Veterinarian
A veterinarian is a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) who specializes in the health care of animals, diagnosing and treating various species, including pets, livestock, and wildlife. Most veterinarians operate in private clinics, where they care for pets like dogs, cats, and exotic animals, while others may work in research or public health settings to address animal diseases and food safety. The profession requires a strong background in science, particularly biology and anatomy, as well as excellent interpersonal skills to effectively communicate with pet owners. Veterinarians often work long hours, including emergency calls, and must stay current with advancements in veterinary medicine to meet the increasing demands of pet care. A DVM degree is necessary, along with state licensure, to practice. The career outlook is positive, with employment growth expected at a rate much faster than average. The median annual earnings for veterinarians are approximately $119,100. This profession not only involves medical treatment but also requires a commitment to animal welfare and the ability to engage compassionately with both animals and their owners.
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Subject Terms
Veterinarian
Snapshot
- Career Cluster(s): Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources, Health Science
- Interests: Medicine, biology, science, animal husbandry, animal care
- Earnings (Yearly Median): $119,100 per year, $57.26 per hour (2023)
- Employment & Outlook: 19 percent (much faster than average)
- Entry-Level Education: Doctoral or professional degree; state license
- Related Work Experience: None
- On-the-Job-Training: None
Overview
Sphere of Work. A veterinarian is a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) who evaluates, diagnoses, and treats various kinds of animals. A veterinarian also works to prevent animal diseases and injuries. Although the majority of veterinarians work with household pets, some treat wild animals, livestock, and animals living in zoos, on farms, or in laboratories. A few veterinarians specialize in preventing diseases spread by animals, and others conduct research related to the medical science of animals.
Work Environment. Most veterinarians operate out of a private medical practice or clinic and specialize in one or two animal species. Veterinarians who work primarily with pets (such as cats, dogs, birds, ferrets, and reptiles) typically work more than forty hours per week. Their work environment, while indoors and private, is busy and noisy due to the constant animal traffic in their offices and the animals kept in overnight boarding facilities. Veterinarians who work with livestock or horses generally spend long hours outdoors and commute from their offices or homes to farms, barns, and ranches. Veterinarians whose jobs are research-based or related to public health work in offices or laboratories can expect to work regular hours.
Occupation Interest. Veterinarians genuinely care about the health and well-being of animals and should have a solid grasp of the sciences, anatomy, and general medicine. Since veterinarians work not only with animals but also with people, they should enjoy interacting with and, when necessary, consoling pet owners and handlers. Many veterinarians are on call twenty-four hours a day as emergencies occur, so potential veterinarians must be wholeheartedly committed to treating animals.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Most veterinarians are general practitioners who work in private medical practices and diagnose and treat pets, including dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, rabbits, hamsters, and other small animals. These veterinarians often perform spaying and neutering operations, orthopedic procedures, animal dentistry, and trauma surgery, as well as euthanizing those animals they are unable to help. Some veterinarians have private animal practices where they treat ranch and farm animals such as cattle, horses, and pigs. These veterinarians evaluate animal production, feeding, and housing and perform cesarean sections on animals in labor. A few veterinarians in private practice focus solely on equine (horse) medicine. All veterinarians diagnose diseases, perform surgeries, vaccinate, euthanize, medicate, treat broken bones and open wounds, and counsel owners on the proper care, maintenance, and breeding of animals. Veterinarians also perform diagnostic tests, including ultrasounds, X-rays, and blood and stool tests. Some specialized veterinarians work with exotic and wild animals.
Some veterinarians have food safety practices and are employed by members of the food industry and government agencies. They generally work in offices, studying and researching methods of food-related illness prevention, food safety, and food inspection. Other veterinarians work in laboratory-animal practices and are employed by a university or industrial laboratory. They collaborate with scientists and other physicians to examine the relationship of animals to the environment and human health problems.
Veterinarians constantly interact with animal owners, often working with them to discover and diagnose problems and speed the recovery of their pets. Pet owners have increasingly shown a willingness to pay for more sophisticated healthcare procedures and treatments for their pets, and as pets’ healthcare becomes more advanced, veterinarians must continue to learn new techniques and offer more choices to clients in order to remain financially competitive.
Poultry Veterinarians (073.101-014). Poultry veterinarians advise poultry raisers on problems, gather information from owners, and inspect flocks, pens, and housing.
Veterinary Livestock Inspectors (073.161-010). Veterinary livestock inspectors test animals for the presence of disease by performing standard clinical tests and submitting specimens of tissues and other parts for laboratory analysis.
Veterinary Virus-Serum Inspectors (073.261-010). Veterinary virus-serum inspectors inspect establishments that manufacture serums, toxins, and similar products used in the treatment of animals to enforce state or federal standards.
Veterinary Meat Inspectors (073.264-010). Veterinary meat inspectors inspect establishments engaged in slaughtering livestock and processing meat to detect evidence of disease or other conditions.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Most veterinarians work indoors in clean, well-ventilated clinical settings. Veterinarians who travel to farms or ranches work outdoors, often in inclement weather and unsanitary conditions. Veterinarians who perform research usually work in sterile, well-lit offices or laboratories.
Human Environment. All veterinarians must work and interact with numerous other individuals, including office personnel, veterinary technicians, interns, farm or ranch owners and employees, and pet owners.
Technological Environment. Veterinarians must be comfortable handling surgical instruments, hypodermic needles, medications, and diagnostic, radiographic, and ultrasound equipment. Veterinarians who primarily perform research must use complex laboratory equipment. Veterinarians who are also small business owners must be proficient in office software for scheduling and billing. They may also use the internet to advertise their services and conduct research.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. High school students who wish to become veterinarians should prepare by taking advanced mathematics and science courses, including chemistry, biology, physiology, algebra, trigonometry, and physics. They should also take courses in English, health, technology, and communications to supplement their primary studies. Outside of school, students can gain valuable experience with animals by working or volunteering at a local animal shelter, grooming facility, farm, pet store, or general veterinary medical practice.
Postsecondary. To become a veterinarian, one must obtain a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM or VMD) degree by completing a four-year program in veterinary medicine or veterinary science from a college that has received accreditation from the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Although most veterinary programs expect applicants to have earned a bachelor’s degree, a few require applicants only to have completed a substantial number of undergraduate semester hours to gain acceptance. To prepare for veterinary training, undergraduate students should study courses such as organic and inorganic chemistry, animal nutrition, zoology, cellular biology, business management, and mathematics. Some programs also offer courses specifically tailored to subfields of veterinary medicine, such as veterinary oncology. All veterinarians must obtain a state license.
Related Occupations
− Veterinary Assistant/Technician
Bibliography
"Veterinarians." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 29 Aug. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinarians.htm. Accessed 11 Sept. 2024.