An elderly person brings in a pet rabbit with extremely matted fur, long nails that are leading to lack of mobility, and urine scalding on the fur. What approach would you take with this pet owner?

During scenario-based questions in an MMI interview for veterinary school, your interviewers will test your ability to do what is right for the pet. In essence, it will be crucial that you prove yourself a true advocate for the pet's well-being. In the short time you have to play out scenarios like this during an MMI interview, remember that body language matters, and your interviewer will expect you to exude confidence in your approach with the pet owner.

"Providing the care needed for the rabbit would be my first priority. As a student at your veterinary school, I look forward to learning how to provide the best care for the nails, matter fur, and urine scalding. Once the rabbit is cared for, it becomes all about evaluating the patient's ability to care for the rabbit and educating them on the rabbit's condition. Of course, I would need to question if there was intentional neglect in this situation, but considering the scenario and the owner's age, I could likely rule that out in this scenario. I would also consider whether the owner can care for the pet. I would give them the benefit of the doubt and encourage them to ask friends or family to help."

In your answer, you will need to walk a fine line between advocating for the pet and considering the state of the pet owner. First and foremost, educating the rabbit's owner is vital; this includes simple grooming techniques and the potential health hazards that could result from further lack of care. From an ethical perspective, you have to make the call on mandatory reporting of neglect to the appropriate authorities of the state you are practicing in. In this particular scenario, you can assume that the owner is not intentionally abusing the rabbit. End your answer by assuring your interviewer that you will provide the care needed for the rabbit and schedule a follow-up visit at an appropriate time.