300+ TOP Veterinary and Health Care Interview Questions – Answers

1. When Do I Start Vaccinating My Pet And Which Vaccines Are Needed?

Most vaccines are given as a series up to a certain age then continued as boosters either annually or in the case of rabies vaccines for dogs and cats (in Oregon), every 3 years. The following information outlines general guidelines in the 3 species of pets that are commonly vaccinated.

Dogs :

DHLPP – (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvo virus) – This vaccine containing 5 components is begun during adolescence and is given at monthly intervals 2 or 3 times depending on the dog.

2. How Old Do Puppies And Kittens Have To Be Before Taking Them Away From Their Mom?

Weaning usually occurs at 5 to 6 weeks of age.

3. Is There A Cheap Place To Take My Pet (for Health Care)?

Though prices can vary from one clinic to another, all veterinary facilities in our area are private businesses that must support their existence and pay their staff by charging fees for services. That is to say, no tax dollars go to government funded programs to support health care of companion animals. Pets do indeed constitute a financial commitment that is best considered before adoption.

4. How Do I Know When My Pet Has A Problem Serious Enough To Justify Bringing Him To See The Doctor?

The problem here of course is that there is a language barrier between humans and animals. You would like to just ask him how badly he feels and how long he has felt that way. People have a hard enough time deciding when they should see their own doctor. A general rule is that if you spot a problem that you know would cause you to seek medical attention if it were you instead of your pet, then your pet needs to be seen. More subtle problems that persist for more than a day or so at least warrant.

5. Will My Pet Miss Her Baby?

Mother dogs and cats do seem to “miss” their offspring. They seem to search for them and may eat poorly for a few days. You can help them through this period by spending more time with them, doing various “jolly routines” as they adjust to life without their offspring.

6. When Can I Walk My Puppy In The Park?

Some dogs do not become adequately immunized against certain preventable diseases (Parvo most notably) until 18 to 20 weeks of age. Therefore avoidance of locations where many dogs of unknown background congregate or have been seems to make sense. However puppies do need to to be socialized by being exposed to many sites, sounds, and experiences so we recommend taking them to less “canine intensive” sites and exposing them to known healthy, vaccinated dogs belonging to friends.

7. How Can I Tell If My Pet Is In Heat And How Long Will It Last?

Dogs :
The first heat cycle in dogs usually occurs around 7 to 8 months of age and is signaled by swelling of the vulva and a bloody vaginal discharge (though the discharge can be quite variable from breed to breed). The entire cycle is about 3 weeks from start to finish. Most dogs repeat their cycle about every 6 months.

Cats :
The first heat cycle in cats usually occurs around 6 to 7 months of age. The cat may often be seen rolling on the floor or ground.

8. Is There Any Medication I Can Give To Make My Pet Feel Better Without Bringing Him In For An Examination?

We cannot prescribe or dispense medication without a diagnosis.

9. How Much Should I Feed My Pet?

All reputable pet food manufacturers include a feeding guide with their foods. One must remember that these guidelines provide a starting point only and that you will know within a relatively short period of time( 1 to 2 weeks ) if your animal is being over or under fed simply by observing his body. He should of course not appear gaunt but his ribs should be easily felt with your fingers. Unfortunately, far too many of the animals we see are overweight which predisposes them to a number of healt.

10. Should I Spay Or Neuter My Pet?

We answer this question with a definite “yes”. Thousands of companion animals are put to death in this small city every year due to over population. In addition to that benefit, certain medical conditions are prevented by spaying and neutering.

11. How Big Will My Dog Get?

We can usually come fairly close by looking at the general body structure at a given age and comparing that size to a known breed of similar body structure. As one might expect, a bit of experience is required.

12. What Is Veterinary Science?

Veterinary Science is the science of diagnosing, treating and curing the diverse types of diseases in birds and animals. The subject broadly covers the study of animal physiology, treatment and prevention of diseases among animals. The basic principles of this specialized branch of study are quite similar to that of human medical sciences. But the job profile of a veterinary doctor or a vet is much more than that of a general physician or a surgeon.

13. If I Spay Or Neuter My Pet Will His Or Her Behavior Change?

The short answer to this question is yes.Sterilization surgery affects sexual behavior and inter dog aggressive behavior primarily. His or her ability to be a companion to a person will not change.

14. How Old Should My Pet Be Before Spaying Or Neutering Is Performed?

In most cases between 4 and 6 months of age.

15. How Do I Know When My Animal Is In Pain?

Crying out or vocalizing repetitively when touched or picked up may be an obvious sign of pain although, a very frightened animal might react similarly. More subtle signs may include restlessness, panting when not hot ( in the case of dogs ), trembling, refusal to eat or reluctance to do a common activity. All of these signs must be viewed in the context of any given situation to be identified as induced by pain since anxiety can produce very similar signs.

16. Why Did You Decide To Become A Veterinary Nurse?

What they’re trying to find out with this question is whether you’re an animal person. There are a lot of unpleasant tasks associated with being a veterinary nurse, and your love for animals has to overcome that. You can’t just choose veterinary nursing because you couldn’t think of anything else to do; you have to have a passion for it.

17. What Do Think A Typical Day On The Job Would Be Like?

Your prospective employer wants to make sure you have a realistic expectation of what the job is like. It isn’t just sitting around cuddling puppies and kittens all day. It’s also holding down whimpering puppies for shots and empathizing with pet owners who are trying to determine the best course of action for their sick or elderly dog. You have to realize that there is good mixed in with the bad.

18. How Would You Handle A Dog That Tried To Bite You?

This question is designed to find out a couple of things:

How you would handle a stressful situation, and whether you can balance responsibility with diplomacy. Your answer needs to involve standard safety procedures – like using a muzzle – while respecting the animal’s right to treatment as well as the owner’s pride. One good answer could be, “I would just say something like, “I’m sure he’s a sweetheart at home, but being here is obviously really stressful for him. Let’s take some precautions that will make sure we can do what we need to do to take care of him.” It would also be a good idea to reference learning that particular clinic’s policies.

19. What Would You Do If An Owner Rushed In With A Dog That Was Obviously Seriously Injured?

The purpose of this question is to, again, get a feel for your technical competence as we as your ability to stay calm in stressful situations. As with other situations, you want to make reference to understanding and following clinic policies. But you also need to demonstrate that you know the steps you need to take to stabilize the animal before the vet gets there.

20. What Would You Do If You Couldn’t Save The Animal?

Your prospective employer is probably trying to find out if you can deliver devastating news in a way that’s empathetic while not sugar-coating the facts. They also want to make sure that you realize the loss isn’t yours. Even if you’re upset, you can’t compare your feelings to those of the family. They’re looking for someone who can be compassionate without breaking down.

21. How Would You Advise A Family Considering Euthanasia?

Your interviewer is probably trying to learn more about your ability to communicate both the facts and any other factors the pet owner should consider – without conveying your personal opinion. They want to know that you can objectively discuss things like whether the animal is in pain and what will happen if you do nothing.