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Can Sims Become Vets in The Sims 4? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, your Sims can become vets in The Sims 4, but not in the traditional career sense. They cannot join a pre-existing veterinary practice as a regular job. Instead, Sims can only be veterinarians by owning and operating their own vet clinic. This unique career path is available with The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs Expansion Pack. This adds a whole new layer of gameplay, letting you nurture your entrepreneurial spirit while caring for the adorable pets of Brindleton Bay (or any other world!).

How to Embark on the Veterinary Career

The journey to becoming a vet in The Sims 4 is a fulfilling one that combines business ownership with hands-on animal care. Here’s a breakdown of the key steps:

Purchasing a Vet Clinic

The first thing you need to do is to get your Sim rich! Since they will have to purchase their own vet clinic to kick things off. Go into build/buy mode and purchase a pre-built clinic from the gallery or build your own clinic from scratch on an empty lot. You can customize the layout, decorations, and equipment to your liking. Essential items include:

Exam Tables: Crucial for diagnosing and treating animal patients.
Medicine Crafting Table: Used to create medications and treats.
Vet Podium: Where your Sim will greet and manage patients.
Waiting Area Seating: For pet owners and their furry friends.
Appropriate Decor: To create a calming and professional environment.

Developing the Veterinary Skill

While owning a clinic is the primary requirement, developing your Sim’s Veterinary Skill is essential for success. You can do this in several ways:

Examining Animals: Every interaction on the exam table increases the skill.
Crafting Medicine: Use the medicine crafting table to learn new recipes and improve skill.
Reading Skill Books: Purchase veterinary skill books from a bookshelf or computer.
Watching Online Tutorials: Some computers offer skill-boosting options.

Running Your Clinic

Once your clinic is set up and your Sim has some Veterinary Skill, you can open for business!

Open the Clinic: Click on the Vet Podium and select “Open Clinic”. This will summon your employees (if any) and welcome your first patients.
Manage Patients: Greet customers, assess their pets’ symptoms, and assign them to exam tables.
Diagnose and Treat: Examine the animal on the exam table to identify the illness. Prescribe the correct medication or perform surgery if necessary.
Craft Medications: Use the medicine crafting table to create treatments as needed. This is especially important for rare or custom ailments.
Manage Employees: Hire and manage employees to assist with daily tasks. Choose employees with good Veterinarian, Charisma, and Handiness skills.

Clinic Management Perks

As your clinic earns profits and gains experience, you’ll earn Perk Points. These can be used to unlock various benefits that improve your clinic’s efficiency and profitability:

Improved Customer Flow: Reduces wait times and increases customer satisfaction.
Better Employee Management: Improves employee performance and reduces stress.
Marketing Boosts: Attract more customers to your clinic.
Additional Employee Slots: Hire more staff to handle a larger volume of patients.
Cheaper Supplies: Reduce the cost of medications and other essential supplies.
Inspirational Speech: Improves the vet’s performance.

The Importance of the Cats & Dogs Expansion Pack

It’s crucial to remember that the veterinary career path is exclusively available with the Cats & Dogs Expansion Pack. Without this pack, your Sims can’t own or operate a vet clinic. This expansion pack adds a wealth of content, including new pets, a new world (Brindleton Bay), and a range of animal-related interactions that enrich the gameplay experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about the veterinary career in The Sims 4:

1. Can Sims work as vets without owning a clinic?

No, Sims cannot work as vets in a traditional employment sense. They must own and operate their own vet clinic to practice veterinary medicine in The Sims 4. As highlighted by the Games Learning Society, the game encourages entrepreneurial thinking and skill development. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org to learn more.

2. Where is the vet clinic in The Sims 4?

There is a default vet clinic in Brindleton Bay, the world introduced with the Cats & Dogs Expansion Pack. You can also find pre-made clinics in the gallery and place them on any empty lot.

3. Can a vet clinic run on its own in The Sims 4?

Yes, if you place a vet clinic in your world, it will operate automatically. Sims will come and go as customers, and other Sims can be hired as employees, even if you don’t own it.

4. How do you get the vet skill in Sims 4?

Sims can improve their Vet Skill by:

Examining animals at the exam table.
Crafting medicine at the medicine crafting table.
Reading veterinary skill books.
Watching online tutorials on the computer.

5. Can Sims become doctors in a hospital?

Yes, Sims can become doctors in The Sims 4 if you have the Get to Work Expansion Pack. This allows Sims to actively work at the hospital, diagnose patients, perform surgeries, and deliver babies.

6. Where is the hospital in The Sims 4?

The hospital is located in Willow Creek’s Civic Center neighborhood if you have the Get to Work Expansion Pack installed.

7. Can Sims go to the hospital for illness?

If you have the Get to Work expansion, your Sims can visit the hospital for illnesses. If you only have the base game, the hospital is just a “rabbit hole,” and Sims will simply disappear for a short time.

8. What happens when a Sim gives birth in a hospital?

Giving birth in a hospital grants the unique Birth Certificate item, which can be placed as a wall decoration. Otherwise, there is no lasting gameplay difference compared to giving birth at home.

9. Can you be a surgeon in The Sims 4?

Yes, Sims can perform surgeries as part of the Doctor career in the Get to Work Expansion Pack. Surgeries are one of the tasks required for promotion in this career.

10. How do you make money in the vet clinic in The Sims 4?

You can increase your clinic’s income by:

Treating patients efficiently and accurately.
Crafting and selling treats and medications.
Improving customer satisfaction.
Utilizing marketing perks to attract more customers.

11. How many vets can you hire in The Sims 4?

Clinics start with one employee slot, but you can unlock up to two more slots using Perk Points.

12. What other businesses can Sims own in The Sims 4?

With the Get to Work expansion, Sims can own retail stores that sell a variety of items, including clothing, furniture, electronics, art, books, and even baked goods.

13. Can Sims be CEOs in The Sims 4?

Yes, Sims can become CEOs by reaching rank seven in the Business Career and choosing either the Investor or Management branch.

14. Can Sims get top surgery in The Sims 4?

Yes, The Sims 4 added a Top Surgery Scar option to the Create a Sim character creator. It can be found in the Body category’s new Body Scars subcategory and added to any male Sims aged Teen or older.

15. Is there a police station in The Sims 4?

Yes, the police station is available if you have the Get to Work Expansion Pack. You can find it in your gallery.

In conclusion, while Sims cannot be veterinarians in a traditional employment sense, they can absolutely run their own successful vet clinics with The Sims 4: Cats & Dogs. This offers a unique and rewarding gameplay experience that combines business management with the joy of caring for animals.

Can Sims become vets Sims 4?