people. To date I have never had one
patient come to see me without being
attached to a human. If anyone feels
they can answer these questions positively and achieve these goals, this is
likely the profession for them.
PCT: What advice can you give to
your clients?
LANGERHANS: This could become
a very lengthy answer but I will try
to keep it short. I would just like for
clients (pet owners in general) to
remember their pet is potentially the
most accepting, loyal, and loving
friend they have in their life. Of
course, the obvious answer, they
should keep their pets current on
vaccinations and heartworm tests
and prevention. They should also
just pay attention to them to pick up
on any changes of their body condition, elimination habits, attitude,
locomotion, respiration, stamina,
water consumption and appetite.
Sometimes even the slightest change
could mean they are developing a
health problem. I also want everyone
to know that all of us in this profession are here to help them keep
their pets healthy so they can be a
companion, buddy, friend for a long
time.
PCT: What is something your clients
do not know about you?
LANGERHANS: I suppose many
people don’t know this story: Many
years ago, two very young close
friends aspired and dreamed together
of becoming veterinarians. Both
were inducted into the Order of the
Arrow of the Boy Scouts of America
at the same time at the age of 12.
Both worked at the same veterinary
hospital in high school. The two
friends lived together at the veterinary
hospital the summer before they were
leaving their homes and families to
begin the pursuit of their dream at
Texas A&M University. Both did well
in college, but in the end reached
different heights. Each were proud of
the other for their eventual achievements. One of those boys did achieve
the dream and became a veterinarian and the other, he became the
longest serving governor of the State
of Texas. Now you know the rest of
the story.
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
job?
LANGERHANS: Of course, as a veterinarian, making the correct diagnosis,
proper treatment plan, and a great
positive result to make our patient
well, normal, and happy again makes
all this worthwhile. Just knowing you
did this by using the history given by
their owners and the results of diagnostic tests or procedures as well as
the application of the correct course
of action for a patient that will never
have as voice or a vote in any of it.
However, I guess the best part for any
of us in this profession is that 90% or
more of the time our patients are very
accepting, loving and caring.
PCT: What advice could you give
to those who are just entering your
field?
LANGERHANS: Through the years,
I have been approached by many
people wanting to become a veterinarian because they love animals and
they want to help and hold them.
I say this is a great profession, and
can be very rewarding and [I] love
what I do. I tell them that it is not
an easy trek to get here. There are a
few things they and everyone need
to consider, and a few questions they
need to ask themselves before taking
this endeavor, because pursuing this
profession and practicing veterinary
medicine is not for anyone faint of
heart. I will put forth these questions and food for thought: Do you
love going to school? Because you
will be in school for a minimum of
seven to eight years of college. Do
you like and do well in science and
math? Because you will be taking a
lot of these classes before being in
veterinary school. Do you make very
good grades overall? Because each
year the entering class of any veterinary college has an average grade
point of 3.7 (perfect maximum grade
point is 4.0). And (one very important question to answer) Do you
like people? Because if anyone has
a problem with having to deal with
people this part of the profession is
not for them. What many people do
not realize is that it does not matter
if a person is the most knowledgeable and the most skillful veterinarian on planet Earth, that person will
never see a patient i f they do not like
DECEMBER 2016
felt there was a need and it would be
a great place for a 24-hour hospital
in the Weatherford area. Thus, we
decided to start another veterinary
hospital.
PCT: How did you get into your
profession?
LANGERHANS: Having grown up in
a small West Texas town and living
a rural type life, I have always had
animals to care for — be it pets or
livestock. At the same time, I also
had interest in medicine. I had decided at age 13 that combining the two
would be interesting, challenging,
and [I’d be] able to help and speak
for those who can’t help themselves.
Our local doctors thought I should
consider going into medicine, but
I began working for our veterinarian while in high school, though he
was located in another town. It was
everything I thought it would be and
[I] became hooked. After high school,
I went to Texas A&M University for
seven years and finished with two
B.S. degrees and my DVM degree.
I remember reading a quote of Will
Rogers that did help as well —
“The best doctor in the world is the
veterinarian. He can’t ask his patients
what is the matter — he’s just got to
know.”
PCT: What is the biggest challenge in
your business?
LANGERHANS: Like many business
owners, especially service businesses,
the biggest challenge is staffing.
Being able to find and keep doctors
and staff that have the compassion,
passion, knowledge, skills — people
and medical — and stamina to work
in the hectic and sometimes difficult
environment of a 24/7 animal hospital. It can become stressful at times
because of the challenging cases and
emotions that are involved, but at the
same time this can be tempered with
wonderful outcomes. I have learned
through the years that we really have
a great profession and have more
positive outcomes than negative
outcomes — though sometimes it
is difficult to let go of the unfortunate outcomes which just makes us
human.
PCT: What is the best part of your
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