These health care practitioners have a broad role in the field, not only in the care of animals, but in helping humans as well. Most care for pets or livestock, but others care for zoo animals or research animals, and some participate in research on diseases and problems that affect humans as well as animals. In fact, veterinarians participated in research that helped to find clues to malaria and yellow fever, as well as botulism.

Those who work with livestock deal with issues such as transmittable diseases as well as slaughtering and processing techniques to improve food purity for human consumption. Joint, limb, and organ transplants were first perfected for animals, and that knowledge was passed along for human use. Medications such as anticoagulants were first developed to treat heart problems in animals.

Duties, Activities, and Scope of Practice

Veterinarians diagnose and treat animals. They educate owners on the care, behavior, feeding, and breeding of pets, sporting animals, and livestock. They vaccinate animals, treat injuries and illnesses, set fractures, and perform surgeries as indicated.

Usually veterinarians choose to practice the care of small animals such as dogs, cat, birds, and other pets, or large animals such as racehorses, horses, cows, and other ranch or farm animals. Some may choose to work for zoos and care for either small or large animals or a combination of both. And some work in the food inspection and packing industry to ensure the proper breeding, care, and slaughtering of animals.

Education/Training

The veterinary program is a four-year postgraduate course that bestows the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.D.M.) degree. Twenty-eight schools are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Prerequisites vary by school, but all require at least some undergraduate work of 45 to 90 units.

Entrance exams are required and vary from school to school. They may include the GRE (Graduate Record Exam), the VCAT (Veterinary College Admission Test), or the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). Experience working with animals either in a veterinary setting or on a farm or ranch is also helpful, as many schools place a heavy consideration on this.

Veterinary programs include the study of sciences such as organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, microbiology, zoology, animal biology and nutrition, genetics, vertebrate embryology, and cellular biology. Math requirements may include calculus, and most require algebra or statistics. Courses in practice management and career development are also becoming part of the core program.

The first two years are spent on sciences and core courses. Students spend the final two years in clinical practice learning diagnostics, clinical procedures, and surgery.

For those who wish to specialize in areas such as pathology, veterinary dentistry, ophthalmology, internal medicine, radiology, or laboratory animal medicine, an additional two years of internship and study is required. Board certification in areas such as oncology, exotica, small-animal medicine, radiology, dermatology, anesthesiology, and neurology require a three to four year residency for additional education and training.

Licensure/Certification

Upon completion of an accredited program, candidates take the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE), which is administered by computer and consists of 360 questions (multiple-choice) covering all aspects of veterinary medicine. Ten percent of the exam is visual and tests diagnostic skills.

All states require veterinarians to be licensed. Most administer an additional licensing exam that covers laws and regulations relating to animals, and some require a practical exam as well. Most states require continuing education for re-licensure.

Work Settings and Salaries

Salaries for veterinarians as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor for 2004 ranged from $38,000 to slightly over $120,000. The median income was $66,590. Most begin their careers working for other veterinarians, but usually set up or purchase their own practice as soon as they can. Some work for zoos, horseracing farms, aquariums, or research laboratories. In 2004, there were 61,000 veterinarians. About 28 percent were in solo private practice. Most of the rest were working for a veterinary practice.

Veterinarians usually work long hours. They may take night and weekend calls on a rotating basis, and work weekends to accommodate their clients. And some rotate through after-hours emergency clinics. Those who work with large animals usually make house calls to ranches and farms, and may have to perform surgery or treatments onsite and often under unsanitary conditions. They will spend many hours each week traveling to see patients.

Career Potential and Additional Information

The outlook for employment for veterinarians through 2014 looks very good. The numbers will grow faster than average for all occupations during this time period. Most veterinarians practice small-animal care in animal hospitals and clinics. Companion animals are increasingly viewed as part of the family, so the amount of time and money devoted to their care is increasing, creating a growing demand for small-animal care. The need for large-animal care is not expected to grow as fast.

Federal agencies dealing with public health and food safety as well as the biomedical research industry will continue to have a demand for new veterinarians.

Additional information on veterinary careers and a list of accredited schools is available from the American Veterinary Medical Association. For more information about veterinary education contact the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. For information about employment as a veterinarian with the federal government, contact the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).