Why become a veterinarian?

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/animatedjourney...

What are the Pluses and Minuses of a Veterinary Career?

The pluses and minuses of a veterinary career vary. They depend on the stage of a veterinarian's career, the type of practice, and the veterinarian's likes and dislikes. The primary reward for all veterinarians is the personal satisfaction in knowing that they are improving the quality of life for animals and people.

Veterinarians who are employed by government agencies, laboratories, colleges, and commercial firms often have responsibility for large health programs and may manage large numbers of people.

Most veterinarians work in private clinical practice, which has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Veterinarians in private clinical practice gain satisfaction from helping owners keep their animals well and from treating sick and injured animals.

Veterinarians in private practice serve a variety of animals. This is especially true in companion animal practice because of the increased popularity of pet birds, small mammals (e.g., hamsters, gerbils), and fish. Today, a veterinarian may be treating llamas, catfish, or ostriches as well as cats, dogs, horses, cows, hogs, sheep, and goats.

Veterinarians usually treat companion and food animals in hospitals and clinics. Those in large animal practice also work out of well-equipped trucks or cars, and may drive considerable distances to farms and ranches. They may work outdoors in all kinds of weather. The chief risk for veterinarians is injury by animals; however, modern tranquilizers and technology have made it much easier for veterinarians to work on all types of animals.

Most veterinarians work 50 or more hours a week; however, about a fifth work 40 hours a week. Although those in private practice may work nights and weekends, the increased number of emergency clinics has reduced the amount of time private practitioners must be on call. Large animal practitioners tend to work more irregular hours than do those in small animal practice, industry, or government. Veterinarians who are just starting a practice tend to work longer hours.

Private clinical practitioners who own their own practices determine the nature of their practice and set their working hours. Because they are self-employed, most private clinical practitioners choose to work beyond normal retirement age.

http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/e-vets/intern...

Q. What inspired you to become a veterinarian?

A. I decided to become a veterinarian in the seventh grade. Although I have always been a small-animal practitioner, I grew up on a dairy farm where I helped care for our cows and calves. I helped with milking the cows morning and night. We also raised sheep, and always had dogs and cats on the farm. I participated in 4-H and FFA, and exhibited my cattle and sheep at the county and state fairs.

I was impressed with the skill of the veterinarians who came to our farm to treat our animals. Sometimes we would have a cow that was down and could not get up. The veterinarian would give a bottle of intravenous fluids and almost immediately the cow would rise to her feet. Another cow may be having difficulty giving birth to a calf. With a little help from the veterinarian the cow would soon deliver a newborn calf.

I remember the veterinarian coming when needed, no matter what time of day or night. I was also impressed with how much care and concern they had for the animals.

Q. What has been your funniest case?

A. I have always been amused when some of my dog patients eagerly, and with a great deal of excitement, come into the examination room and promptly jump right up on the examination table.

Q. What is the greatest challenge of being a veterinarian?

A. Communicating effectively with the owner of an animal is the greatest challenge for a veterinarian. It is particularly difficult when the animal has a life-threatening disease or injury. It is important for the owner to understand what is going on with the condition and what the various options are for treatment. It becomes even more challenging when there is no effective treatment option available.

Q. What is the biggest reward of being a veterinarian?

A. The greatest reward for me as a veterinarian is being able to help both animals and people. It has been particularly meaningful when I have been able to save the life of a pet, not only for the sake of the animal, but also for the sake of the owner. My actions may save and extend the human-animal relationship, which means so much to both.

I vividly recall Sarge, a brown and black German shepherd, whose severely fractured leg I surgically repaired, or the turtle whose broken shell I wired back together. The owners of both of these animals were extremely happy that their pets were saved.

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/133542_why-beco...

http://www.talktothevet.com/faqvetcareer.HTM

What are some advantages and disadvantages of the veterinary profession?

The advantages of the field is that you are helping our animal friends live better lives or if you are in the research field you are helping us find cures for people and animals.

The disadvantage is that even with medicines you can't always help them and in some research, animals may have to used to test the effects of new drugs so that other animals and people do not have to suffer.

There is also one aspect that is rarely covered in school and that is the business part of any career. Private clinical practice is especially stressful because of the investment in equipment, medicines and more, so a strong grasp of business concepts are helpful. Other fields rely on grants which is also stressful, so good communication skills are needed too.

http://www.ask-the-vet.com/become-a-veterinarian.h...

What do you like most about becoming a veterinarian?

That would most definitely be the fact that my job is working with animals that I love. Looking after them and seeing the happy faces of owners and pets alike is the most rewarding thing about being a veterinarian.

http://www.vetmed.iastate.edu/prospective_students...

Rewards come in various forms, and not just cash.

National surveys show that being a veterinarian is one of the most fulfilling careers. Knowing you are serving both animal and human wellbeing is a major benefit that few careers offer. It's a career you can be proud of, and enjoy doing throughout your working life.

The pay isn't bad either. In 2006, salaries for Iowa State graduates in veterinary medicine averaged $58,500.

http://www.socyberty.com/Work/Veterinarians-Life.6...

