Anyssa Frias
November 20, 2013
Period 4
Division and Classification
Veterinarians just work with animals, they smell, that’s nasty. Even though this
commonly heard comment is true, there are more to these creatures than the average person may
conceive. The average person just might see companion animals as cute and cuddle-y, but what
about cattle? Locally, if anyone drives to Tulare, the odor of cow manure fills their air vents and
they scream “ewww” or “gross.” On the other hand, if the local veterinarian who cares for
domestic animals is in town, who is taking care of the large animals? That too is the job of a
veterinarian. So what's the difference? They’re both veterinarians, aren’t they? Well the answer
is plain and simple –yes. The difference, however, is in the job descriptions employment outlook
and requirements.
The job description for each specialization is slightly different. For small animal veterinarians
they will have gained the skills and training to “diagnose, treat, and prevent health problems.”
(DegreeDirectory.org) A large animal veterinarian will have gained the skill to care for
“livestock animals or herds, such as cattle, sheep and swine.” (DegreeDirectory.org) A livestock
vet will also “perform surgery, deliver babies, trim hooves, and dehorn livestock.”
(DegreeDirectory.org) When they dehorn livestock it can be a traumatic experience for both the
anima and the people around who are witnessing the procedure. This process involves a burning
hot iron on the horn cells of a baby lamb or kid, and so on, in order to kill those horn cells to
keep the horns from going. Due to larger animals, the livestock veterinarian will spend their time
traveling to “farms and ranches to treat patients.” (DegreeDirectory.org)
So what can each vet expect in their employment? Well they can expect “much faster job growth
than the average occupation.” This can be explained with the quick growth spurt of the
“companion” animals. (DegreeDirectory.org) With growth of companion animals comes care on
the companion animals. This is a direct factor, like x is to y; pet owners are most and “more
likely to invest in pet insurance and veterinary care than in the past” because their “pets”
meaning is seen more than just a pet but as a family member. (DegreeDirectory.org) As a large
animal or livestock veterinarian they can look forward to “little competition” and “job
opportunities in federal government” positions like for testing the soon to be “food” conditions;
where they’re raised, how well their environment is, and any hazards.
As far as requirements go, both types of veterinarians will need to complete pre-veterinary
courses as an undergraduate. This includes courses such as “organic and inorganic chemistry,
physics, biology, nutrition, zoology, microbiology and math.” (DegreeDirectory.org) All the
classes that have to be taken are the ones to prepare students for the Veterinary College
Admission Test (VCAT), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and the Medical College
Admission Test (MCAT): each one depending on different requirement to attend the medical
school. Once admitted to a medical school, and having been enrolled into a Veterinary Medicine
Program the courses that will be taken are “anatomy, physiology, pathology, immunology,
microbiology, pharmacology, nutrition, and ethics.” (DegreeDirectory.org) Medical school is a
total of four years, and those classes would be taken the first two years, the final two years would
be spent doing more hands on training with “clinical training in surgery, anesthesia,
dermatology, radiology, critical care, and euthanasia.” (DegreeDirectory.org)
So as explained, veterinarians can specialize and focus one fewer types of animals and can
expect basically the same amount of education plus the internship. There needs to be areas of
focus because the positions of the small animal vets is “expected to grow much faster than the
average occupation,” so the large animals need to be taken care of and accounted for. Both vets
will administer vaccinations, prescribe medications, dress wounds, perform surgery, order
diagnostic test, perform euthanasia and counsel owners regarding general care, behavior nutrition
or breeding as a part of their job. (DegreeDirectory.org) Each one, and area, vary slightly from
one to another and others are just the same, but one things assured; one must have a desire to
help, and aid those poor animals who really depend on us, humans.