“I gave injections to a pygmy hedgehog,” Victoria Vernust, vet student at RUDN University

What subjects help you get the job done?

Anatomy, histology and pathophysiology are the basic foundations. I would also add pharmacology, which makes work easier. Also deontology — ethics and communication with pet owners. It is important to find an approach and the right words for owners of pet sick.

How many pets do you have?

The first one is a border collie dog. The second is a bearded agama thrown out into the street. I had it X-rayed in the clinic and finally took it home. The third one is a kitten with a story: a cat and kittens got to our clinic, we treated all of them and found homes for them, while one of them found a new home with me.

Our clinic is mainly for cats and dogs, but rabbits, hamsters, and hedgehogs often come to the rodentologist. From my experience — I gave injections to a pygmy hedgehog and treated for guinea pigs that make funny sounds.

What difficulties do you face in your work?

Of the most difficult things is the emotional burden. It is difficult to work with pets and interact with owners when there is nothing you can do to help.

Sometimes we meet with the ignorance of the owners about some diseases. It is difficult to prove that it is necessary to vaccinate even those pets that never go outdoors.

Why did you choose veterinary medicine at RUDN University?

Studying side by side with students from different countries is very cool! In addition, my mother’s friend, a veterinarian, studied here and praised RUDN University.

Since childhood, I have loved the programs of Nikolai Drozdov and the Animal Planet channel about saving domestic and wild animals in Britain and America. It is the clinical part of veterinary medicine that is interesting and how the law on cruelty to animals works.

What qualities should a veterinarian have?

The main thing is the ability to communicate with people correctly, to convey your thoughts clearly. You should also be able to explain what is important to the pet. For example, not all owners know about anti-cat nets installed on the windows, how they differ from mosquito nets and why the latter will not save them from falling out of the window.

Of course, you need a craving for knowledge and an interest in developing in the profession. It is also important to know English in order to read articles.

What is your leisure like?

For 3 years I was engaged in fencing at the school of medieval martial arts. I quit bqcause I didn’t have time, but I want to take it up again.

I am fond of painting models for board games — I give the gray heroes the colors of life. I also study Data Science, watch series, play board games with friends. I read educational articles and watch lectures — this is already professional deformation, it seems ...

I also try to get enough sleep, because to work well you need to sleep well, eat well and not forget to drink water. Work-life balance and time-management seem like complicated “adult” things until you start applying them.

Work also gives me a lot of energy, communication with colleagues and pet owners charges my batteries. And of course curing my patients boosts my spirits a lot.

What is your motto?
 

I’m afraid to do it.
Keep being afraid, but do it.
I saw this in some comic. Yes, everything is complicated and it seems that it is better not to start at all or not to continue. But if you take a small step towards your goal every day, in a month it will no longer seem so far away!