A Veterinarian is a medical professional who diagnoses and treats illness, injury and disease in animals. They work in private practices, zoos, animal shelters, wildlife sanctuaries and laboratories. A typical day for a veterinarian may involve performing physical examinations on animals, diagnosing health problems, prescribing medication and performing surgery.

Veterinarian Job Responsibilities

  • Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
  • Prescribe medications and design treatment plans to relieve animal suffering.
  • Inoculate animals against various diseases such as rabies and distemper.
  • Perform surgeries on animals when necessary.
  • Advise owners about general care, nutrition, breeding, and preventive health measures for their pets.
  • Work with public health officials to control and prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases (diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans).

Objectives

  • To provide high quality medical care to animals in need.
  • To educate pet owners on how to best care for their animals and prevent common health problems.
  • To work with other animal professionals, such as breeders, trainers, and shelters, to improve the overall health and welfare of animals.
  • To conduct research to develop new and improved treatments for animal diseases and disorders.

Veterinarian Job Skills & Qualifications Needed

  • In order to become a veterinarian, one must complete a fouryear veterinary degree from an accredited university. In addition to academic coursework, veterinarians must also complete clinical training in order to gain hands-on experience working with animals. After graduation, veterinarians must pass a state licensing exam in order to practice. Some veterinarians may choose to specialize in a particular area of veterinary medicine, such as surgery or dentistry, and will undergo additional training in that area.