians, but you have to ask for what you want if you're a new grad or a new veterinarian. And if you're a mentor, you need to think about each mentorship experience has to be structured to the person, it's not a one size fits all. So communicate, communicate, communicate, and that will make a successful mentorship relationship. Hope that helps.

Mentorship is important for veterinarians and students to gain experience in both their technical and soft skills. The mentorship experience should be structured to the individual, with communication being key to its success.

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As an advocate for mentorship in the veterinary industry, I believe it offers significant benefits to young veterinarians and students. While formal education and externships provide a foundation, mentorship fills the gaps that can only be learned through experience and time. Having a skilled mentor in practice is invaluable for developing both technical expertise and essential soft skills like communication and client management.

A good mentor can help young veterinarians progress faster in their careers. However, it's important to define what mentorship looks like. It can take various forms, such as shadowing initially and gradually working independently, or having someone available to discuss specific cases and provide guidance. I personally find it beneficial to meet outside of the practice setting to maintain a mentorship relationship. This allows for discussions about cases, sharing experiences, and addressing any difficulties encountered.

One common issue in the industry is that new veterinarians may struggle silently while appearing to perform well. It's crucial to establish clear mentorship roles and expectations to ensure a sustainable career. New graduates and veterinarians must advocate for what they need, while mentors should tailor their approach to each individual. Effective communication is key to a successful mentorship relationship.

In summary, mentorship plays a vital role in the veterinary industry, offering support and guidance beyond formal education. By establishing clear expectations and maintaining open communication, mentorship can contribute to the long-term success and well-being of young veterinarians and students.

How do you foster a sense of community and collaboration in the veterinary profession?

Fostering Veterinary Collaboration: The Power of Authenticity

How do you foster a sense of community and collaboration in the veterinary profession? I think it's probably different for everybody, but for me, I found that by being authentic and vulnerable with the things I struggle with, the mistakes I make, the things that happen allow people to feel like they're not alone and make them more comfortable to talk to me, to collaborate on cases because none of us know everything. You want to know where to find the answers, but you're not going to have all the answers available to you. So I try to just be very open with the things that I am looking at, what I am learning, and that way people know that you are never the smartest one in the room. There's always room to grow and to learn, and hopefully they reach out to one another and feel comfortable talking and sharing what they're struggling with or sharing their successes and celebrating together. So think about being authentic, being yourself, sharing a little bit more of yourself than maybe you normally would, and that allows other people to be more comfortable and hopefully collaborate with you and create more community.

To foster a sense of community and collaboration in the veterinary profession, try to be authentic and open about your struggles and successes. Allow people to feel like they're not alone by being vulnerable and sharing what you are learning. This will help create an environment where people are more comfortable talking and collaborating with one another.

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To foster a sense of community and collaboration in the veterinary profession, I believe it varies for each individual. Personally, I have found that being authentic and vulnerable about my own struggles, mistakes, and ongoing learning experiences helps others feel less alone and more comfortable approaching me for collaboration on cases. None of us have all the answers, but by openly discussing what we are learning and seeking out, it becomes evident that we are not the smartest person in the room. There is always room for growth and learning. Encouraging an environment where people reach out to one another, sharing their challenges or successes, and celebrating together can further strengthen the sense of community. It's important to be true to yourself, sharing a bit more about your own journey than you might normally do, which can create an atmosphere where others feel at ease and more inclined to collaborate. Ultimately, fostering authenticity and creating space for open communication can help build a collaborative veterinary community.

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Dr. Tannetje Crocker answers your Pets questions. See all the advice Dr. Tannetje Crocker has and get answers to your own Pets questions.

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Dr. Tannetje Crocker is a 2009 graduate of Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. She practiced equine ambulatory medicine for three years before transitioning to small animal medicine. She currently practices in Grapevine, TX and is passionate about mentoring young veterinarians. Growing up, she was passionate about horses and competed on the Texas A&M Equestrian Team. During her first year of vet school she met and married her husband Shane Crocker. They have two children and enjoy riding horses and exploring the world together.