Q: As an owner, how can I differentiate health emergencies from problems that don't require immediate attention? Sometimes I wonder if I should bring my dog in immediately or if I should just make an appointment.
A: Life-threatening emergencies are fairly straightforward. They include situations such as difficulty breathing, inability or straining to urinate, bloated abdomen, collapse, excessive bleeding and acute trauma. Other situations that may not be life threatening, but require immediate attention are neurologic conditions (i.e. loss of the use of limbs), loss of vision or blue-cloudy eyes, trauma to eyes, or excessive vomiting and diarrhea. If there is any doubt, call an emergency facility to discuss the situation and ask them for advice.
Q: I love animals and your show has inspired me to become a veterinarian. What should I do to get started and where can I go to get more information about veterinary medicine programs?
A: Depending on how old you are and how much school you've had, the situation will be different. If you have not yet completed high school, I would advise you to maintain a high grade point average and try to volunteer or work for a veterinarian in order to gain experience. As you approach college or if you are in college, pursuing a degree in a science discipline is helpful, but not required for admission to veterinary school.
There are roughly 26 veterinary schools in the United States. I would recommend contacting the schools you are interested in to obtain an application and information on their specific admission requirements.