Their Patients Aren't Human...Animal Vets on TV Quiz

"The Incredible Dr. Pol" was a long-running reality series on Nat Geo WILD. It followed the daily life of Dr. Jan Pol, a Dutch-American veterinarian known for his no-nonsense approach to animal care. His practice, called Pol Veterinary Services, specialized in large farm animals, including cows, horses, pigs, sheep, and goats. As an example, in the episode called "How Now Smelly Cow" the doctor had to treat a cow with a twisted stomach.

The show was set in the rural farm country of Central Michigan, specifically based in the small town of Weidman, where Dr. Pol had been practicing for over 50 years to support the local farming community. After a massive 24-season run spanning 13 years, "The Incredible Dr. Pol" aired its series finale on July 6, 2024.

"Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet" premiered on April 12, 2014, on Nat Geo WILD and ran for twelve seasons. It was a reality series that followed the adventures of Dr. Michelle Oakley, who served as the only all-species veterinarian for thousands of miles in her geographic region. She did not limit herself to one type of animal; instead, she treated everything from domestic pets and farm animals to wildlife like bison, bears, wolverines, and caribou. In one episode called "An Icy Snow Machine Rescue", her team had to travel by snow machine over dangerously thin ice to reach a dog in need, demonstrating the extreme lengths they go to for their patients.

While her home and primary practice are located in Haines Junction, Yukon, she regularly traveled across the border to Haines, Alaska. In fact, she was the on-call veterinarian for the American Bald Eagle Foundation located there and had operated a satellite clinic in Haines for years to serve the local pet and livestock owners who otherwise had no local vet.

"Critter Fixers: Country Vets" is a Nat Geo WILD series that premiered on March 7, 2020 and ran for five seasons. It followed the long-time friends (and vets) Dr. Vernard Hodges and Dr. Terrence Ferguson in their Georgia practice. These country vets with "Southern charm" treated everything from household pets to "crittters" like alligators. In one episode, these pals for over 30 years used regular household items to repair a turtle's severely broken shell, a classic example of their creative "country vet" problem-solving.

Their practice in Bonaire, Georgia, has been operating for over 25 years. Originally opened as a small clinic, the Critter Fixer Veterinary Hospital has since expanded into a huge state-of-the-art facility with full surgical suites, a diagnostic laboratory for in-house testing, and specialized areas for dental care.

"Dr. Jeff: Rocky Mountain Vet" premiered on July 11, 2015, on Animal Planet channel and after a successful 8-season run, the series officially concluded in 2022. The show followed Dr. Jeff Young and his team at Planned Pethood International. Dr. Jeff was known for focusing on high-volume, low-cost care to make pet ownership accessible to everyone in the Rocky Mountain area. The show was particularly famous for its high-intensity surgeries and Dr. Jeff's willingness to take his mobile clinic to remote areas. For example, several specials followed the team to Mexico, where they set up free mobile clinics in underserved communities.

For much of the television series, the clinic was located in Wheat Ridge, a suburb just west of Denver, Colorado. This was the "home base" where his primary mission was to end "economic euthanasia," which was the sad situation where owners are forced to put their pets down simply because they cannot afford life-saving medical care.

"The Vet Life" is an Animal Planet reality series that premiered on June 4, 2016 and ran through 2020. It followed the professional and personal lives of three best friends and veterinarians: Dr. Diarra Blue, Dr. Aubrey Ross, and Dr. Michael Lavigne. While they were full-service vets who primarily treated domestic pets like dogs and cats, they were also all-species specialists known for handling bizarre and exotic animals ranging from tigers, kangaroos, and sugar gliders to emus and even a piranha. Based near Houston, Texas, one of the show's most impactful episodes was filming the doctors' efforts to keep their clinic open and rescue stranded animals in the wake of the devastating 2017 hurricane.

Veterinary medicine is statistically one of the least diverse professions in America. These three vets, who met at Tuskegee University, used the show to be visible role models. They showed young people of color that they can succeed in the field. They frequently discussed their journey of opening their own business as black men in a rural/suburban Texas environment.

"Dr. K's Exotic Animal ER" premiered on October 4, 2014, on Nat Geo WILD and ran for nine seasons, concluding in 2021. The series followed Dr. Susan Kelleher (known as Dr. K) and her dedicated team as they treated a variety of animals. Dr. K's practice was unique because she strictly specialized in exotic animals, famously operating under the motto: "Everything but dogs and cats; if it fits through the door, I'll treat it!" In the episode called "Return of the Dragon", the team treated a bearded dragon with a severely broken leg, showcasing their orthopedic expertise for little reptiles.

The practice featured in the show was the Broward Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital, located in Deerfield Beach, Florida (north of Fort Lauderdale). This hospital was uniquely designed as a "quiet zone" because birds and small prey animals are easily stressed by loud noises.

"Pop Goes the Vet with Dr. Joya" was a Nat Geo WILD series that premiered on January 1, 2022 and ran for one season with several specials. It followed the specialized work of Dr. Joya Griffin, a board-certified veterinary dermatologist. She focused on what she called "the gross, the gooey, and the itchy," specializing in skin, ear, and allergy conditions across a vast range of animals. In one episode entitled "Wax to the Max", the doctor dealt with massive earwax impactions and "pus pockets" that provided immediate relief to the animals.

Based in Louisville, Kentucky, the series was often compared to a veterinary version of "Dr. Pimple Popper" because of its satisfying (though sometimes gross) focus on extractions and skin growth transformations.

"Heartland Docs, DVM" is a Nat Geo WILD series that premiered on January 25, 2020 and ran for five seasons. It followed the husband-and-wife veterinary team of Drs. Ben and Erin Schroeder in a small town in Nebraska. Dr. Ben often took the lead on large livestock like cattle, horses, and bison, while Dr. Erin specialized in small animals like dogs and cats. A fan favorite episode, "Whole Llama Love", featured a visit with a family of llamas and a dramatic case involving a newborn calf with a huge hernia.

The practice featured in the show was Cedar County Veterinary Services, located in the small rural town of Hartington, Nebraska. The show was particularly praised for its family-centric feel, often featuring their two sons, Charlie and Chase, assisting in the clinic or out on farm calls during Nebraska blizzards and heatwaves.

"The Wild Life of Dr. Ole" was a high-energy Nat Geo WILD series that premiered on January 17, 2021 and ran for one season across eight episodes. The show followed the life of Dr. Peter "Ole" Alcumbrac, who specialized in wildlife and exotic species. He was the resident vet for Arizona's Bearizona Wildlife Park and lead veterinarian for the Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Project. The action/adventure that he showcased was particularly strong in an episode called "Pronghorn Problems", where he did helicopter tracking, precision darting, and wrestling of the animals.

The show took place in the rugged landscapes of Arizona, specifically centered in the town of Pinetop-Lakeside and several adventures in the Tucson area. He also traveled and treated animals in the mountains, the desert, and national parks.

"Vet School" was a Nat Geo WILD documentary series that premiered on September 19, 2015 and ran for one season. It provided a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the hard journey of students at the prestigious Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. Instead of a focus on a single established doctor, this series followed a rotating cast of first-year and fourth-year students, including fan favorites like Aziza Glass and Singen Elliott. "Happy Tails: Millie the Bulldog" was one of the show's most emotional episodes and involved a 3-year-old English Bulldog in end-stage congestive heart failure who underwent a risky, six-hour heart surgery.

The show took place at the university in Ithaca, New York. The "classroom" for these students extended across the entire veterinary complex, which included two hospitals, anatomy labs, barns, and the local community.