Career Research:Veterinarian

By: Ashley Spoon Reading/Block E

April 26, 2010

Veterinarian: Job Responsibilities• Trained to diagnose and treat

diseases and dysfunctions of animals.

• Veterinarians care for the health of pets, livestock, and animals.

• Their work involves treating illnesses, minor injuries, and infectious diseases in large and small animals.

Veterinarian: Job Responsibilities• Vaccinate against diseases, medicate

animals suffering from infections, treat wounds, set fractures, and perform surgery.

• Conduct research and protect humans against diseases carried by animals, such as rabies and anthrax.

• Protect our food supply chain by being involved in food safety by checking animals for transmissible diseases such as E. coli.

Veterinarian: Education RequiredThe educational requirements include:

• Four year college degree that includes at least two years of pre-veterinary course work.

• Four years of veterinary school that lead to a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree (D.V.M.).

• Must pass an examination required by most states in order to receive a license to practice.

• Required clinical and classroom work include courses in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, zoology and pathology.

Veterinarian: SCANS Skills NeededIn addition to mastering the basic skills of reading, writing,

mathematics and communicating, a veterinarian should also possess the following skills:

• Social – Must interact with pet owners and show understanding for their needs.

• Leadership – Professional communication and ability to influence others, especially their employees and colleagues.

• Self-Management – Should be accountable to running their business without supervision and achieving daily goals.

• Responsibility – Must be dependable and perform high quality work, especially when dealing with life and death situations.

• Problem Solving & Decision Making – Must have the ability to diagnose an animal’s health problem, and be decisive in taking action.

Veterinarian: Salary Range

• In 2008, the nation’s starting salary for veterinarians was approximately $52,000.

• The median annual income was $79,050.

• The annual potential salary exceeded $143,000.

Veterinarian: Salary Range

Beginning Salary

Median Salary

Potential Salary

$0 $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000

$100,000 $120,000 $140,000 $160,000

$53,000

$79,050

$143,000

Veterinarian: Growth Potential and Job Outlook

The outlook for this profession is excellent.

• The employment growth is expected to increase 33% between 2008 and 2018.

• Growth is due to the needed support for public health and food safety, and national disease programs.

• Also, growing demand for Vets because pets are increasingly viewed as a member of the family.

Veterinarian: Interesting Facts • Veterinary medicine has dentists who are licensed

to perform dentistry on horses.

• The National Zoo has had a history of training some of the top leaders in the field of Veterinary Science.

• Admission to vet school is competitive, as there are only 28 accredited veterinary colleges in the U.S.

• The number of pet owners purchasing pet insurance is rising.

Veterinarian: Interview Source Interview with Dr. Carlos Sanchez…

• Dr. Sanchez leads the Veterinary Training Program for the Smithsonian National Zoo.

• Involved in the daily clinical care of animals

in the National Zoo collection.

• Known for his work with Pandas in China and his training programs throughout Latin America.

Veterinarian and Friends…

Veterinarian: Works CitedSanchez, Carlos. “Careers-Interview with Zoo

Veterinarian Dr. Carlos Sanchez.” Kids.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2010. <http://www.kids.gov/ internal/ zoovet.shtml>.

“Veterinarians.” Career Discovery Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. 2000. 86,87. Print. 8 vols.

“Veterinarians.” http://www.bls.gov/ oco/ ocos076.htm. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, 17 Dec. 2009. Web. 13 Apr. 2010. <http://www.bls.gov/ oco/ ocos076.htm>.

“Veterinary Medicine.” World Book Online Reference Center. N.p., 11 Apr. 2010. Web. 11 Apr. 2010. <http://www.worldbookonline.com>.