Careers in Veterinary Medicine

What do Veterinarians Do?

• Primary purpose is to serve society – guardians of animal welfare

• Dealing primarily with health and disease of vertebrates – including man (Zoonotic Diseases)

1. Prevent Disease (MOST IMPORTANT)2. Diagnose Disease3. Treat Disease

What do Veterinarians Do? Cont.• Prevent Disease (Most Important)

– Zoonotic Diseases• Disease that can transfer from animals to humans• Example: Lyme Disease

– Foodborne Diseases• Disease transferred to an animal or human by food• Example: Salmonella

– Foreign and Emerging Diseases• Diseases that are seen in other countries, BUT NOT the United States• Example: Foot and Mouth Disease

• Diagnose Disease– Veterinarians work to develop diagnostic tests to help us identify sick or diseased

animals in a population.• Treat Disease

– Veterinarians research new ways to treat diseases.

Foot and Mouth Disease

Education in Veterinary Medicine• First steps (High School):

– Spend time with a vet to see if this is what you want to pursue– Get involved with school activities and clubs (EX: FFA and 4-H)

• Find a University – Complete an undergraduate program (4 years) that prepares

you for vet school– Work hard, make good grades, stay involved with veterinary

sciences and practices• Complete Veterinary School

– About 4 years– Receive License

• Optional Specialty: – Continue on with school to specialize in your interest– Examples: Surgery, exotic, or pharmacology– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6415nxQgps

Different Types of Careers• Private Practice

– Own your own business/practice• Specialization

– Undergo additional training to become board certified in specialties like animal behavior, dentistry, pathology, etc.

• Product Development– Assist in developing safe products for animals– Company: animal drug and health companies

• Research and Education– Research for preventatives against diseases– Professor at any University

• Nonprofit work– Volunteering and pro bono

Private Practice• Small Animal

– Companion animals• