What Is a Veterinarian?
Veterinarians are medical professionals who protect the health and well-being of both animals and people. They diagnose and control animal diseases and treat sick and injured animals. They also advise owners on proper care of their pets and livestock.
When taking the Veterinarian's Oath, a doctor solemnly swears to use his or her scientific knowledge and skills "for the benefit of society, through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge." They provide a wide range of services in private practice, teaching, research, government service, public health, military service, private industry, and other areas.
What Does A Veterinarian Do?
- Diagnoses animal health problems.
- Vaccinates against diseases, such as distemper and rabies.
- Medicates animals suffering from infections or illnesses.
- Treats and dresses wounds.
- Sets fractures.
- Performs minor to complex surgery, depending on training.
- Advises owners about animal feeding, behavior, and breeding.
- Euthanizes animals when necessary.
- Provides preventive care to maintain the health of food animals.
- Tests for and vaccinates against diseases.
- Performs diagnostic test such as Xray, EKG, ultrasound, blood, urine, and faeces.
In many respects a veterinarian is similar to a pediatrician. Animals cannot talk like human beings, and much of the clinical history is obtained from the owner or client; as a pediatrician would obtain from a child's parents. Excellent people skills, and communication skills are required.
What cannot be obtained from the clinical history, is acquired with the fingers, eyes, and smell. The ability to listen with a stethoscope and palpate with the fingers and hands will reveal much of the physical findings. The sense of smell is also important, in detecting the fruity odor of the ketotic cow's breath, or the urea from the breath of a cat in renal failure.
What can not be revealed by the history and exam is further supported by diagnostic tests like blood work, urinalysis, and fecal exam. Veterinarians are well trained in laboratory medicine and parasitology.
The general practice veterinarian spends one third to one half of his or her time in surgery. Animal neutering operations are done in most veterinarians' offices. Many veterinarians also perform orthopedic procedures, bone setting, dentistry, and trauma surgery. Surgery requires good hand and eye coordination, and fine motor skills. A vet's job is similar to that of a human doctor.
When health problems arise, Veterinarians diagnose the problem and treat the animal. Accurate diagnosis frequently requires laboratory tests, radiography, and specialized equipment. Treatments may involve a number of different procedures including emergency lifesaving techniques, prescribing medication, setting fractures, birthing, performing surgery, or advising an owner on feeding and care of the animal.
To prevent the introduction of foreign diseases, Veterinarians employed by government agencies quarantine and inspect animals brought into the country from other countries. They supervise shipments of animals, test for the presence of diseases, and manage campaigns to prevent and eradicate many diseases such as tuberculosis, brucellosis and rabies, which threaten animal and human health.
Veterinarians in research look for better ways to prevent and solve animal and human health problems. Many problems, such as cancer and heart disease, are studied through the use of laboratory animals, which are carefully bred, raised, and maintained under the supervision of Veterinarians.
There are many Veterinarians that are professors, teaching at schools and universities of Veterinary medicine. In addition to teaching, Veterinary school faculty members conduct basic and clinical research, contribute to scientific publications, and develop continuing education programs to help graduate Veterinarians acquire new knowledge and skills.
Veterinarians also work in the area of public health. They help to prevent and control animal and human diseases and promote good health. As epidemiologists they investigate animal and human disease outbreaks such as food-borne illness, influenza, plague, rabies, AIDS, and encephalitis. They evaluate the safety of food processing plants, restaurants, and water supplies. Veterinarians in environmental health programs study and evaluate the effects of various pesticides, industrial pollutants, and other contaminants on people as well as on animals.
As opposed to human medicine, general practice veterinarians greatly out-number veterinary specialists. Most veterinary specialists work at the veterinary school, or at a referral center in large cities. As opposed to human medicine, where each organ system has its own medical and surgical specialties, veterinarians often combine both the surgical and medical aspect of an organ system into one field. The specialties in veterinary medicine often encompass several medical and surgical specialties that are found in human medicine. Within each veterinary specialty, one will often find a separation of large animal medicine from small animal medicine. Some veterinary specialties are evolving, some are limited only in the teaching universities, and some are practiced only in the field.
What It Takes To Be A Veterinarian
The educational requirement for the veterinarian varies with each country. Typically, it takes from four years to eight years of education after graduating from high school to obtain a veterinary degree. The degree granted also varies with each country. Some grant the equivalent of a bachelor's degree, while others grant a doctorate degree. In the United States, holders of either degrees are allowed to practice as a veterinarian if they succeed in passing a national and state board exam.
In the United States, veterinary schools are frequently state supported institutions. Because of such state might be significantly different than that of another state, depending on the number of positions available, and the number of in-state applicants available. Because of this, veterinary school admission can be much more and yet much less competitive than other states. Ratio of applications to students accepted varies tremendously between each school, mostly due to the variation in the schools residency requirement. Options are available for students to apply to over seas school, but graduates are often not regarded as highly if post-graduate training is desired. Entry into veterinary school in the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), MCAT, or VCAT. and other animal-related experience (typically 500 or more hours combined).
