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Sally Smartypants
19 April 2012
Senior Project Research Paper
Must Love Dogs: The Journey towards Veterinary Medicine
When I was four years old, I emptied a box of Band-aids and gently applied them to
various body parts of our family dog. My hope was to “heal” Buster’s imaginary wounds, but
the depressed look in his soft brown eyes suggested otherwise. This image appears in my mind
when people ask me why I am interested in becoming a veterinarian. As a veterinarian, I would
deal with the “prevention, cure, or alleviation of diseases and injuries of animals” (“Veterinary
Medicine”). To successfully enter into the field of veterinary medicine, then, it takes education,
experience, and a love for animals.
To become a veterinarian, one must typically undergo six years of school beyond the
high school level (“Veterinary Medicine”). However, it can be harder to get into veterinary
school than human medical school since there are only about 28 veterinary colleges in the U.S.
(FAQ). Once a candidate does complete his or her education, he or she needs to then pass the
North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, and may then begin practicing medicine
(“Veterinary Medicine”).
Being educated is not the only factor that contributes to becoming a successful
veterinarian. One must also possess certain qualities specific to the field, including
communication skills, self-confidence, organization, and ethical and professional behavior
(“Qualities”). Successful veterinarians can effectively communicate with each animal’s owner in
order to give the best care. Self-confidence is vital during important procedures like life-saving
surgeries. A veterinarian who is not confident in his or her abilities will probably not be
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successful. Organization is key in a veterinarian’s office so that he or she knows exactly where
important medical devices are located. And lastly, a flexible schedule ensures that the animals
that need to be treated can be, making for a happy owner as well (“Qualities”).
As for clientele, veterinarians may treat a wide variety of animals, ranging anywhere
from “companion” animals like dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, to farm animals including cows, horses,
pigs and sheep (“Veterinarian”). The duties of a veterinarian are also varied, and they differ
based on whether the veterinarian works in a private or public practice. For those working in a
private practice, their duties include, “treating diseases, preventing diseases through
vaccinations, treating and dressing wounds, performing surgeries, seeing patients, advising pet
owners about animal health, breeding and behavior and running their business” (Hall). Other
duties of veterinarians outside of private practices can include “research, teaching, the production
of commercial products, or working to prevent communicable diseases (Hall).
Upon entering any profession, most people are curious about the earnings that come with
it. “According to PayScale.com, as of May 2010, a veterinarian's salary ranges from $59,000 to
$88,000, depending on employment setting (Hall). What this means is that a veterinarian
working for the federal government on research might make more than a veterinarian working in
a private practice. Currently, there are over 80,000 veterinary positions, and the future looks
positive for aspiring veterinarians, too. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job
opportunities in the veterinary field will increase by 35% (United States). More specifically,
“Opportunities for vets seem to be increasing in specialty fields like, aquaculture, microbiology,
toxicology and environmental medicine,” (“FAQ”). Therefore, a veterinary career seems to be a
promising one for prospective veterinarians.
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There are opportunities for advancement in veterinary medicine. “Most veterinarians
begin as employees in established group practices…and many veterinarians with experience
eventually set up their own practice or purchase an established one” (“Veterinary Training”).
Additionally, “Newly trained veterinarians can become U.S. Government meat and poultry
inspectors, disease-control workers, animal welfare and safety workers, epidemiologists,
research assistants, or commissioned officers in the U.S. Public Health Service or various
branches of the U.S. Armed Forces” (“Veterinary Training”). Once a person receives his or her
license, there are ample opportunities to advance to a different branch of the medicine.
In conclusion, a candidate for veterinary medicine needs to be educated, possess a great
deal of experience and a love of animals. An appropriate education beyond a four-year degree
opens the door to a successful career in the field of veterinary medicine; however, certain
qualities like self-confidence and communication skills are necessary as well.
There are many
perks of the job, too, including the option to work with a variety of animals, the opportunity for
advancement, and a sizeable paycheck. Not only do veterinarians have the chance to work with
animals on a daily basis, but they can also use their skills to help those animals most in need.
What a truly rewarding experience this must be, and I cannot wait to begin my adventures into
the veterinary world and heal the rest of those “Busters” out there.
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Works Cited
“FAQ about a Veterinary Career.” talktothevet.com n.d. Web. 22 March 2011.
www.talktothevet.com.
Hall, Lisa. “Job Description & Duties of a Veterinarian.” ehow.com. 21 May 2010. Web. 22
March 2011. http://www.ehow.com.
“Qualities of a Successful Relief Veterinarian.” dvm360.com. 4 April 2006. Web. 22 March
2011. http://veterinarycalendar.dvm360.com.
United States Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011. Web. 22 March 2011.
http://bls.gov/.
“Veterinarian: Job Duties, Occupational Outlook and Education Requirements.”
Degreedirectory.org. n.d. Web. 22 March 2011. http://degreedirectory.org.
“Veterinarian Training.” valuemd.com. 2011. Web. 22 March 2011. http://www.valuemd.com.
"Veterinary Medicine." (n.d.): Funk & Wagnall’s New World Encyclopedia. EBSCO.
Web. 16 Mar. 2011.
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Veterinary Training:
http://www.valuemd.com/veterinarian_training.php