What Do Veterinarians Use Math For?

Vets use math in prescribing medications.

Veterinarians are responsible for keeping animals healthy and taking care of any ailments that may arise. Because they see a variety of animals on a daily basis, vets need to have a wide base of knowledge. Mathematics comes into play when weighing animals, dispensing medication and even for billing procedures.

Metric Conversions

Veterinarians need to be able to weigh animals and, very frequently, use a non-digital scale. Often the scales at a veterinary office are metric and the vet needs to be able to convert the weight from kilograms to pounds. When prescribing medications, dosages are often written in cubic centimeters (ccs), but many pet owners do not have measurement devices that use ccs, so the vet must convert the dosage amounts into teaspoons and tablespoons.

Medication Dosages

When a veterinarian prescribes medication for an animal, she needs to know how much of a certain medication to prescribe. Medications generally need to be given in smaller doses for smaller animals. Other medications have harmful effects on animals if they are given in a higher concentration, so a veterinarian needs to determine how much of which medicines to give an animal to keep it healthy. Too much medication could harm an animal, even to the point of death, while too little medication could render the treatment ineffective.

Business Expenses

Many veterinarians work for a larger practice that handles the business end of veterinary medicine, but those who go into private practice have to develop a budget for their practice, keep track of expenses and inventory and decide how much to charge for procedures in order to make a profit and cover the cost of procedures. Veterinarians in private practice also employ technicians and receptionists and are responsible for determining their salary and making sure they get paid.

Diagnosing Problems

When an animal gets sick, a veterinarian often will perform tests to figure out what the problem is. Many of these tests involve measuring levels of chemicals in the animal's body. Once a veterinarian determines the level of a crucial chemical in an animal's body, he must compare that to the animal's weight and determine whether or not that level meets the appropriate ratio. For example, if the ratio of chemical A is supposed to be one ounce for every three pounds of body weight, the vet would know that the chemical count was too high if a 12-poung dog displayed a chemical measurement of six ounces.

Performing Surgeries

Many veterinarians are required to perform animal surgeries. Any surgery requires precise measurements and movements to ensure that the job is done correctly. If the surgeon cuts an inch below where he is supposed to, the animal's life could be in danger. Therefore, the veterinarian needs to precisely measure an animal's body in preparation for surgery and also correctly read X-rays to know the location of any internal problem.

Reading Research

It is important for veterinarians to keep up on the latest research in order to be able to best treat the animals they see. Many research studies contain charts and graphs to explain their findings. A veterinarian needs to be able to properly read these graphs and understand what the numbers indicate. She may also want to investigate whether it would be cost-effective to so some of the research herself.

References

• Occupational Outlook Quarterly - Fall 2003
• Expanding Your Horizons: Current Veterinarian Care
• Dorr Veterinary Clinic: What Vets Need to Know