Tapia 1

Graciela Tapia
Professor Bennett
English 1010
Career Path and Practices
November 14, 2016
The Veterinarian Path
Veterinarians are dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of animals and
humans. They work hard to address the health and welfare needs of every species of animal.
Veterinarians love animals, from the teeny tiny mouse to the enormous elephants. If youve ever
been a pet owner, you know that keeping a pet healthy requires teamwork and dedication. When
any pet is ill they are most often taken to the vet for care and diagnosis. There the vet assigns
medications or treatments depending on the condition of the animal. Animals are taken to the vet
to get regular checkups, help prevent diseases before they acquired or severe, and for treatment.
Oftentimes you rely on your veterinarian and their staff to find out what's going on and
work with you to develop a plan to address the problem and help your pet live the happiest,
healthiest life possible. The steps one must take to steer in the direction of veterinary medicine
may seem challenging. However, if you have a drive for the care and health of animals it will
seem like the perfect step in the right direction. Veterinary medical colleges typically require
applicants to have taken many science classes, including biology, chemistry, anatomy,
physiology, zoology, microbiology, and animal science. Most programs also require math,
humanities, and social science courses.

Tapia 2

The veterinary field is diverse. Not only do vets work in the setting of a doctors office,
veterinarians also work in academic settings and many are employed by universities to teach
both human and veterinary medical students. Many do research within the university setting and
publish their findings in medical journals. Many veterinarians are government employees,
working to safeguard the nation's food supply and the "farm-to-home" food chain. Veterinarians
are crucial in the analysis and evaluation of animal diseases that could impact human health,
such as Rabies and Avian Flu, both of which are an important part of our national security.
Military veterinarians are part of the US Military and are responsible for keeping military dogs
healthy and some even care for the military personnel's family pets while on active duty.
I have three dogs of my own and I rely on their veterinarian to keep them healthy and
strong for the years to come. While on a visit to the vet doctors office I took the liberty of asking
Taylor Howard, DVM, from University Veterinary Hospital and Diagnostics Center a few
questions. Dr. Taylor Howard studied Veterinary Sciences at Utah State University while
simultaneously working in entomology at the National Aquatic Monitoring lab. Veterinarians
have a diverse patient pool. Not only has Howard treated dogs and cats, he has also treated
on more than one occasion: a turtle, snake, fish, horse, llama, alpaca, cow, chicken, pig, goat,
rabbit, small mammals and some birds. When asked why he chose to become a vet he said, I
enjoyed studying sciences, especially Biology. Veterinary medical school required studying
many courses in the biological sciences. Plus, I was really interested in being able to help
animals recover from diseases and injury. (Howard). If you thrive on science and biological
studies, then this just might be the career for you. Having great interest in the medical field can
certainly put you on the road to becoming a veterinarian.

Tapia 3

Becoming a Veterinarian requires lots of hard work and dedication. Higher education is a
must if becoming vet is your goal. Veterinary studies may be challenging but it may all pay off in
the end. According to the United States Department of Labor the 2015 median pay for the
average vet was $88,490 per year, which means the average vet was payed $42.54 per hour
(Summary US Bureau Statistics). A remarkably well paying salary for a career in which you
have the opportunity to help your community and show your love for animals.
In addition, employment of veterinarians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2014 to
2024, [which is] faster than the average for all occupations. (Summary US Bureau Statistics).
There are very few veterinary colleges in the United States, therefore veterinary admission
programs are extremely competitive. One must be motivated and focused to be on route to this
career.
Furthermore, there are special qualities that are equally as important as education that
should be present in a Veterinarian. Compassion is just one of many important qualities. Vets
must show kindness and respect towards all animals and their owners. Communication, decisionmaking, and problem-solving skills are crucial when it comes to veterinary practice. For
instance, deciding whether or not it is best for a pet of old age to be euthanized can be an
extremely tough decision to make. Consequentially, being able to communicate this problem to
the owner of a pet can be crucial to the process of dealing with the current situation.
If you love working around animals, you should become a vet. If you love caring for
animals, you should become a vet. If you enjoy biology and medical studies, you should become
a vet. Given these points it is clear that becoming a veterinarian can be a rewarding career. All
things considered it is definitely an interesting field of study that is sure to help out the animals
in your life and in the life of others around you.

Tapia 4

Works Cited
"Educational Excellence." Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges. N.p., n.d. Web.
14 Nov. 2016.
Dr. Taylor Howard, DVM. University Veterinary Hospital and Diagnostics Center. Located in
Salt Lake City, Utah. (In-person interview)
"Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web. 30 Nov.
2016.