Parker County Today January 2018 | Page 47

our advice: ASK DR. CATE Vet Rap by Dr. Ryan Cate Interested in Being a Vet? Here’s What You Need to Do By DR. RYAN CATE and MELISSA MOORMAN QUESTION:  Dear Dr. Cate: My son is interested in becoming a veterinarian and is currently in college and applying to vet schools. What are the education and qualifications you look for when you hire a vet in one of your loca- tions? Dr. Martin is originally from Haslet, Texas, and is looking forward to settling into the Weatherford loca- tion. “I’m looking forward to a new practice and a new county,” he said. He and his wife are looking forward to the opportunity to settle in Parker County for a long time. I asked Dr. Martin about what makes a good vet and he had a great answer that sums up your question. He said, “Patience is necessary. It’s a stressful job and you deal with people at their best and worst times. You’re working on a family member many times, not just an animal. It’s not always clear what the problem is, so diagnosis can take time. It takes a good work ethic, so re-consider if you are afraid of long hours or late nights. As a vet you’re an obstetrician, internal medicine and a surgeon all rolled into one.” I would reiterate his statements, because you never know with a walk-in clinic what you might have to tackle that day. You could be treating a dog that was hit by a car, a cat that swallowed a foreign object, or a livestock animal that needs a routine vaccine. You have to be flexible and willing to help a patient day or night. Long hours are expected. Being a vet is also very rewarding. While the love of animals is impor- tant, a vet can make a difference in the lives of people and animals. Tell your son to study hard; most vet schools are very competitive and there aren’t that many of them. Good luck! ANSWER:  That’s a great question. I just hired a new vet to work at the Grote Veterinary Clinic on Santa Fe Drive in Weatherford. His name is Dr. Tyler Martin. He and his wife, Gabrielle, are both veterinar- ians. She’s an equine specialist, but he’s spent the last six years at Alvarado Vet Clinic. I was impressed by Dr. Tyler Martin’s experi- ence there because it is one of the larger mixed- animal practices in our area. He spent a year as an intern there and then five more years working for the group. He told me, “The Alvarado clin- ic is a very busy place; we see all of the weird things. Foreign bodies, the worst and the best of disease in animals. Because of that environment, you can get a lot of experience and become a better doctor.” Becoming a vet is difficult. Many vets major in animal science, as did Dr. Martin. He attended Colorado State University earning his bach- elor’s degree and veterinary science degree, graduating in 2012. At the earliest, you can graduate and become a vet in eight years. Many graduate and continue to specialize, or like Dr. Martin, do an internship to gain additional experience. His specific interests are in veterinary medicine and surgery, and he has extensive experience in both orthope- dic and soft tissue surgeries. 45