Laura's Vocational Days

I have had some wonderful and varied experiences in private veterinary hospitals, at distrikt (governmental) hospitals, and on farm calls. In the small animal hospitals, I learned that the practice of veterinary medicine is virtually the same as in the states. The major differences include the widespread use of pet insurance in Sweden and surgical practices regarding spaying and neutering cats and dogs. Due to the high percentage of people that have pet insurance, veterinarians are able to do virtually any basic diagnostics without a discussion of payment with the owner. This makes client interaction much simpler and less confrontational than in the states. Until recently, around 1990, it was illegal to spay or neuter a pet unless they had some medical condition (infection, cancer, etc.) that left no other option. Therefore, only recently have they begun more commonly practicing these surgeries. Despite this, there does not appear to be an over population problem in dogs or cats. There are ,of course, are other subtle differences in vaccinations, surgical technique, and preventative medicine based on region. I very much enjoyed my time with the veterinarians and staff that I have met. Enjoy the pictures.