Veterinarian

Becoming a veterinarian can lead to an admirable, intelligent, and profitable career. Veterinarians are animal doctors and are needed throughout the world to tend to sick and injured household pets and wild animals. A veterinarian is also instrumental in administering preventive medicines and providing advice to help keep animals happy and healthy.

Educational requirements to be a veterinarian are quite substantial. Becoming a veterinarian requires successfully completing 4 years of college and 4 years of veterinary medicine, which typically includes gaining experience in an onsite clinical atmosphere. Following the educational requirements, becoming a practicing veterinarian requires passing two lengthy and involved examinations - a national veterinarian board exam and a state board exam for the state or states in which you wish to practice.

Those who have successfully completed the educational requirements and passed the exams required to be a vet may choose to practice in a clinical environment as a general practitioner that specializes in the treatment of particular animals such as household pets or farm animals. Alternatively, these vets may also go on to pursue postgraduate training that generally includes an internship and residency and then pass a painstaking exam to obtain certification in a particular field such as anesthesiology or surgery.

Those who are interested in working with and treating more exotic animals, such as dolphins or elephants, would pursue postgraduate training specific to such animals. Employment options for those who pursue this avenue include providing veterinary services to the residents of marine theme parks and zoos.

Although becoming a veterinarian who chooses to open a private clinical practice will require an understanding of basic business concepts, the many administrative and office details associated with running a successful, compassionate, and friendly veterinary practice are often best shared with one or more veterinary assistants.

Those who have an interest in veterinary science, enjoy working with people and animals, and have good work ethics can become a qualified veterinary assistant in a relatively short amount of time. A veterinarian’s office is typically a fast paced environment and requires a veterinary assistant with patience, compassion, and the ability to multitask. Several educational institutions provide in-classroom training, as well as distance learning course specialist organizations that offer courses that can be completed via the Internet to prepare you to be an effective and efficient veterinary assistant.

Although course content can vary between institutions, the curriculum generally includes an introduction to animal hospital definitions, basic veterinary terminology, and basic veterinary medical records charting. Veterinary assistants must be extremely diligent and accurate in their maintenance of medical records for the vet to provide the best service. Basic animal safety and handling is also typically covered by those who offer veterinary assistant courses and help prepare the student for becoming skilled at handling and anticipating the reactions of animal patients. Quite a lot of focus is placed on educating prospective veterinary assistants in the area of customer service. Common pet owner issues are introduced, and students are taught how best to maintain their own composure and respond appropriately and effectively when faced with a difficult situation. By utilizing these skills, a veterinary assistant can be of great assistance by enabling the vet to maintain focus on the well being of their animal patients.

A veterinary technician assists a veterinarian in clinical practice by performing duties similar to that of a nurse in the human medical field. The responsibilities of a veterinary technician include recording a patient’s medical history, treatment of common problems, assisting the veterinarian with physical examinations of their animal patients, and performing a multitude of laboratory procedures.

As with humans, much information about the health condition of an animal is discovered through various blood tests, urine tests, and skin scrapings. A veterinary technician has been provided with the technical skills and training to be qualified to perform the many lab tests required in determining an animal’s current health state.

A veterinary technician’s direct medical treatment of animals is limited compared to that of a veterinarian, but still quite involved. The direct medical treatment of an animal that can be provided by a qualified veterinary technician includes assisting the veterinarian with physical examinations, the administration of medications, gathering and recording basic health statistic information, dressing wounds, and a variety of tests. A veterinary technician may also assist the veterinarian during surgery by maintaining the integrity of the equipment and instruments required by the vet to perform the surgery.

To become a veterinary technician, you must be certified, licensed, or registered, dependent upon the laws of the state in which you intend to practice. Regardless of whether the requirement of your particular state of choice is a certification, registration, or a license, a veterinary technician generally must complete the designated course requirements at an accredited two-year school; earn an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology and pass the board exam issued by their state.

Amongst the many animal doctors who have chosen a specialty for their veterinary practice, you will find dedicated and diligent equine veterinarians. Equine veterinarians treat ill and injured horses, as well as provide preventative medical treatment to fillies, colts, mares, and stallions that are in a good current state of health.

An equine vet limits their medical practice to the health and welfare of horses. Working with horses at the clinical level entails primarily orthopedic disorders, the treatment of the musculoskeletal system, respiratory tract infections, and dealing with digestive track problems.

One of the more frustrating challenges an equine veterinarian commonly faces is digestive track disorder caused by internal parasites. These parasites, of which there are several varieties, are the number one cause of colic amongst the members of the equine family, and often cause or contribute to complicated digestive problems. However, making sure that regular worming, formulated and administered by an equine vet, is part of a horse’s preventative medical care can decrease the severity of any problems associated with parasites.

The medical treatment that horses should receive on a regular basis to decrease the chances of disease and maintain good health includes annual vaccinations, dental exams, and regular care of the hooves.

At home, caring humans can assist the efforts of their equine vet by including regular physical exercise and grooming as part of their horse’s daily routine. Routine exercise and grooming can increase a horse’s chance of staying healthy and decrease ill or injured visits to the vet.

For those who are considering becoming a veterinarian and would like to specialize in the treatment of marine animals, there are a few things that you can do even prior to the required intense study of veterinary medicine to make your introduction to becoming a zoological veterinarian a more gradual and rewarding experience.

