Careers in Veterinary Medicine

VETERINARIANS ARE DOCTORS WHO provide healthcare for animals. Like all doctors, they diagnose, treat, and research a wide variety of medical conditions using advanced procedures and sophisticated medical equipment. Their patients are often household pets, but they can also be livestock, zoo and aquarium dwellers, wildlife, or any other non-human animals. Preventing disease and healing animals that are sick or injured are at the heart of what veterinarians do. The work is varied and activities go well beyond vaccinations, sutures, setting fractured bones, and surgeries. For example, veterinarians are responsible for identifying and combating infectious diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. Their work may also involve biomedical research, education, public health policies, food safety regulations, and environmental protection. Eight out of 10 veterinarians are private practitioners, working in a one-person office or as part of a team in a clinic or hospital. These vets treat small animals, mostly pets and other companion animals. Most are generalists, providing a wide range of services from spaying and neutering to dental work and surgeries. They can also be highly-trained specialists that focus on particular medical conditions like diabetes or glaucoma, or specific functions such as orthopedic surgery or oncology. Some vets travel to farms and ranches to work with large animals while others work with exotic animals in zoos and aquariums. Still others work in national parks and other natural habitats. There are also veterinarians who do not work directly with animals. For example, they may work on public health issues in government offices or conduct research in well--equipped laboratories.Becoming a veterinarian is a lengthy process that takes at least eight years following high school graduation. To legally practice veterinary medicine, individuals are required to have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited veterinary college, as well as a state license. Vets who want to become board certified specialists will need to spend a few more years working in a clinical residency. When training is complete, the prospects of a new veterinarian finding employment are excellent. The demand for qualified veterinarians has never been stronger, especially for those with specialized skills. Most vets report that their profession is quite rewarding. The pay is good with an average salary in the six figure range, and the opportunities are diverse and exciting. It can be challenging to deal with frightened animals who are sick or injured. It is sometimes equally difficult to interact with their owners who are also worried and stressed about their animals. For those with a passion for animals and great interpersonal skills, a career in veterinary medicine is an excellent career worth consideration.