Veterinarian  (D.V.M)

Basic Description
A doctor of veterinarian science carries the responsibility of diagnosing and treatment of animals. Veterinarians also use their skills  to protect humans against diseases carried by animals, and conduct clinical research on human and animal health problems.  Many veterinarians perform clinical work in private practices.  Many of these doctors usually only deal with small animals.  Many only treat animals which can be kept as pets such as dogs, cats, reptiles and birds.  However some do further range their practices to pigs, goats, sheep, and some  non domestic animals. However some doctors specialize in large farm and ranch animals such as horses or cows.

Basic duties
Veterinarians in clinical practice diagnose animal health problems, vaccinate against diseases  such as distemper and rabies, medicate animals with infections or illnesses, treat and dress wounds, set fractures, perform surgery, and advise owners about feeding, behavior, and breeding.

Education
To become a doctor of veterinarian medicine you must either graduate from a basic 4-year Pre Veterinarian program or have enough credit hours in a similar area of study and then continue your education in to another four year program at an accredited college of veterinarian medicine with a Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine (D.V.M OR V.M.D)  and then obtain a license to practice medicine.  Course which are usually taken include organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, animal biology, genetics, zoology, etc., emphasizing the sciences.
    In addition  to satisfying pre veterinarian course requirements, applicants must also submit test scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), the Veterinary College of Admissions Test (VCAT), or the Medical  College Admissions Test (MCAT).
    While in school students are exposed to clinical procedures such as diagnosing and treating animal disease and performing surgery.  In addition they also do laboratory work  in anatomy, biochemistry, and other scientific and medical subjects.  Also  at most veterinarian medical colleges, students who plan a career in research can earn both a D.V.M  degree and and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree at the same time.
    Those wanting to major in a certain area such as pathology, surgery, radiology, or large animal medicine usually do a one year internship.  Vet who seek board certification also have to  complete a two to three year residency program.

Salary
20,000 starting to 120,000/

Working Environment
Veterinarians usually end up spending long hours in the clinic, usually spending late night hours and weekends treating emergency animals.  Usually with in a group of practices such as within a city will take turns being on call for evenings, nights or weekend work such as at Jornada Vet Clinic. In addition, those veterinarians in large animal practices must spend time  driving out to the farm or ranch and back.  They work outdoors  in all kinds of weather, and may have to treat animals or perform surgery under less-than-sanitary conditions.  When working with animals which are scared  or in pain, veterinarians also run the risk of being bitten, kicked or scratched.  Yet, the environment is not always one of concern and panic it can be an easy going, friendly and enjoyable environment.

Dress Requirement
Casual and comfortable.  Usually normal everyday comfortable clothes are appropriate.  Usually dresses are not worn because of possible difficulties.  However is is usually required that at the least a smock top be worn with dealing with animals, and always in front of the owners.

Future Employment
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook employment of veterinarians is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2006. Job opening will always be a continuous flow to replace those which retire or move on to something else.  Slower  pet population, however may decrease the demand, yet advances in in new technologies and medicine will permit veterinarians  to offer more and better care to animals and pet owners are beginning to become aware of such benefits.

Typical Tasks (Observed through Jornada Veterinarian Clinic)
Surgery - quite a variety ranging from routine neuters to femoral head operation to suturing an ear.
Diagnosing illness of the animals
Providing proper treatment of the animal
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Some veterinarians are physical therapist, specializing in detailed fractures and so forth.  Thus the task list varies according to the job.
 

Advantages
At times very awarding. It is a fast paced and changing career, which can be very fun.

Disadvantages
Very time demanding, frustrating, dealing with upset and emotionally upset clients, and sometimes more responsibility then can be handled.

Overall this is a very fun and energetic career that has a couple downfalls such as hard hours and possible disappointments but made up by the rewards.