Veterinary Careers

Chapter 28


Veterinary Careers



Learning Objectives



image Define at least 10 terms relating to veterinary care.


image Specify the role of selected veterinary workers, including personal qualities, levels of education, and credentialing requirements.


image Describe the function of the veterinary team.


image Identify the functions that animals serve in the daily life of humans.


image Identify at least three characteristics of a healthy animal.


image Identify at least five signs of disorders in animals.


image Identify at least five methods of restraint for care or examination of animals.


image Describe at least five disorders affecting animals.


image Identify at least three methods of assessment of disorders in animals.



Key Terms














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


image


*A transition syllable or vowel may be added to or deleted from the word parts to make the combining form.




Abbreviations for Veterinary Careers






































Abbreviation Meaning
CENSHARE Center for the Study of Human-Animal Relationships
CPV Canine parvovirus
CVT Certified veterinary technician
DVM Doctor of veterinary medicine
EE Equine encephalomyelitis
FP Feline panleukopenia
FUS Feline urologic syndrome
FVR Feline viral rhinotracheitis
RVT Registered veterinary technician
VMD Veterinary medical doctor



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).



BOX 28-1   Veterinary Careers





Good physical health is necessary for those who work with animals. The work may involve lifting and manipulating heavy animals and supplies for their care. Veterinary personnel may be exposed to disease and injury by unrestrained animals. They must work well with others and with the animals receiving care.



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.



image Brain Byte


Thirty-nine percent of U.S. households have at least one dog.


Veterinarians 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



image


ASSOCIATE/STAFF VETERINARIAN


ANTIOCH VETERINARY CLINIC








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.



image 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


Veterinarians may also specialize in fields such as wildlife and international economics. Wildlife veterinarians may travel to treat animals affected by oil spills and natural disasters. Economic veterinarians may travel throughout the world to help set policies and procedures to deal with international food and agriculture.


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.



image Brain Byte


It cost $155,000 to clone a Labrador retriever in 2009.


Veterinarians 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).



BOX 28-2   Duties of the Certified or Licensed Veterinary Technician




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.


image
FIGURE 28-1 Injections are given only by trained personnel under the supervision of a licensed health care worker.

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



image


UNREGISTERED VETERINARY TECHNICIAN


VETERINARY HOSPITAL, PHOENIX, ARizona



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Apr 15, 2017 | Posted by in MEDICAL ASSISSTANT | Comments Off on Veterinary Careers

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