Pet care and grooming: Training is always necessary

According to Mr. Huynh Ngoc Diep, General Director of the Binh Dinh province's Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health, pet care facilities are conditional business lines. As a result, workers involved in pet care services must be licensed veterinary doctors certified by the Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health.

Regulations stipulate that veterinary clinic staff must undergo professional training from vocational schools or a higher level of education; and only licensed veterinary doctors can prescribe medication for pets. Pet care facilities must also adhere to regulations regarding hazardous waste disposal and environmental management during their operations.

University graduates with degrees in animal husbandry or veterinary medicine may need to further their education by attending clinics or hospitals specializing in pet care in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi to gain practical experience. The theoretical knowledge gained from university studies may not be sufficient, especially since grooming courses for pets are not typically offered in the curriculum," Mr. Huynh Ngoc Diep shared.

During our visit to Quang Dung Pet Clinic at 85 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Quy Nhon City, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Head of the Department of Livestock Production under the Binh Dinh province's Sub-Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health, shared that with the rapid expansion of pet care facilities, local authorities must conduct periodic inspections once or twice a year to remind these facilities to comply with regulations.

"Pet clinics in Quy Nhon city are fully equipped with the necessary tools for pet examination and treatment. Many facilities also offer bone surgery and joint replacement for pets injured in accidents," Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh reported.

Upon stepping into Quang Dung Pet Clinic, we were immediately overwhelmed by the wide array of equipment - collars, leashes, bells, muzzles - and various types of pet food, nutritional supplements, and grooming products displayed in two rows of cabinets flanking the aisles.

Ho Duy Phien, a 26-year-old veterinarian responsible for pet treatment at Quang Dung Pet Clinic, shared that in addition to treating illnesses and grooming pets, the clinic also offers accessories for sale to meet customer demands and generate additional income.

According to Phien, Quang Dung Pet Clinic has been operating for over ten years, but it has only seen an increase in pet visits for treatment in the past five years. The clinic currently employs three staff members: one treatment staff, one pet care and grooming staff, and one sales staff.

On average, the clinic admits between five and six pets for treatment of various illnesses, and administers between five and six doses of vaccination per day. The most common visitors are dogs and cats, while ornamental chickens and birds are less frequent. For the latter, pet owners usually describe the symptoms to the veterinarians and purchase medications for their avian pets without opting for inpatient treatment.

Phien graduated from Binh Dinh Medical College, majoring in veterinary medicine. Despite being only 26 years old, he already has five years of experience in treating pets. Before practicing veterinary medicine, Phien attended additional specialized training courses on pet surgery in Ho Chi Minh city. These courses were conducted by experienced Chinese veterinarians, who provided extensive training on X-ray imaging, blood tests, and a focus on knee replacement surgery for dogs.

"There are currently 10 hospitals specializing in pet treatment within Ho Chi Minh city. Veterinarians who have gained practical experience at these hospitals will earn the trust of customers in the future. In addition to the theoretical knowledge gained in universities, experience will provide additional useful and practical insights," shared Ho Duy Phien.

"The profession of pet grooming also originates from the field of veterinary medicine. However, the curriculum at veterinary universities primarily focuses on the treatment of large animals such as buffalo, cattle, pigs, chickens, and ducks, with no emphasis on grooming. In the past, pet ownership was not as popular as it is now, so grooming was not prioritized. Nowadays, even veterinary university graduates must attend additional courses at pet grooming facilities in Ho Chi Minh city to work in the pet care and grooming industry," added veterinarian Ho Duy Phien