Becoming a volunteer at a local zoo or aquarium is a great way to get acquainted with the lifestyles and activities of your future patients. Having your scuba license may open the door to an opportunity to become a volunteer diver at an aquarium or zoo. Although a volunteer diver basically cleans the tanks for free, the opportunities to network with those in the specific field you wish to pursue in your veterinary career can be priceless. Volunteering in any form at a local zoo or aquarium can yield similar results, and the additional contacts may prove extremely beneficial when you are required to do an internship and residency as part of the educational requirements associated with becoming a zoological veterinarian.

The employment opportunities for zoological veterinarians are not as great as the opportunities available to those vets who have chosen private clinical practice of animal companions or pets. However, the demand for and the importance of zoological vets has increased along with the growing number of zoos and marine parks and as wildlife conservation has become a greater concern. This offers a very rewarding form of work for anyone who is passionate and dedicated to the health and welfare of zoo animals and marine life.

In addition to dogs, cats, and rabbits, many veterinarians in general practice will also treat ferrets. Ferrets have become a popular household pet, and though not for everyone, ferrets are very intelligent, amusing, small, and quiet. A few phone calls to local veterinarians should put you in contact with a veterinarian that treats ferrets, or contacting one of the many ferret clubs should also point you in the right direction to keep your ferret healthy and have a resource to turn to in case your ferret becomes ill.

Just like cats and dogs, ferrets require immunizations and preventative medical treatment in order to maintain good health. Baby ferrets need three canine distemper shots administered two to three weeks apart and will thereafter require one distemper shot every year. Ferrets are especially susceptible to canine distemper, which is fatal. After the age of three months, your ferret will need to visit the veterinarian for an annual rabies shot.

Having your vet spay or neuter your ferret is highly recommended to reduce odor and improve temperament and should be done by your vet when your ferret is approximately six months old. There is a chance that female ferrets that are not spayed may develop health related issues that can result in death when they go into their first heat, and male ferrets tend to be more aggressive when not neutered.

Cats make wonderful household pets and express a unique and delightful blend of personality, independence, and attachment to their owners. Cats live an average of twelve to fifteen years, and in order to help them lead a healthy life and stay with you for as long as possible, periodic trips to the veterinarian will be necessary. With proper veterinary care and lots of love from their owners, quite a few lucky cats have lived more than twenty years!

In addition to planning for annual health examination visits to your veterinarian, your cat needs vaccinations to avoid illness and falling prey to fatal diseases. The disorders and diseases that your veterinarian will need to vaccinate your cat against include feline distemper and rabies.

Vaccinations against feline distemper are initially administered by a vet when a kitten is approximately six to nine weeks of age and are repeated every two to four weeks until the kitten reaches the age of twelve to fourteen weeks. Thereafter, annual boosters should prevent your cat from contracting feline distemper and experiencing the unpleasant symptoms of the disease.

Your vet can administer your cat’s first rabies vaccine at three to four months old. A trip to the veterinarian will need to be made each year subsequent to the first rabies vaccine to receive an annual rabies shot that will protect your cat from becoming a victim of rabies.

In most households where animal lovers reside, there will be at least one dog that is just as much a part of the family as the human residents of the house. Dogs tend to make wonderful family pets and are generally loyal and eager to please their humans. Dogs do not tend to complain about not feeling well; therefore, responsible dog owners make sure their dog visits the veterinarian on a regular basis to help them live healthy lives and receive appropriate medical treatment when injured or sick.

Dogs require vaccinations against rabies and distemper. In addition to being recommended by veterinarians and necessary to avoid your dog’s being susceptible to or contracting rabies, the majority of residential locations that require you to license your dog will also require that your dog be vaccinated against rabies. Your veterinarian can administer your dog’s first rabies shot when your dog is three to four months old. A rabies vaccination should be routinely repeated by your vet to ensure continued protection from the disease. Distemper cannot be cured if contracted and treatment is not highly successful. Your vet should administer your dog’s initial distemper shots at six to eight weeks of age to protect your dog from becoming a victim of canine distemper. The distemper vaccinations are repeated every three to four weeks until the puppy reaches about sixteen weeks old. Booster shots are recommended and should be administered by your vet, as required, to increase your dog’s immunity to this potentially fatal disease.

Becoming a veterinarian and dedicating your work to the treatment of animals is admirable and worthy, but there are times that being a vet can be difficult. Those who are considering becoming a veterinarian should be as prepared as possible to face certain challenges in order to enjoy the benefits of this career choice.

There is no doubt that gaining entry to and successfully completing the educational and certification requirements associated with becoming a veterinarian are extremely challenging. The educational process is lengthy and is complicated by the many different species of animals a vet is required to be able to diagnose and treat. Diagnosis and treatment of a patient without the benefit of verbal communication creates an assortment of challenges with a variety of different patients for all animal doctors.

There are emotionally draining challenges associated with being a veterinarian that are difficult to prepare for, but must be considered as a bridge that will be crossed from time to time. Despite a veterinarian’s greatest effort, there will be times that their patient cannot be helped. Drugs may not yet have been developed to fight a fatal disease, or injuries may be too severe to respond positively to treatment. These times typically affect the emotional human side of even long time veterinary practitioners who have had more practice at detaching from their patients.

It is also important to include in your thoughts of becoming a veterinarian that private clinical practice is a business. The business skills associated with being a vet include good communication skills and having a strong understanding of fundamental business concepts in order to be successful at helping animals live healthier lives.