Pursuing a Rewarding Career in the Field of Veterinary Medicine
♫ Wednesday, September 21st, 2011The field of veterinary medicine is a complex and refined science that can be both challenging and rewarding. However, the moral and financial satisfactions of the work gradually come to overshadow any difficulties you may experience in your training years or in the early stages of your career. If you have been contemplating the idea of becoming an Encinitas Vet, here is some career information you may find useful:
• Job Description – Veterinarian
Veterinarians provide healthcare for various pets, livestock, as well as zoo, sporting and laboratory animals. Most Vets in Encinitas perform work in Encinitas Animal Hospitals or in private practices. The majority prefer working with smaller animals, although there are some who work with large animals too.
• Educational Requirements
To become a vet practitioner you must earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from an accredited college of veterinary medicine. While there are schools that admit applicants who don’t have a bachelor’s degree, having one is an important advantage. This four-year program typically sees keen competition for entry.
• Other Requirements
All States and the District of Columbia require that veterinarians be licensed before they get the right to practice. To practice as a vet in Encinitas, you will need to pass the licensing exam required by the State of California.
• Advancement Opportunities
Most Vets in Encinitas start out as employees in established practices and later set up their own practice.
• Job Outlook
According to government reports, about 62,000 veterinarians were employed nationwide in 2006, with 3 out of 4 in solo or group practice. Other employers include the federal government, research laboratories, animal food companies, and pharmaceutical companies.
Job prospects for veterinarians are expected to be very good in the coming years, partly because of the relatively low number of accredited veterinary medicine schools nationwide. The best opportunities are in rural areas, where the competition for work is lower, which translates to better chances for fresh graduates.
Employment is expected to increase 35% through 2016, with approximately 22,000 new jobs to be added in the field.
• Earnings
In 2009, veterinarians earned a median annual salary of $80,500.
• Typical Roles and Duties of an Encinitas Vet
On a typical day, a vet working with small animals, i.e. dogs, cats, birds and reptiles, in clinical practice will:
- diagnose animal health problems;
- administer shots against diseases, such as distemper and rabies;
- medicate animals suffering from infections or illnesses;
- attend to wounds;
- set fractures;
- perform or assist in surgical procedures;
- advise owners about animal feeding, behavior, and breeding;
- euthanize terminally ill animals;
On a typical day, a vet working with large animals, primarily horses and cows, will:
- provide preventive care to maintain the health of food animals;
- test for and vaccinate against diseases;
- discuss with farm or ranch owners and managers about animal production, feeding, and housing issues;
- attend to wounds, set fractures, and perform surgery;
For more resources about Vet hospital Encinitas or about Vet clinic San Diego, please review these links.