Veterinarian

A veterinarian (often shortened to vet) is a medical professional who is qualified to diagnose and treat diseases, disorders, and injuries in animals. This profession involves a broad range of activities, from caring for pets and treating sick or injured animals, to protecting public health and engaging in scientific research.

Dog portrait with a veterinarian in blue uniform holding a stethoscope - 51647083727

Education and Training

• To become a veterinarian, one must earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree from an accredited college of veterinary medicine. This usually involves a rigorous course of study, often taking four years, following an undergraduate degree.
• The curriculum typically includes general scientific courses in the first two years, covering areas like anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and pathology. The last two years are generally devoted to clinical work, involving real-world training in diagnosing and treating animal diseases.
• Following veterinary school, some graduates opt to pursue internships or residency programs to specialize in areas such as internal medicine, surgery, dermatology, ophthalmology, or exotic animal medicine.

Error creating thumbnail:

Veterinary Surgeon

Scope of Practice

• The scope of practice for veterinarians is vast, encompassing all animal species, both domestic and wild. Key areas include:
• Companion Animal Practice: Most veterinarians work in private practice treating pets like dogs, cats, and small mammals.
• Large Animal Practice: These veterinarians typically work with livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, etc.), and their work often involves travelling to farms or ranches.
• Exotic Animal Practice: These vets specialize in the treatment of non-traditional pets like birds, reptiles, and small mammals.
• Wildlife Medicine: Some veterinarians work in wildlife medicine, treating injured wildlife and addressing diseases that impact wild animal populations.
• Public Health and Epidemiology: Veterinarians in this field work on disease control, food safety, and animal-related public health issues.
• Research: Many veterinarians contribute to scientific research, studying animal health and how it intersects with human and environmental health.

Regulation and Professional Associations

• In most countries, practicing veterinarians need to be licensed by the appropriate regulatory body. They are expected to uphold certain standards of practice and ethics.
• In addition, many vets are members of professional organizations, such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in the U.S., which provide resources, continuing education, and advocacy for members.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

Veterinarians often face challenging and high-stress situations, such as dealing with critically ill animals, euthanasia decisions, and interactions with distressed owners. They also face a range of ethical considerations related to animal welfare, the use of animals in research, and public health issues.

See Also

• Veterinary medicine
• Veterinary surgery
• Veterinary pathology
• Zoonosis
• Veterinary specialties

References

<references>

• Smith DF. (2013). The challenges facing veterinary medicine. Vet Rec, 172(2), 43-44.
• Rollin BE. (2006). An introduction to veterinary medical ethics: theory and cases. Iowa State Press.
• MacGregor JM, Krockenberger MB, Hogg CJ, et al. (2018). Veterinary management of a wild Australian sea lio(Neophoca cinerea) pup presenting with unusual wounds of unknown origin. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 54(2), 416-419.

Veterinarian Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? WikiMD's DocFinder can help find general and specialist physicians.	Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials.