Veterinary_Medicine

Title: Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Medicine has been a part of the medical field for many centuries.
Animal management because a necessity when diseases among wild animals became
recognized. In recent years, the number of veterinarians has increased
drammatically.
Because of the growing interest in animals, a lot of teenagers are thinking of
pursueing a
possible career in veterinary medicine. But what they may not realize is all
the education
that is needed and what a job it really is.
A veterinarian is a person who diagnoses, treats, and controls diseases
in animals
and injuries of animals. They also work to prevent the transmission of animal
diseases
to humans. The general duties and responsibilities are endless, but using
include
performing surgery on animals. The animals may be small and domestic, wild, or
any
type of farm animals. The surgeries themselves may include setting broken
bones.
If an
animal gets hit by a car or hurts itself, the veterinarian may also dress
wounds.
Diagnosing animal diseases is another area the veterinarian must be educated in.
Education for a veterinarian starts in high school. By a student taking
a broad
college-preporatory program in high school, students keep open their options. A
student
should take a lot of math, programming and all of the sciences that it is
possible to take;
such as chemistry, biology, and physics. Four years of english is because it
builds good
communication skills that is needed to be able to talk with people about the
care of their
pets. Even though foreign language is not necessary or required, it would help
if you
needed to communicate with someone of a different language. Also the student
must not
forget about extra curricular activities, and summer enrichment programs. After
high
school, the student should consider a college or university for undergraduate
preparation
for admission to veterinary school. After a minimum of two years in an
undergraduate
school, you could possibly be admitted to veterinary school, but usually
students
complete three, four, or more years of college in an undergraduate program
before being
admitted. College education requires basically the same as high school, but
most of the
state universities have a program specifically arranged to meet the needs of
veterinary
schools. A few years ago entrance into veterinary colleges, so more applicants
interested
in veterinary science have a greater chance of being accepted. These schools
are located
primarily in the states of the south and midwest. As of 1987 there were 27
schools in the
United States.
Admission to these schools varies from state to state . Altogether
after the
undergraduate program, the education for the D.V.M. curriculum requires four
years of
study. The first year emphasizes the basic sciences, including anatomy,
biochemistry,
and physiology. The second year mainly focuses on the study of diseases.
During the
third year, the main concern is dealing with the diagnosis and management of
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specific
animal diseases.
And finally the last year is an opportunity for hands on
experience.
For an internship, and extra experience you can go to different places
such as
zoos, where you will probably clean cages, and every other type of cleaning.
Animal
shelters and humane soceities are two other places to get an internship. In one
of these
places, it could be the best experience, or the worst. Because of these places
being
shelters, you may possibly see things that have happened to the animals make the
decision that you may not be able to handle being a veterinarian. If you are
interested in
an internship, you can send a resume with a letter requesting an interview to
veterinary
clinics, hospitals, and animal shelters.
The cost of a veterinary education can depend, considering if the
student attends a
public institution and lives at home, or if the student selects a private school
away from
home. As of 1984, the tuition charges for 1984-85 ranged from $730 to $6,960
per year.
Non resident tuition and private schools charged over $6,000 per year. These
numbers
have probably even gone up since 1984.
There are many job placement possibilities for veterinarians, and they
may
specialize in many different areas. Public Health Veterinarians safeguard the
public
health by controlling and preventing diseases which are transmitted from animals
to
people. They inspect and regulate food and drug processing plants, inspect and
test
livestock, and provide information to the public.
Veterinary Meat-Inspectors inspect establishments engaged in slaughtering
livestock and
processing meat.
Veterinary Virus Serum Inspectors help to enforce state and federal standards of
sanitation, purity, labeling, and storage by inspecting establishments where
serums,
toxins, and similar products used in the treatment of diseases are manufactured.
Veterinary Livestock Inspectors test animals for the presence of disease. They
perform
standard clinical tests, submit specimens, and report the existence of disease
conditions
to the authorities.
Poultry Veterinarians advise individual poultry raisers on poultry problems.
They inspect
flocks, pens, and housing.
Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarians conduct research on disease and nutritional
problems of laboratory animals. Usually they work with hamsters, monkeys, mice,
and
other small animals.
Animal Technicians:The role of Animal Technicians was debated several years ago.
