Idiopathic Issues

As a vet student, and eventually as a veterinarian, you will spend a significant amount of time interacting with people from different generations. Intergenerational conflicts may arise in interactions with your classmates or professors, in dealing with your employer or coworkers at your first job, and in client interactions.

No matter the context, being aware of generational differences in communication can help improve your conversations with colleagues and clients.

As veterinarians and pet owners, we are fortunate to live in a time where the understanding of animal diseases and options for diagnosis and treatment are far more advanced than ever before.  As a result, we also live in a time where the cost to provide the new gold-standard care is also higher.

As a DVM, the decision to treat a case yourself, or to refer it for outside care can be difficult. There are many factors that can influence the decision. So how do you decide?

Here are five tips to help veterinarians determine when to refer.

By now you have probably figured out that veterinary medicine is a combination of medical science and detective work!   With experience, your ability to diagnose based on clinical signs, presenting complaints, and owner information alone will improve.  

But don't be fooled, Vet Student!  Below are two examples of medical conditions that can be misdiagnosed if diagnostic work-ups are skipped and the "likely choices" are assumed!

We have the best job in the world, at least I think so.  And you probably think so too, since you are a Vet Student happily giving up years of your life for vet school to become a veterinarian.

You are likely envisioning a life of puppies and kittens, foals and calves, kids and lambs, chicks, piglets, and crias.  You get the idea.  But, as you know, not all days will be happy ones in the world of veterinary medicine.