In the United States the average veterinary medical student has an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 and a GRE score of approximately 1350. In the U.S. and Canada, veterinary school lasts four years with at least one year being dedicated to clinical rotations. In the U.S., one can enter veterinary school after completing the pre-veterinary requirement in as little as two years, but most veterinary school applicants have completed a bachelor degree before entry into the professional program. In many countries, the veterinary degree is granted after the completion of a bachelor degree, and is not a post-graduate program as the U.S. and Canada. Entry into veterinary school in the US often requires taking one of the three following tests: GRE (Graduate Record Examination), MCAT (Medical College Acceptance Test), or VCAT (Veterinary College Acceptance Test). After completion of the national board examination, some newly-accredited veterinarians choose to pursue residencies or internships in certain (usually more competitive) fields.
In India, the Veterinary medical degree is known as Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. and A.H.). The program lasts for a period of five years with 4.5 years of course work and six months of clinical and farm training internships. Admission to the Veterinary Colleges are through the tests conducted by the Agricultural and Veterinary Universities in the respective states or through a National Level Joint Entrance Test.
Various Specializations
Exotic Animal Medicine
Usually refers to animals such as reptiles, exotic birds, and small animals (for eg. ferrets)
Conservation Medicine
Usually refers to the study of the relationship between animal and human health and environmental conditions.
Small Animal Medicine
Usually encompasses mainly dogs and cats and other household pets such as gerbils and other small animals.
Large Animal Medicine
Usually referring to vets that work with large farm animals.
Feline Medicine
A veterinarian who specializes solely in cat-related medicine.
Mixed Practice
Generally refers to a veterinarian who treats both large and small animals.
Laboratory Animal Medicine
A veterinarian working in a university or industrial laboratory responsible for the care and treatment of laboratory animals of any species. This often involves bovine, porcine, feline, canine, rodents, and even exotic animals. Their responsibility is not only for the health and well being of the animals, but they are also responsible for enforcing humane and ethical treatment of the animals in the facility.
Equine Medicine
A veterinarian who specializes only in the surgery or medicine of equines.
Dairy Medicine
A large part of dairy medicine is nutrition, herd management, and reproduction.
Porcine Medicine
Essentially herd medicine in the management of swine herds. Focuses on nutrition, reproduction, and minor field surgery.
Poultry Medicine
A veterinarian responsible for the health of flocks of poultry. The field often involves extensive training in pathology, epidemiology, and nutrition of birds. The veterinarian treats the flock and not the individual animals.
Food Animal Medicine
This field usually encompasses porcine, bovine, and ovine medicine.
Wildlife Medicine
The most recent branch of veterinary medicine. Wildlife veterinarians work extensively with wildlife reserves and protecting and treating endangered animal species. They may also be called out to treat marine species such as sea otters, dolphins, whales, etc. after a natural disaster or oil spill.
Surgical and Medical Subspecialties
Anaesthesiology
A specialty limited to teaching in hospitals and schools. Most veterinarians practice anaesthesiology in their own office.
Animal Behavior and Psychotropic Pharmacology
A relatively new specialty, with an increased interest in modulating abnormal animal behaviour.
Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery
Manages cardiac and conductance disorders. Also performs cardiothoracic surgery for the treatment of congenital and acquired heart diseases.
Chiropractic Medicine
Veterinary chiropractic is the adaptation of principles of manipulative and chiropractic medicine to animals. Some veterinarians have dual degree in chiropractic medicine and veterinary medicine.
Dentistry
A very important but often neglected area of animal health. There is much for veterinarians to learn about restorative dentistry, and endodontics. There is much more for pets owners to learn about preventive dental care - and knowledge of the specialty. Also, it helps to make sure that your pet(s) keep their teeth for a long time, otherwise their teeth will rot, causing pain, and then eventually fall out. unfortunately the loss of teeth and too much pain often leads to euthanasia if it is too severe.
Dermatology and Dermatopathology
As in human medicine, veterinary dermatologists are often the specialist in dermatopathology. Dermatology in animals ecompasses much of the field of Allergy and Immunulogy, which is a separate entity in human medicine.
Endocrinology
Important in teaching institution and referral centers. Each species of animals have their own unique endocrine disorders. Endocrine function of animals often varies between breeds of animals of the same species. Most of the endocrine disorders are emerged from macro- and micro-mineral deficiencies.
Emergency Medicine and Critical Care
Also cover the field of emergency or trauma surgery. The veterinarian is trained in medicine, surgery, and critical care of the severely injured or ill animal.
Epidemiology and Public Health
Important in the studies to improve herd health.
Equine Surgery
Encompasses diagnosis and surgical treatment of horses. Including intestinal disorders and orthopedic surgery.
