1. Sharingthe Wonder
By NancyL AndersonDVM
OriginallypublishedinThe MuseumScene,Vol35,No 1, 2002
Justrecently,anumberof people have askedme whatIlike bestaboutbeingaveterinarian.Itseemed
like itshouldbe aneasyquestionto answer, butI couldn’tfindthe words.It’ssucha complicatedfeeling
– I love beingaveterinarianforsomanydifferentreasonsandthere are somanypitfallsthatmake the
professionbittersweet.
On the excitingandtechnical side,Ilove itwhenIcan use all of my diagnosticandtechnical skillsand
plucka criticallyill animal fromthe jawsof seriousillness.It’sespeciallyrewardingwhenthe illnessis
somethingsuchasa heartarrhythmiaor low bloodsugar.In these cases,the animal isusuallylyingon
the examinationtableclose todeath.Iadministerone injectionandwithinfive minutesthe animal sits
up and asksto be fed.Talkabout a thrill!
On the lesstheatrical side,Igetjustas muchsatisfactionfrompreventingananimal fromgettingsickor
havinga complicationatall.Ireally feel likeI’ve hadagood daywhen I discoverevenone wayof
preventingananimal fromhavingtocome and see me again.I feel incredible joyaboutbeinga
veterinarianwhenIsee awildanimal whohasbeenthrough so muchin ourcare go back to the wild.I
cherishthe fewreleaseswhere animalscircle backandallow achance fora lastgoodbye.
A fewof the animalsthatI have released(all individualswithwhomIhave spenthoursasthe primary
care giver) have streakedaway,turned,come backandverbalized.Itmaynotbe scientific,butIthink
that these animalswere tryingtocommunicate withme.Inafew casesI thinkthatthese animalswere
cussingat me,but forthe mostpart it seemedlike theyrecognizedme andunderstoodthatI
purposefullychose toletthemgo.
I love beingavet,especiallyawildlifevet,becauseIhave the privilege of workingwithsuchadiversity
of animals.Inevercease to marvel at theirbeauty,personalitiesandspecial adaptations.How canthere
be so many shapes,sizes,textures,colors…?How can a bat,bird anddragonflywings looksodifferent
but still allowflight?Whydobabypallidbatshave wrinkly faceslikeShar-pei puppies?Why dosome
wildcreatureschoose totolerate treatmentwhile othersdonot?Most people don’tknow thattiny
swiftshave the equivalentof miniature greathornedowl feetorthatthe feathersonthe back of a
loon’sheadare so softyoualmostcan’t feel themorthat tigersalamandershave greatsmiles.If people
don’tknow,howcan theybe amazedat the life aroundthem?Thisisone of the thingsI like bestabout
the vetat LindsayWildlife Museum.The museumletsusshare ourwonderwithotherpeople.
Do any of my patientsunderstandthatthissituationisnotforever?Thisaverytough question.Itryto
alwayshave compassionforthe animalsthatI treat.I try to put myself inthe animals’“shoes”anddo
for themwhatI thinktheywouldwantme to do.I reallywish Icouldask them, “Do youwant to be
scared,medicated,andsometimes inpaininexchange forachance at beingable toreturn to yourold
life?”Whenthe course of treatmentisshortand the chance of successishigh,it isan easychoice.We
treat.Whenthe woundsare painful andthe prognosisishopeless,the decisionispainfulbutstill easy.
We give the animal apainlessandquickrelease fromthisexistence.Itishardestto choose whenthe
woundsare serious,butnothopelessandthe prognosisisn’tgreat,butthere is only asmall chance.In
these cases,Ilookto the animal for advice.Doesthisanimal have the fire of life initseyes?Isit

2. completelyterrifiedof people orjustcautious?Doesithurtitself initscage?Doesiteat on itsown?If I
thinkthe animal wantsto try,we go aheadand start treatment.
From there,Icarefullywatchtomake sure that the animal isstill engagedinlife.Ifindmakingthese
choicesforanotherlivingbeingtobe one of the hardestthingsI have to doas a veterinarian.The
wonderful staff andvolunteersatthe Lindsaylightenthisburdenbecauseof theircompassionand
desire todo what’srightforthe crittersinour care. We spenda lotof time talkingaboutwhat’sthe
rightthingto do. I am grateful forthissupport.
Whichbrings me to anotherreasonwhyIlike beingaveterinarian.Ilike people,especiallyanimal
people!Ingeneral,people whorelate toanimalsare passionate,compassionate,eclecticandnottoo
hungup on beinga homo sapien. Animalswillalwaysprove ahumanwrongat some point,somost
animal people have tohave a discernable senseof humor.Inwhatprofessionotherthanawildlife
veterinariancouldIgettomeetsuch a wide varietyof animal andpeople charactersona dailybasis?
Finally,Ilike beingaveterinarianbecause I’ll neverrunoutof questionsorthingstowonderabout.And,
if I work reallyhard,Imightdiscoverthe answertoone of myquestionsthat,hopefully,justmighthelp
out a critteror two.