Today, the Animal Technician may be assigned direct responsibility for an
activity in
veterinary practice except diagnosis, treatment, or surgery. most of the
programs that are
offered at 61 schools are 2 year associate degree programs.
After making a decision about what branch of verernary medicine you want
to go
into, you can decide if you want to start your own vererinary practice, or
assist by being a
technician. If you decide on a vererinarian, and having your own practice,
there is
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another question to be asked. Do you want a large animal practice, a mixed or a
small
animal practice? Large-animal practioners may limit their initial expenses to a
car, or
jeep, drugs and instruments, two-way radio, X-Ray, and lab equipment. They may
operate their practice out of their home or a modest office with a minimum of
investment
or overhead. It is hard to estimate how much an established would cost, usually
it ranges
from $150,000 upward. This depends on the desires of the veterenarian and the
nature of
teh practice.
There are currently 41 different professional activities in which
veterinarians can
be engaged. There are also 12 specialties with established educational
requirements.
The Board-Certified specialties include: toxicology; laboratory animal
medicine; therio
genology, (which is animal reproduction); anesthesiology; dermatology, internal
medicine with subspecial ties in cardiology and neurology microbiology;
ophthamology;
pathology; preventive medicine; radiology; and surgery.
Nationally, the employment of Veterinarians and veterinary enspectors
was about
44,100. Employment opportunities are expected to increase faster than the
average for
all occupations through hte year 2005, with many forming group practices. In
Michigan
there are about 1,400 Veterinarians. Veterinarians in cities and suburban areas
usually
limit their practice to pets, while those in small towns and rural area were
usually
general.
Earnings of Veteranarians vary with the type of practice, geographic
location, and
individuals experience. Those entering provate practice often earn little more
than the
minimum needed to cover expenses during the first year or two. Here is the net
incomes
of veterenarians in private practice by specialty in 1989:
Veterinarians employed by the federal government recieved beginning
annual
salaries or $27,789 to $49,634 depending on their experience and academic
records.
They may earn up to $62,293. The salaries of these Federal Government workers
may be
higher in some urban areas. In Michigan, Veterinarians collect an average
income
between $35,856 and $49,152. Selected veterinarians receive paid vacations and
holidays; life, accident, disability, and hospitalisation insurance, retirement
plans, and
sick pay. Veterinarians in private practice take vacations if they choose and
must make
their own arrangments for insureance and retirement plans.
Another choice for a veterinarian is the military. Them military has
about 500
Veterinarians. On average, the services need 40 new veterinarians each year.
Newly
commissioned veterinarians are assigned vanous veterinary specialties, ranging
from
disease research to food inspection. After demonstrating leadership qualities,
veterinarians may advance to Senior Management or Command Posisions within the
Vet.
Field. As of 1986 there were approximately 53,000 veterinarians in the U.S.
Their
number increases by over 4 percent yearly. Although men outnumbered women by
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83
percent, the rate of veterinary services increased yearly. In some veterinarian
colleges
wver half the entering were women. By the year 2000, the Department of Health
Estimates that women will be almost 36 percnet of all the active veterinarians.
The U.S.
Department of Agriculture states that numerous institutions are trying to
encourage
minorities to pursure careers in veterinary medicine.
In michigan the imployment outlook to 2005 looks good. The state total
of the
number employed is 1,400. This is nas growth percent of 22.290. The projected
yearly
job openings is so. Employment of veterinarians in michgan is expected to
increase
faster than the average of all accumilations through the year 2005. additional
openings
can and will occur as some veterinarians transfer to cover jobs or accupations.
The working conditions of Veterinarians vary with the type of practice.
In rural
area, the large amount of time working outdoors and going to and from farms. In
ruban
areas, work is usually inside in clean, well lighted, well ventilated hospitals
and clinics.
Most research veterinarians have well-equipped laboratories in which to work.
These are
the advantages to the job. But there are many dasadvantages also.
Veterinarians who
treat animals may be exposed to comminical diseases and infections and possibly
injury
due to bites, kicks, and scratches. They may also be exposed to radiation while
operating
X-Ray equipment. Most veterinarians in public service jobs work about 40-hour
weeks.
Those in private practice work an average of 52 hours per week, ofter work
irregular
hours and are usually on call 24 hours a day.

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