Veterinarian

Veterinary Medicine

Specialties In Veterinary Medicine

If you are considering starting a career in veterinary medicine you should take the time to consider your options. A degree in animal health can offer you a lot more jobs options than you may realize. Just like with the human health field there are many veterinary medicine specialties that you can choose from. This way you can specialize in an area of the animal health field that appeals to you.

Alternative Medicine

This can also be known as holistic veterinary medicine. This form of veterinary medicine includes the areas of chiropractic, acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal treatments and massage therapy. This is a relatively new specialty within the animal health community.

Anesthesiology

Those going into this area of veterinary medicine will need to complete advanced, formal training in anesthesiology in addition to their veterinary school requirements. These individuals are specifically trained to manage animals who are unconscious for the purpose of diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical procedures. In addition a anesthesiologist will focus on pain management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and support as well as care for animals that are critically in and in special care units.

Behavior

This can be a very complex specialty of veterinary medicine. These individuals attempt to understand the affect of social, genetic and environmental factors on an animals behavior while also understanding the relationship between humans and animals. The credentials for someone in this specialty will vary depending on what type of work they plan on doing. Animal trainers have a different level of certification than veterinary technicians who take specific courses in animal behavior.

Cardiology

As with the human health field these specialists focus on the diagnosis and treatment of heat and large blood vessel diseases in animals. In some practices these individuals will also work with diseases of the lungs and chest. Often these individuals will have extensive training after graduating from veterinary school that includes training in diagnostic imaging techniques, preventative measures and medical treatment for heart and vascular diseases.

Dentistry

These individuals focus on both the prevention and treatment of dental problems in all animals. They are responsible for diagnosing and treating all oral infections and diseases just like human dentists. They will also perform surgical extractions, reconstructive surgery, repair fractures and provide treatment for oral traumas.

Other Specialties

In addition to these areas there are many other specialties open to those studying veterinary medicine. Some are new areas of studies while others have been around a long time. Some require little addition schooling while others require years of specialized training. Some other areas to consider include clinical pathology, dermatology, genetics, nutrition, oncology, ophthalmology and pharmacology.