Posts tagged "avenelle turner"

What animal lover hasn't daydreamed about ditching their desk job and applying for a job at the zoo? Or at a doggy daycare? Or tracking gorillas in Africa? We sure have, but since most of us may never actually get to work with the animals we love, we thought we'd introduce you to a few people who do.

Name: Dr. Avenelle Turner
Age: 34
Job: Veterinary Oncologist

How long have you been a veterinarian?
Almost 10 years.

What made you want to be a vet?
I'd always wanted to be one, since my earliest memory. I've always liked animals. Friends I've known since elementary school have always remembered me wanting to be a vet.

What does it take to become a vet?
First you'll need a four-year degree from an undergraduate school. Then it's similar to going to medical school. You apply, and if you're admitted, veterinary school is four years.

You specialize in veterinary oncology?
Yes, I'm board certified. Most oncologists have gone to veterinary school, then at least three to four years of post-education to get certified in oncology. We take two exams – one is a qualifying test, the second is more of a specific test for oncology. If you pass both, then you become a board-certified oncologist.

Did you grow up with animals?
Yes, dogs. I like cats, but didn't grow up with them. When I was old enough to get animals, I got a cat to see what it was like to live with one and I do love them.

What made you want to go into oncology?
It's hard to say. I never actually wanted to do it. I thought it was quite sad. But when I did my internship, I got to see a lot of different cases and I liked the oncology patients better. I think the owners are more dedicated, the patients are typically older and they usually come with a story.

When you refer to "patients" are you talking about the animals you see?
Yes. Owners are clients. Dogs and cats are patients.

Do you only treat dogs and cats?
I do. Technically, veterinarians can treat all large animals, but if you don't use it, you lose it, so I wouldn't know what to do if I saw a horse or a cow.

Isn't it a sad job sometimes?
My goal is to make these animals as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. If I do that, that's a success. So, is it sad? Sure. I absolutely know that I'm going to say goodbye to these animals -- sometimes in a couple of months, sometimes in a couple of years. But if I didn't do it, all of these animals would be dead in a few months. So you have to evaluate what your goals for success are. And success is not always a cure.

How do you handle the down side of your job?
You realize that in life there are sad things. You realize that there are certain people and animals that you can help. I feel like if I didn't do this, nobody would be there to help them. During their treatment and afterwards, they have a significant amount of time where their quality of life is relatively good. They usually have the exact same – or very close to – quality of life they had before they got sick.

What are the pet owners like that you meet in your practice?
It takes a special person to actually pursue treating their pet for cancer. Most of the animals are members of their family, so maintaining their family unit is very important. When they know there's something that can be done to make their animal feel better, most people do it.

Source