Check out this scaly vet! Dr. Louisa Asseo is a reptile veterinarian with a genuine passion for exotic animal medicine. She graduated from UC Davis School of Veterinary medicine and has a special interest in reptile medicine and surgery, as well as, small mammal and dog and cat medicine and surgery. She is very active in the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians and is currently the co-chair of the membership committee for this organization. She has instructed at veterinary technology schools in reptile medicine, husbandry, handling and surgery. In addition, she is the current president of the Board of Directors for the Contra Costa Veterinary Medicine Association. Click to read more about Dr. Asseo.
Q: What factors influenced your decision to pursue veterinary medicine as a career?
A: I am one of those people that wanted to be a veterinarian from a very young age – probably before I knew what a veterinarian was. I have always had a passion for animals and a love for science and medicine. Pursuing a career where I could incorporate all of those aspects was ideal.
Q: What did you like about attending veterinary school at UC Davis?
A: Being a native Californian, it was an easy decision to choose UC Davis as my school of choice for veterinary medicine. My experience at UC Davis was wonderful. The instructors were all very knowledgeable and approachable. The doctors and staff at the VMTH (teaching hospital) provided invaluable training and education throughout my student career. As a veterinarian practicing in a community within an easy driving distance to the teaching hospital, it has also provided me with the confidence to recommend referral to the institution for advanced needs for my patients.
The city of Davis is also still very near and dear to my heart. From the farmer’s market to the biking trails to the downtown opportunities, there was never a shortage of recreational activities to enjoy – in between classes and studying, of course.
Q: What advice would you offer a pre-veterinary student interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine or in your specific specialty?
A: I have three pieces of advice to offer here:
Firstly, volunteer regularly or get a job in the branch of veterinary medicine that you are most likely going to pursue. Until you see the ins and outs of the field, you don’t really know what to expect. This will give you an appreciation for the challenges you may face and the type of lifestyle you may expect.
Secondly, have passion! This is not an easy field but it is incredibly rewarding. This is not a career to expect a 9-5 job. It is a career that – to get full enjoyment out of it – you must immerse yourself. You will be studying and learning for your entire career. This takes time and dedication.
Lastly, have an open minded. Especially in exotic animal medicine, there is so much more we need to learn. “Thinking outside the box” and consulting with colleagues should be regular occurrences.
Q: How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
A: Excelling in academic pursuits are crucial. My studies concentrated on general biology and animal science related courses. I also had 7 years of veterinary experience in small animal medicine by the time I submitted my application. To demonstrate my desire to pursue a career in exotic animal medicine, I also had 3 years’ experience at a local exotic pet store as the manager of the animal department.
Q: What are you passionate about in terms of your specialty in reptile medicine?
A: My practice focuses initially on client education on the proper husbandry for each species.
A great many reptile cases that present to a reptile veterinarian are medical and behavioral issues that stem from poor or inadequate husbandry practices. There are a lot of species available in the pet trade and each species requires its own set of housing, lighting, and dietary requirements. Providing proper environment and diet for a pet reptile in captivity are the most important aspects of keeping them
I am passionate about providing an enriched environment to each animal as well. Providing an environment that stimulates the reptile to think and interact with its environment in a manner similar to its wild habitat will result in a healthier and happier animal.
One unique aspect to reptile (and other exotic animal) veterinarians is the ability to get involved in conservation efforts both domestically and globally.
Q: What do you want the attendees to leave with after your presentation at the conference this October?
A: I hope the attendees leave with a better knowledge and appreciation of the unique aspects of being a reptile veterinarian. Although there are not a lot of us “scaly docs” out there, we are a passionate group. If anyone has a desire to pursue a career in exotic animal medicine, I encourage you to speak with one of us and to join us in bettering the lives of the interesting species that we choose to share our lives with. An excellent resources for anyone interested is through the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (www.arav.org)
I also want people to realize the vast array of career opportunities available to veterinarians in general, as well as, to those of us in exotic animal medicine.
I appreciate this opportunity and I look forward to seeing you all soon!
A: I am one of those people that wanted to be a veterinarian from a very young age – probably before I knew what a veterinarian was. I have always had a passion for animals and a love for science and medicine. Pursuing a career where I could incorporate all of those aspects was ideal.
Q: What did you like about attending veterinary school at UC Davis?
A: Being a native Californian, it was an easy decision to choose UC Davis as my school of choice for veterinary medicine. My experience at UC Davis was wonderful. The instructors were all very knowledgeable and approachable. The doctors and staff at the VMTH (teaching hospital) provided invaluable training and education throughout my student career. As a veterinarian practicing in a community within an easy driving distance to the teaching hospital, it has also provided me with the confidence to recommend referral to the institution for advanced needs for my patients.
The city of Davis is also still very near and dear to my heart. From the farmer’s market to the biking trails to the downtown opportunities, there was never a shortage of recreational activities to enjoy – in between classes and studying, of course.
Q: What advice would you offer a pre-veterinary student interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine or in your specific specialty?
A: I have three pieces of advice to offer here:
Firstly, volunteer regularly or get a job in the branch of veterinary medicine that you are most likely going to pursue. Until you see the ins and outs of the field, you don’t really know what to expect. This will give you an appreciation for the challenges you may face and the type of lifestyle you may expect.
Secondly, have passion! This is not an easy field but it is incredibly rewarding. This is not a career to expect a 9-5 job. It is a career that – to get full enjoyment out of it – you must immerse yourself. You will be studying and learning for your entire career. This takes time and dedication.
Lastly, have an open minded. Especially in exotic animal medicine, there is so much more we need to learn. “Thinking outside the box” and consulting with colleagues should be regular occurrences.
Q: How did you make yourself stand out as an applicant to veterinary school?
A: Excelling in academic pursuits are crucial. My studies concentrated on general biology and animal science related courses. I also had 7 years of veterinary experience in small animal medicine by the time I submitted my application. To demonstrate my desire to pursue a career in exotic animal medicine, I also had 3 years’ experience at a local exotic pet store as the manager of the animal department.
Q: What are you passionate about in terms of your specialty in reptile medicine?
A: My practice focuses initially on client education on the proper husbandry for each species.
A great many reptile cases that present to a reptile veterinarian are medical and behavioral issues that stem from poor or inadequate husbandry practices. There are a lot of species available in the pet trade and each species requires its own set of housing, lighting, and dietary requirements. Providing proper environment and diet for a pet reptile in captivity are the most important aspects of keeping them
I am passionate about providing an enriched environment to each animal as well. Providing an environment that stimulates the reptile to think and interact with its environment in a manner similar to its wild habitat will result in a healthier and happier animal.
One unique aspect to reptile (and other exotic animal) veterinarians is the ability to get involved in conservation efforts both domestically and globally.
Q: What do you want the attendees to leave with after your presentation at the conference this October?
A: I hope the attendees leave with a better knowledge and appreciation of the unique aspects of being a reptile veterinarian. Although there are not a lot of us “scaly docs” out there, we are a passionate group. If anyone has a desire to pursue a career in exotic animal medicine, I encourage you to speak with one of us and to join us in bettering the lives of the interesting species that we choose to share our lives with. An excellent resources for anyone interested is through the Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians (www.arav.org)
I also want people to realize the vast array of career opportunities available to veterinarians in general, as well as, to those of us in exotic animal medicine.
I appreciate this opportunity and I look forward to seeing you all soon!