Career: Veterinarians
USDA/Bill Tarpenning
If you’ve ever pulled a thorn from a dog’s paw, you know the satisfaction that comes from making an animal feel better. But if you’ve ever given a cat a pill, you also know that it’s not easy to tell an animal what’s best for it.
As a veterinary student, you’ll learn about more than the health problems of animals. You'll also learn how to diagnose patients who can’t explain their own symptoms.
You may be surprised to learn that people skills are a must for veterinarians, but for every animal a vet treats, there's a human standing by. In fact, one of the hardest things vets have to do is tell someone it’s time to let go of a sick pet.
Veterinarians prevent, diagnose, and treat illness in small animals (such as cats and dogs), large animals (such as horses and cows), or both. They may also research diseases and their cures.
Did You Know?
- It's even harder to get into vet school than med school since there are only twenty-eight accredited programs in the United States.
Are You Ready To...?
- Advise an owner on how to help his overweight dog slim down
- Risk getting bitten, scratched, or kicked by an upset animal
- Handle an emergency surgery at 6:00 p.m. on a Friday
- Work out payment plans for owners who can’t afford treatment
It Helps to Be...
Patient, compassionate, perceptive, and able to communicate with a wide variety of people.
Make High School Count
- Try your hardest in every class since you'll need strong skills to make it into vet school.
- Take as many science, math, and biology courses as you can.
- Volunteer or intern at a local animal shelter, vet's office, clinic, zoo, stable, farm, or research lab. Get as much hands-on experience with animals as possible.
- Get to know your pet’s veterinarian and ask him or her questions about the job.
- Check out the educational resources on the website of the American Veterinary Medical Association.
“I get a huge rush out of educating pet owners about their pets … About 80 percent of the time, you are dealing with human beings.”
Dennis, Small-Animal Veterinarian
Outlook
Pets have increasingly become part of the family, and owners are willing to spend more on their health and well-being. Many owners even buy health insurance for their pets. As more pet owners become aware of their pet’s physical needs, government economists expect an average increase in the number of veterinarians employed through 2014.
Compensation
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterinarians earned an average of $81,490 in 2006.