Veterinarians work long hours during their job. They normally work sixty hours at week. If they work as solo practitioners, they can work weekends. That is the schedule of a veterinarian.

A veterinarian earns a pretty good salary. The normal earning for when they start their job is $35,800 a year. As they gain experience, their salary moves the average $66,590 a year. Finally, their ultimate salary can be $118,430 a year. That is the earning of this job.

http://www.aboutbioscience.org/veterinarian.html

Salary

The salary for research veterinarians in various areas is as follows:

Average in Academia (medical schools/universities): $98,329 per year

Average in Industry (pharmaceutical/biotech): $116,866 per year

Average in the Federal Government: $82,494 per year

Average in Uniformed Services: $78,233 per year

Average in the Nonfederal Government: $66,885 per year

Average for Others (self-employed, consultants): $101,290 per year

The typical salary range of a clinical veterinarian is between $35,807 and $76,655 per year, with a median annual salary of $59,038.

Note: All the above data originally was provided by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine in 1994 and was escalated to reflect 2002 dollars.

The average salary for American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine-certified laboratory animal veterinarians varies based on place of employment as is as follows:

Average in Academia (colleges/universities): $154,103

Average in Research Industry: $193,388

Average in Government: $146,974

Average in Hospitals/Nonprofit Organizations: $163,849

These figures are based on the 2005 Salary Survey of Laboratory Animal Veterinarians conducted by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine and the American Society of Laboratory Animal Practitioners and have been adjusted for inflation.

http://odeo.com/episodes/23093140-PetLifeRadio-com...

http://www.dolittler.com/index.cfm/2006/7/2/pet.ve...

Veterinarians are doctors, scientists and philanthropists who continue to work hard every day for the well-being of humans, animals and the environment. Veterinary science is one of the most respected professions in the United States, and continues to grow approximately 3% every year.

There are thousands and thousands of things you could do with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). About 67%-75% of veterinarians choose to work in or even open their own private practice. Working in a private practice, you would mainly see domestic animals including dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, fish, guinea pigs and reptiles. Some private practices choose to limit themselves to farm animals, especially horses.

Veterinarians may also be teachers, using their professional education to teach the next generation of veterinarians and currently practicing veterinarians, allowing them to gain even more knowledge about the field.

Research veterinarians are often employed by universities, colleges, governmental agencies or private laboratories. They dedicate their time to finding new ways to prevent human and animal health disorders and abnormalities. Veterinary knowledge gained by these scientists developed surgical techniques including hip and joint replacements and limb organ transplants.

Zoo veterinarians see a large variety of animals. They keep them healthy on a regular basis by giving them check-ups and mandatory shots, but they also research ways to conserve endangered species and control populations of wild animals.

Veterinarians may also work for the U.S Department of Agriculture or even the military. NASA even has a program specifically for those with a DVM. As you can see, the thousands of opportunities you can have with a DVM is absolutely a positive note in the profession.

As far as hours go, it depends on what type of job the veterinarian is currently in. The average number of hours per week for a veterinarian is somewhere around 50 hours. The mean salary for a veterinarian is about $75,000, except your wage usually depends on your specific field of practice.

Veterinarians frequently work with others. In a private practice, you would be working with the pet owners just as much. Pet owners can get emotional and demanding, so as a vet it is important to have good people skills. In almost any field of practice in veterinary medicine you would be working with others. A love for animals is important for veterinarians and those who considering becoming one, but having great people skills will absolutely contribute to your success as a veterinarian.

If you still want to become a veterinarian, great grades definitely will help you along the way. If you are in junior high (like me), make sure you do well in all subjects, especially mathematics and the sciences. When you reach high school, pursue a strong science, mathematics and biology program. Beyond high school, you need four years of undergraduate work. Any major is acceptable, as long as it contains the prerequisites for veterinary school. Every vet school has different prerequisites. You can find a list of vet schools on avma.org, which will lead you to the college's website explaining it's prerequisite work. Another important aspect is experience. Veterinary school wants you to get a taste of what the profession is like before you apply to veterinary school. You can volunteer at an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, or even a zoo. The important thing is that you get a feel of what the profession is truly like.

Admission to vet school is competitive, for there are only 28 schools in the United States. But if you work hard, get great grades, volunteer and have confidence, anyone can attain their goals.

i admire your fave answer. Yeah, human beings think of the money is great. Vets have cost and coverage subject concerns in simple terms like regularly happening medical doctors, yet maximum don't have self belief that. I had a pal who "performed" with this concept. I had to be the final chum i'd desire to and asked him to respond to some stressful questions like: are you able to take being bitten? are you able to look after blood? How do you look after an emergency w/an proprietor who would be distraught? are you able to take having to tell people who their animal is heavily unwell or death? are you able to place an animal to sleep? tell me the type you will tell someone that there is not any longer something you're able to do for thier animal and it must be placed down? How do you convenience the owner? Afterall, the animal isn't your in simple terms customer. of course, my chum did no longer grow to be a vet.