The vet who used to work in Singapore Police Force's K-9 Unit

Looking after furry and feathered companions is a challenging task, but these vets are taking it in their stride

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The thought of becoming a vet never crossed Dr Travis Jayson's mind until he was posted to the Singapore Police Force's K-9 Unit during his national service.

It was there that he developed a love for caring for dogs and picked up some medical knowledge from a para-veterinarian, who was looking after the police dogs.

"I always wanted to be a policeman, so I signed on to be a canine officer at the Singapore Police Force," says the 46-year-old.

Five years into the job with the unit, he decided to head to Murdoch University in Australia to study veterinary medicine.

"I was a mature student at 26, and I think being older helped me develop resilience to cope with the rigours of the coursework and industry," says Dr Jayson.

He recalls his younger classmates struggling mentally-something he also sees now in the junior vets in Gentle Oak, which he co-founded in 2015.

Dr Jayson says he makes sure mental wellness is a priority in the clinic, as the veterinary world is a stressful industry.

"The younger vets tend to be 100 per cent emotionally involved with the patients. Then they find it very hard to pull out and look at the situation from a different perspective," he notes.