Health Career: Veterinarian
Who are veterinarians and what do they do?
Veterinarians are doctors who care for pets, livestock, sporting, zoo and laboratory animals and who also protect humans against diseases carried by animals. They diagnose and treat animal health problems, perform vaccinations and advise owners on how to care for or breed their animals. Some veterinarians perform research or teach at a school of veterinary medicine.
How do veterinarians typically spend their workday?
As a veterinarian, you will likely run your own clinical practice. You may specialize in treating certain animals (such as small domestic breeds like dogs, cats and birds), or you may treat all kinds of animals. If you treat small animals, you will generally work in an animal hospital or clinic. People will bring their pets to you for treatment. If you work with larger breeds such as horses or elephants, you will drive to the animals' homes (usually farms, ranches, zoos or amusement parks) to provide medical care. For veterinarians who treat domestic animals, a typical work day may involve treating a cat for respiratory problems, diagnosing a dog for rabies, performing minor surgery on a dog to remove glass from his paw and handling billing and insurance issues.
What does it take to be a good veterinarian?
If you love animals and are interested in protecting and promoting their health, you should consider becoming a veterinarian. As a veterinarian, you should be patient, gentle and tolerant. You should also be curious and like learning about animal medicine. It is also helpful to have good communication skills.
What are some health-related jobs that are similar to that of a veterinarian?
Biological scientist, doctor, nurse practitioner.
Related links and helpful information:
- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
- Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)
- AAVMC – Students & Admissions Page
- The Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association
