Veterinarian

Veterinarian Career

What Is Involved In A Veterinarian Career?

A veterinarian career can involve all types of animals whether they are livestock, pets, zoo animals, sporting animals or laboratory animals. The majority of those choosing a veterinarian career will work in the clinical setting in private practices. Many veterinarians will end up working with small animals doing work such as treating injuries and illness as well as doing preventive care such as administering vaccines and doing health checks.

There are a small number of individuals who choose a veterinarian career with large animals and work primarily with horses and cows. Many of these veterinarians will end up driving out to stables, farms or ranches to provide the necessary medical care for animals or entire herds. These veterinarians may also discuss animal management with the owners. An even smaller number of veterinarians will choose a career in the public health sector or in research at various universities.

The Patients

A veterinarian career is spent largely in two areas: in surgery and in consultation with owners. While most veterinarians work with all types of pets you could choose to specialize your veterinarian career and work only with specific animals such as birds, cats or dogs. There are some that choose to visit the homes of individuals who are unable to travel and provide vet care for their pets.

Is It For You?

So how do you know if a veterinarian career is right for you? First you should know that a veterinarian career requires you to work long hours including sometimes being on call for evenings, nights or weekends. If you are working for a large animal practice then you will likely have to do your job in all kinds of weather, often outdoors and usually in conditions that are less than sanitary. In addition, a veterinarian career means you are risking injury on a daily basis since you will be working with animals that are both frightened and in pain.

If you choose to focus your veterinarian career on the public health sector or in research then you will often be in the office and laboratory having to work more with people than animals. No matter what you choose you should be prepared to spend a lot of time in school. In the United Kingdom, US or Canada you will need to get a degree or postgraduate degree from a school that is accredited and has a veterinary medicine program. Often there are many more applications to these schools then open positions.

Why Choose A Veterinarian Career

There are several reasons why it can be rewarding to choose a veterinarian career. For one it is a very emotionally satisfying job and the satisfaction of helping animals is an excellent motivator for many. Also many in the field cite the flexibility of a professional work schedule as a major benefit. It is often consider a child-rearing profession that easily accommodates this need. Finally it can have moderate financial rewards. Although not a very high paying field it does pay enough to get rid of student loans and make a modest living.