Food Animal Surgery
This is a specialty mainly present in teaching hospitals. Most large animal veterinarians also perform surgery in the field and in their clinics. Veterinarian assistants can not perform any surgery on animals.
Infectious Diseases and Foreign Animal Diseases
A very important specialty in the control of infectious diseases in the herds, and the spread of economically important foreign animal diseases. Specialists in this field work in the regulatory agencies, and teaching institutions.
Internal Medicine
As opposed to human medicine, where an internist is often considered a primary care physician of adults; a veterinary internal medicine specialist, is a specialist. The specialty in the United States require 2 years or more of residency training. They are trained to manage complex medical conditions, and often work at teaching universities and hospitals.
Neurology and Neurologic Surgery
Veterinary neurologists are both surgeon and neurologist in practice. This is different than in human medicine, where neurologists are the medical side of the specialty, and neurosurgeon or orthopaedic surgeons focus on the surgical side.
Nutrition
An important food animal medicine, and herd medicine. Specialists in this area include veterinarians and animal scientists. Most large animal veterinarians are also excellent nutritionists. Nutritionists also work in the pet food industry in quality assurance and research.
Oncology
Covers the diagnosis and management of malignancies in animals. As animals are considered to be a part of the family, curative and pallative care is often demanded when malignacies develop. The best of chemotherapy, radiation oncology, and surgical oncology is now available for animals.
Orthopaedic Surgery
Most veterinarian perform some orthopedic procedures in their offices. Specialists in the field perform complex internal fixation and external fixations, including joint replacement in the small animals. Some equine surgeons also practice limited internal fixation in horses.
Ophthalmology
Specializes in the diagnosis of eye diseases, and surgery of the eye and eyelids.
Pharmacology
As animals metabolize drugs in many different ways, veterinary clinical pharmacologists are important in the study of drug use in animals.
Parasitology
A specialist often found in teaching hospitals and universities. All veterinarians practice parasitology in their offices.
Pathology and Hematology
A very broad field that covers multiple species, organ systems, domestic and foreign animal diseases. The veterinary pathologists perform necropsies (autopsies), collect specimens, and read pathological slides. They assist clinicians in the diagnosis of illnesses and seek causes of deaths in animals.
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Important in the recovery of neurosurgical and orthopedic patients. A relatively new field with application in both small animals and equine medicine. Animal physical therapy is used to relieve pain, restore mobility, strength, and function so as to further enhance the ability of animals following injury, surgery, neurological problems, or orthopedic conditions. As a new growing profession, animal physical therapists are evidenced based healthcare professionals that often work with the owner, veterinarian, and sometimes other healthcare professionals to help animals achieve maximal performance. One of the small animals seen in animal physical therapy are canines. This branch of animal physical therapy is known as "canine physical therapy."
Radiology and Radiation Oncology
This specialty involves the interpretation of imaginging modalities, including X-rays, MRI, CT scans, ultrasounds, echocardiograms, and doppler devices. Also administers radiation treatment for malignancies and endocrine diseases.
Soft Tissue Surgery
The clinician operate on skin, muscle, and GI tract.
Theriogenology
The theriogenology involves the study and treatment of reproductive disorders. Reproduction is an economically important aspect of bovine, porcine, ovine, and equine practices.
Urology and Nephrology
Specialist in the treatment and surgery of kidney and bladder diseases.
Workplace
Small animal veterinarians typically work in veterinary clinics or veterinary hospitals, or both. Large animal veterinarians often spend more time traveling to see their patients at the primary facilities which house them (zoos, farms, etc).
As opposed to a human doctor's office, which only have exam rooms, a veterinarian's office is more like a hospital with a full pharmacy. Waiting rooms are available often with separate areas for dogs, cats, and exotics. Laboratory to include microscope, parasitology preps, chemistry analyzer, and blood count capability. A full surgery with orthopedic and general surgery packs, and general anesthesia equipment. A kennel for hospitalizing sick animals, and to quarantine infectious ones. An X-ray machine with a dark room for processing films can still be found, although digital radiographs are increasingly more commonplace. And finally, a full dispensary pharmacy with oral, topical, and injectible drugs.
In comparison to human medicine, veterinarians charge only a fraction for the services rendered.
Salary
Median salary for small animal exclusive veterinarians who do not own their practice ranges from US$70,000 to US$91,000. Owning a practice can earn a vet a median salary from US$55,000 to US$151,000 depending on experience and type of practice owned. The mean salary for new graduates in 2008 was US$48,328, but this included nearly 40% going on to advanced study programs. New small animal vets made just under US$65,000 on average. Vets in the UK do tend to make less than those in the US with average new graduate wages starting at an average of £25000.
Note: If you are interested in animal health, but don't want to go through all it takes to become a veterinarian, there are schools for veterinary assistant training where you can also learn all about animal health, and animal care.
List of Veterinary Schools
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_schools_of_veterinary_medicine
