This week, LazyPaw Animal Hospital is kicking off a series all about veterinarians. Lots of people assume vets are just about cats and dogs, but did you know veterinarians actually have a huge scope of potential jobs that utilize their skills and training?
What do you mean, “more than just dogs and cats”?
Veterinarians are animal doctors. Just as doctors for humans diagnose and treat people but can also have a huge scope of possible jobs, veterinarians are the same for animals. Vets care for animal health and also diagnose and treat diseases and dysfunctions in animals. That includes pets, horses, livestock, zoo animals, and laboratory animals.
What else do vets do?
Just as some doctors focus solely on research, some veterinarians focus on clinical research to protect humans from illnesses carried by animals. Others may work on basic or applied research to expand our knowledge of animals, medical science, and more.
What types of people make great vets?
It depends what type of veterinarian you most want to be. Strong skills in science and math are a must, but if you want to work with the public and their pets, “bedside manner” is essential. On the other hand, if you’re more interested in pure research, you may be happier working inside in a laboratory. If you love large animals, being outside, and getting a little dirty, livestock may be your best customers.
What level of education is involved?
This also depends what type and level of veterinarian you want to become, but to begin, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree from a four-year program is necessary. Some programs don’t require a bachelor’s degree, but most veterinary students have completed an undergraduate program. Undergraduate courses with an emphasis on science are helpful.
Being a veterinarian is about lot more than pet teeth cleaning, dog vaccinations, cat spaying, and running a pet pharmacy. If this teaser on the fascinating world of veterinary medicine made your ears perk up, you’re in for a treat—there is much more to come later in the series! We’re going to spotlight what makes a great pet vet, discuss what kinds of prospective professionals would most excel at veterinary medicine, and profile zoo, horse, livestock, and research veterinarians.