chapter 35- (veterinary medicine) veterinarians

- advantage is that many animal workers are self-employed and can set their own work schedules.
- disadvantage is that a large financial investment is required to set up a business. work can also be emotionally and physically demanding, with a risk of physical injury.
- educational and experience requirements vary from a high school diploma for groomers, 2 year associate’s degree for vet techs, 8 year college for vets. on the job training is also common for those who do not get a degree. certification can make it more competitive for jobs
- expected growth is higher for those who work w/ animals from 33% for animal caretakers, 17% for vets, and 15% for vet technologists and technicians

veterinary medicine:
- one of the oldest healing arts and involves both animal and human health. main functions is the control of diseases transmissible from animals to humans and discovery of new knowledge in comparative medicine.
- vets contribute to human and animal health. they may research ways to prevent/treat human health problems. (ex: conquered malaria, yellow fever, solved botulism, produced anticoagulant)
- doctors of veterinary medicine monitor food supply, guard health of all domestic protein-producing animals, and set/enforce standards for pure food from animal sources.
- safeguarding our food supply by ensuring livestock health and wholesomeness is one of veterinary medicine’s most important functions. they may also work in food security and food/plant health inspectors, examining imports and exports of animal products to prevent diseases.

veterinarians:
- graduation from an accredited college of veterinary medicine and a state license are required; admission to vet school is competitive.
- 80% of vets work in veterinary services

- diagnose and treat diseases and injuries in animals. they care for the health of pets, livestock, and animals in facilities (zoos, labs). they may use their skill to protect humans against diseases carried by animals by working in public health or conducting clinical research on humans and animal health problems.
- most veterinarians diagnose animal health problems, vaccinate, medicate, treat animals. they also advise animal owners. they also euthanize the animal.

TYPES:
- companion animal veterinarians: work in private clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. AVMA (american veterinary medical association) says more than 66% of vets who work in private clinical practice work exclusively with companion animals.
- food animal vets: work with farm animals (poultry, pigs, cattle, etc). 6% of private practice veterinarians diagnosed and treated horses. livestock/large animal vets work with farm animals. there is overlap between livestock and equine (horse) vets. 9% of private practice vets had a practice that consisted primarily of food animals and may have equine and companion animals.
- farm animal vets are comparable to a general physician. often work in rural areas with farmers and ranchers who own a variety of animals. they spend time all animals from birth to death. they check for transmissible diseases
- food safety and inspection veterinarian: employed by both state and federal government may inspect and test livestock and animal products for major animal diseases. they may also provide vaccines, conduct research, enforce government food safety regulations. they also design and administer programs for the prevention and control of diseases transmissible among animals and people.
- research veterinarian: work in laboratories with physicians and other scientists. they conduct clinical research on humans and animal health problems. they may perform tests on animals or advise pet food companies.
- USDA, NIH, CDC, and FDA may employ veterinarians thru USDA’s animal and plant health inspection service (APHIS) to inspect slaughtering and processing foods.
center for veterinary medicine (CVM) in the FDA employs vets who make recommendations for safety of pet food and drug safety. for NIH, vets do research to improve the detection of the presence of bacteria that causes transmission of diseases.

- 80% of vets worked in the veterinary service industry. others worked in colleges/univs, private industry, labs, or in government.
- 11% are self-employed or had their own private practice.
- work in a variety of environments, well lit environments, traveling to farms, working outdoors or perform surgery, noisy long hours, etc. working with animals who are in pain may be emotionally stressful.

- majority are employed in solo or group practice. others have salaried jobs in colleges/univs, labs, private industry, etc. the federal government employs civilian vets in the FSIS (food safety and inspective service) within FDA and USDA. vets inspect poultry, beef, and other processing plants to ensure it is following food safety protocols.
- few work in zoos but usually are private practitioners who contract with a zoo to provide part-time services. many vets hold vet faculty positions in colleges/univs and are classified as teachers.

EDUCATION AND REQS
- must obtain a doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) and a state license.
- vets must graduate with a DVM (or VMD) from a 4 year program at an accredited college of vet medicine.
- AVMA (american veterinary medical association) accredits 33 colleges in the US and 5 in Canada. apply to specific colleges thru the VMCAs (veterinary medical college application service), a centralized veterinary medical colleges.
- prereqs will vary but most applicants have a bachelors degree, science is a focus!! without a bachelors degree may be difficult to get admitted.
- must submit test scores from (GRE) graduate record examination, (VCAT) vet college admission test, or the MCAT
- 46% of students get admitted and there are also out of state students who may qualify for in-state tuition due to only 33 colleges in the US.
- male students with ethnic or racial diversity in the US may have better chances because most are female and white (80%).
- limit student debts developing a financial plan, take time between college graduation and attending vet school to work and save money.
- 3 years of vet school in classroom, lab and clinical work. the fourth and final year is spent doing clinical rotations in a veterinary medical center/hospital.
- new graduates may begin to practice after receiving their license but many new graduates choose to enter one-year internships which lead them to better-paying opps later. fewer vet medicine seek board certification (which would require 3-4 year residency).

- all states and DC require a license. all states vary but require to complete an accredited veterinary program and to pass north American veterinary licensing examination. vets who work for the state/federal government may not be required.
- most states not only require the national exam but also a state exam. state reciprocity does not exist for all states.
- American board of veterinary practitioners (AMVP) offers cert in 11 specialties. some vets may obtain cert after practicing for several years instead of a residency program. cert is not required but can show exceptional skill and expertise in a particular field.
- usually required for those in teaching hospitals affiliated with colleges of vet medicine. must have a certain number of years of experience and complete additional education to sit for cert exam.

- DVMs who do an internship after graduation will have an advantage when applying for positions or in preparations for a residency program for a specialty area. vets in private practice are expected to expand their practice.
- 17% growth due to pet owner’s desires to prolong the life of their pets.
- private practice is expected to increase. vet services are more advanced and available. more people are also purchasing pet insurance
- fewer job opps in companion animal care because most graduates want to go there. jobs opps will be better in farm animal care because less vets compete to work on large animals.