Veterinary Careers
Define at least 10 terms relating to veterinary care.
Specify the role of selected veterinary workers, including personal qualities, levels of education, and credentialing requirements.
Describe the function of the veterinary team.
Identify the functions that animals serve in the daily life of humans.
Identify at least three characteristics of a healthy animal.
Identify at least five signs of disorders in animals.
Identify at least five methods of restraint for care or examination of animals.
Describe at least five disorders affecting animals.
Identify at least three methods of assessment of disorders in animals.
(PARE-uh-site) Plant or animal that lives on or within another living organism at the expense of the host organism
(KWAR-an-teen) Period of detention or isolation as a result of a disease suspected to be communicable
(vak-sin-AY-shun) Introduction of a microorganism that has been made harmless into a human or animal for the purpose of developing immunity
Veterinary Careers Terminology*
| Term | Definition | Prefix | Root | Suffix |
| Cutaneous | Pertaining to the skin | cut/an | eous | |
| Encephalitis | Inflammation on the inside of the brain | en | ceph/al | itis |
| Hepatitis | Inflammation of the liver | hepat | itis | |
| Intravenous | Inside the vessel | intra | ven | ous |
| Pathology | Study of disease | path | ology | |
| Rhinotracheitis | Inflammation of the nose and windpipe | rhino | trache | itis |
| Toxicology | Study of poison | toxic | ology | |
| Tracheobronchitis | Inflammation of the windpipe and bronchus | tracheo | bronch | itis |
| Urologic | Pertaining to urine | urolog | ic | |
| Zoology | Study of animals | zoo | ology |
*A transition syllable or vowel may be added to or deleted from the word parts to make the combining form.
Careers
Veterinary care personnel work in a variety of settings, including private practice, public health, research, zoos, circuses, and racetracks (Box 28-1). Those interested in aquatic animals may work in the area of marine biology (Table 28-1). The purpose of animal health care is to prevent illness and provide care for sick and injured animals. Animal health care providers also prevent the spread of disease carried by animals to humans (zoonosis).
TABLE 28-1
Veterinary Career Educational Cost and Earnings
| Career | Educational Cost* | Earnings† |
| Veterinary Technician | Median annual salary: College Station, Tex.—$26,370 |
Veterinarian
Veterinarians constitute the largest group of animal health care providers. Their professional oath describes the use of their knowledge and skills “for the benefit of society, for the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of livestock resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.”
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there are more than 99.5 million cattle (bovine), 59.9 million hogs (swine), and 7.6 million sheep in the livestock industry. More than 5.3 million horses (equine), 93.6 million cats (feline), and 77.5 million dogs (canine) are kept as domestic pets. More than 8.8 billion chickens are raised annually in the United States. Veterinarians are instrumental in artificial insemination procedures to produce selected types of stock. Methods used for this selective breeding include embryo transplants and freezing.
Brain ByteVeterinarians are licensed by the state in which they practice. The veterinarian must first obtain a college or university degree followed by the completion of study at a 4-year accredited veterinary college. The degree earned is a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM). One college awards a degree called a veterinarian medical degree (VMD). Passing a written and oral examination is necessary for licensure. The United States has 28 colleges of veterinary medicine in 26 states that are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). About 75% of the 8500 students enrolled are women. Veterinarians who work in research may have an additional doctoral degree in pathology, toxicology, or laboratory animal medicine.
Health Careers in Practice
Bachelor of arts, psychology, Dartmouth College (4 years); San Francisco State University (3 years additional college classes); doctor of veterinary medicine, University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine (4 years)
A typical day at work and job duties include
I am a small animal clinical veterinarian, meaning that I see patients in a clinic or hospital setting.
I perform examinations, dental procedures, surgeries, and imaging, including radiographs and ultrasound examinations, in addition to ordering and evaluating laboratory tests.
I diagnose and treat a myriad of diseases in primarily dogs and cats but also occasionally in the rabbit, guinea pig, rat, hamster, and mouse.
The most gratifying part of my job
I enjoy problem solving and helping my patients get well and stay healthy, and for the most part, I like working with the clients and owners.
The biggest challenge(s) I face in doing my job
The primary difficulty in veterinary medicine is the economic decision the owner has to make to pursue appropriate veterinary care. The fun challenge is continuing to learn to improve my level of practice and keep up with the latest information and techniques.
I always enjoyed being with and working with animals. Also, I became interested in medicine when my older sister pursued a career as a medical doctor.
Veterinary medicine has 39 recognized specialties. These include anesthesiology, dentistry, dermatology, internal medicine, laboratory animal medicine, microbiology, neurology, ophthalmology, pathology, preventive medicine, radiology, surgery, reproduction (theriogenology), toxicology, veterinary practice, zoo medicine, poultry, behaviorism, pharmacology, nutrition, and emergency care.
Veterinarians must work well with both people and animals. The profession requires good hearing, vision, and manual dexterity. Veterinarians may work long hours, and in rural areas a great deal of travel may be required. Care of animals may result in injury or exposure to disease.
More than 80% of veterinarians work in private practice. Many veterinarians work exclusively with either large or small animals, although some, especially those in rural areas, work in a mixed practice. Animal care veterinarians diagnose, perform surgery, and provide treatments and medication for sick and injured animals. They also immunize animals against disease and advise owners about ways to keep pets healthy. Veterinarians who care for companion animals usually work in hospitals or clinics. In rural areas large animal care may be provided using a van equipped as a clinic.
Case Study 28-1
Your friend tells you she wants to be a veterinarian but cannot afford the out-of-state tuition that would be needed because there is no in-state veterinary college. What should you say?
Answers to Case Studies
are available on the Evolve website:
http://evolve.elsevier.com/Gerdin
Research veterinarians work to find better methods to prevent and cure animal disorders. Many of these methods have been a direct benefit to treatment of human disorders. Veterinary research has led to the development of many modern drugs and treatments. Some animals commonly used for research include dogs, cats, guinea pigs, mice, rats, rabbits, gerbils, and monkeys. Laboratory animals are usually bred specifically for the purpose of research to have healthy and similar specimens. Small animals are preferable to larger animals because the generations and life cycles are shorter.
Brain ByteVeterinarians specializing in toxicology and pathology protect humans from diseases transmitted by animals. They also work to control and eliminate disease in livestock. The federal government employs veterinarians in the Department of Agriculture and in the Public Health Service. In public health a veterinarian may work as an epidemiologist to prevent the spread of disease transmitted by animals.
Veterinary Technician
Veterinary technicians (VTs) may work in research settings, private clinics, food inspection, and laboratories or perform research under the supervision of a veterinarian, scientist, or senior technologist. The research technician prepares and tests serums (vaccinations) used to prevent animal diseases. Meat and dairy products are inspected for quality and purity by animal technicians. VTs in private practice assist the veterinarian by performing a variety of duties, including obtaining information, preparing animals and equipment, collecting specimens, and assisting with procedures. VTs may also administer medications, prepare laboratory samples, and apply bandages or dressings to wounds (Box 28-2).
VTs may be trained to perform extended duties such as teeth cleaning, removal of sutures, and administration of intravenous fluids. One method that the technician may use to administer medications is injection (Fig. 28-1). Medical asepsis is maintained throughout the procedure to prevent the spread of microorganisms. The correct dosage, medication, and route must be determined before giving an injection. The injection sites for animals are determined by the route of administration and type of animal.
The technician completes a minimum of 2 years of college-level vocational training for this occupation. Some colleges offer an associate degree in veterinary technology. More than 125 programs are accredited by the AVMA. Continuing education is necessary as the role of the technician expands. Animal technologists work in a more expanded role and must complete a 4-year baccalaureate degree program. Sixteen programs offer a 4-year degree in veterinary technology. In most states the veterinary technician and technologist must be certified (CVT), registered (RVT), or licensed (LVT).
Health Careers in Practice
UNREGISTERED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN
VETERINARY HOSPITAL, PHOENIX, ARizona
A typical day at work and job duties include
Monitoring hospitalized animals
Assisting the doctor with procedures
In addition to the medical tasks and procedures, I am required to communicate with and educate pet owners, perform general maintenance, cleaning, and animal care.
Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel
Full access? Get Clinical Tree
