Facts on Veternarians
Veterinarians specialize in the care of animals. This can involve caring for domestic pets, like dogs and cats. It can also involve working with livestock on farms, or large wild animals in zoos and animal preserves. Some vets also work in research labs, doing animal research to help identify cures for diseases that plague both animals and humans. Vets are medical professionals, and becoming a veterinarian requires an advanced degree. Salaries are high to reflect this professional status.
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Job Duties
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The specific job duties for a veterinarian depends on the vet's specialty. Vets who work with domestic pets, like cats and dogs, do annual exams, treat illnesses and offer vaccinations. The American Medical Veterinary Association report that over 70% of vets work primarily with small domestic pets. These vets primarily treat dogs and cats, but also treat reptiles, rabbits, ferrets, gerbils, birds and other indoor domestic pets.
Approximately 25% of vets work with larger animals, including pigs, goats, horses, cows, lambs and other livestock. Some of these vets, as well as the remaining 5% of vets, work with zoo animals and marine animals.
Working Environment
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Vets can work in clinics, directly with animals. Some work in labs and do research on animals. Some vets work on farms, zoos, racetracks, or aquariums.
Vets have to interact with both animals and people. Interaction with animals can be dangerous, especially with large animals and/or wild animals who may not be domesticated. Working with pet owners can also pose a challenge at times, especially when giving owners unpleasant news about their companion animals.
Some vets have to work long hours, and are on call in case of animal emergencies, just as doctors may have to be on call for human emergencies.
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Qualifications
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Veterinarians must obtain a D.V.M or V.M.D. These letters stand for 'Doctor of Veterinary Medicine." This is an additional four year doctoral program that is required after obtaining a bachelors degree. The veterinary school must be accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Many states also require vets to be licensed. Licensing involves taking national or state-specific exams to prove your knowledge, skills and ability as a vet.
Salary
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the median (or midpoint) salaries for vets was $71,990 in 2006. The top 10% of veterinarians earned over $133,000 in 2006.
According to the American College of Veterinary Medicine survey in 2006, vets specializing in large animals earned the highest average starting salary at $61,029. Those who focused on only small domestic animals earned an average starting salary of $56,241.
Job Prospects
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the veterinary field is expected to increase 35% between 2006 to 2016. This is much higher than the national average for average occupations, which is 12% growth.
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