Veterinary Medicine

Veterinarian
Veterinary Technician

Veterinarians, assisted by veterinary technicians, treat and prevent the illnesses of pets, livestock, marine animals, and sporting animals. It also is their job to prevent diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans and to protect the public from residues of herbicides, pesticides, and antibiotics used in food production. They may be involved in wildlife preservation and conservation. Also, veterinarians play an important role in agriculture. They use their knowledge to increase food production through genetics, animal feed production, and preventive medicine. The profession has assumed a major role in the advance of research in the medical uses of atomic energy, in the development of tranquilizers, corticosteroids and other pharmaceuticals, and in the study of space medicine. Veterinary medicine involves the study of the immunological relationship of viruses in humans and animals, and protects and advances human health by studying diseases, such as cancer, arthritis, anemia, and heart disease, that are common to man and animals. Also of benefit to humans is research that is performed relative to aging, organ transplantation, and ulcers.

The realization of the importance of animal care is creating new opportunities for veterinarians and veterinary technicians. More specialties mean more jobs and greater choice for individuals who possess an affinity and love for animals combined with the calm competence and fearlessness necessary to handle and manage them.

Veterinarian

 Veterinarians, also known as Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), diagnose, treat, and control diseases in animals and are concerned with preventing the transmission of animal diseases to humans. Also, they treat injured animals and develop programs to prevent disease and injury.

 Work Activities

• Performing surgery, dressing wounds, and setting broken bones of animals

• Diagnosing animal diseases

• Vaccinating animals against disease

• Advising animal owners about the care and   breeding of animals

• Performing autopsies on animal carcasses

• Inspecting animals intended for consumption, both before and after they are slaughtered

• Teaching or conducting research on animal and human diseases

 Career Specialties

Veterinarians may specialize in many fields, including the following:

Public Health Veterinarians safeguard the public health by controlling and preventing diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans. They inspect and regulate food- and drug-processing plants, inspect and test livestock, and provide information to the public.

Meat Inspection Veterinarians inspect establishments that slaughter livestock and process meat for domestic or foreign shipment. They examine the animal and the carcass to detect evidence of disease or other abnormal conditions. They also enforce municipal, state, and federal regulations to ensure a safe and wholesome food supply.

Avian Medicine Veterinarians work primarily with either ornamental (pet) birds or poultry. Diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of diseases are the major concerns. A pet bird practice can involve large aviaries, but most pet bird work is performed for individuals who own one bird or a small collection of ornamental birds. Poultry practice is concerned primarily with large commercial flocks and involves interactions with poultry nutritionists, geneticists, medicinal suppliers, researchers, flock owners and caretakers, and processors so that optimum efficiency in the production of meat and eggs is achieved. Avian Veterinarians also are involved in research and product development, teaching, health in wildlife, zoo medicine, sales, and other fields.

Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarians conduct or provide support for research on infectious diseases, nutritional problems, and other health-related issues of laboratory animals, such as hamsters, rabbits, monkeys, and mice. They are responsible for the implementation of animal welfare guidelines and regulations and advise researchers on the proper care and use of laboratory animals.

Private Practice Veterinarians may choose to limit the species of animals they normally treat to dogs, cats, and other domesticated pets or horses or farm animals. Veterinarians may specialize in such areas as animal surgery, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, internal medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, or radiology.

Research and Development Veterinarians with special training in toxicology, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology, or management play active roles in the development and safety testing of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical devices.

 Work Settings

Veterinarians may work independently or as a part of a health professions team. They may supervise veterinary assistants, veterinary technicians, or other professionals. Work settings vary with the type of practice. In rural areas, Veterinarians spend large amounts of time working outdoors and going to and from farms. In urban areas, work usually is performed indoors in hospitals or clinics. Veterinarians in research and teaching usually work in laboratories and classrooms. In meat- and food-processing plants, Veterinarians may spend time in refrigerated cold storage rooms.

Hazards associated with being a Veterinarian include exposure to diseases and infections that may be transmitted to humans and exposure to injuries, such as bites, scratches, and kicks. They may be exposed to radiation in certain kinds of research.

 Special Requirements

To become a licensed Veterinarian, an applicant must have earned a degree in veterinary medicine from a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. The candidate must submit a transcript of all course work, an acceptable national certification board examination score, and an acceptable clinical competency test score. When these requirements are met, the applicant will be eligible to take the appropriate state examination for licensure.

Common requirements for entering programs in veterinary medicine are completion of a pre-veterinary medicine program or its equivalent and achievement of an acceptable cumulative and pre-veterinary science course grade-point average. Also, it is necessary to complete the veterinary aptitude test, to develop personal activities that indicate a continuing interest in the field and in community service, and to demonstrate in an interview the ability for successful completion of a program in veterinary medicine.

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Veterinary Technician

 Veterinary Technicians are employed by veterinarians to feed, maintain, clean, comfort, and provide services to animals. Veterinary Technicians work in a variety of areas, such as research, X-ray technology, surgical nursing, animal anesthesiology, animal care, veterinary hospital reception, meat inspection, and public health.

 Work Activities

• Taking animals into treatment rooms

• Securing restraints or holding animals during treatment

• Sterilizing surgical instruments and other   equipment

• Shaving animals before surgery

• Administering medications and monitoring anesthesia

• Taking and developing X-rays

• Performing laboratory tests on blood, urine, and feces

• Maintaining records of animals’ reactions to treatment

 Work Settings

Veterinary Technicians work under the supervision of a veterinarian or an experienced Technician. While performing routine duties, little supervision may be needed. There are some procedures that Veterinary Technicians are prohibited by law from performing. They may not diagnose ailments, prescribe medications, or perform surgery. Veterinary Technicians work indoors most of the time . Outdoor work may be required of those who are responsible for exercising animals or who work with a veterinarian practicing large animal medicine. The work involved in the basic care of animals may be dirty, repetitious, routine, and demanding. Hazards might include bites, scratches, and/or exposure to infection. Veterinary Technicians may supervise Veterinary Assistants. Veterinary Assistants perform routine animal care, such as feeding, watering, bathing, and exercising animals. They may greet and make appointments for clients, answer telephone calls, and accept payments.

Most Veterinary Technicians work in veterinary offices, veterinary hospitals, kennels, research institutes, or zoos.

 Special Requirements

Veterinary technicians with formal training should be certified through the Arkansas Veterinary Medical Examining Board. Only upon certification does one have the right to use the title “Certified Veterinary Technician.”  However, certification and formal training are not required in Arkansas. Applicants with a strong science background may be trained on the job as a veterinary assistant.

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