An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but man’s best friend needs a checkup once in a while no matter how healthy its diet is. Veterinarians diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and other animals. Veterinarians treat illnesses and injuries, conduct surgical and medical procedures and dental work, and vaccinate animals against diseases. They also teach owners preventive healthcare. Veterinarians have different types of practices: Companion animal veterinarians most often work at clinics and care for cats and dogs, but also treat other pets, such as birds, ferrets, and rabbits. Equine veterinarians work with horses involved in performing, farming and racing. Food animal veterinarians work at farms and ranches to treat farm animals such as pigs, cattle, and sheep. Food safety and inspection veterinarians inspect and test livestock and animal products for major animal diseases, and work to improve animal health and reduce disease transmission. They also enforce food safety regulations. Research veterinarians work in laboratories, conducting clinical research on human and animal health problems, and may test effects of drug therapies or new surgical techniques. Veterinarians must have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, usually a 4-year program, and pass the North American Veterinary Licensing examination. Veterinary school is highly competitive and typically requires applicants to have taken many science classes in college.
What they do:
Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals.
On the job, you would:
Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
Health
medicine and dentistry
Math and Science
biology
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Business
customer service
management
Arts and Humanities
English language
Basic Skills
using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems
reading work related information
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
Verbal
communicate by speaking
listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
make general rules or come up with answers from lots of detailed information
notice when problems happen
Hand and Finger Use
keep your arm or hand steady
put together small parts with your fingers
Attention
pay attention to something without being distracted
People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
Integrity
Dependability
Attention to Detail
Stress Tolerance
Concern for Others
Self Control
You might use software like this on the job:
Medical software
American Data Systems PAWS Veterinary Practice Management
InformaVet ALIS-VET
Data base user interface and query software
IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX VPM
Microsoft Access
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
doctoral degree or professional degree usually needed
Get started on your career:
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
In the military:
see titles from the Army.
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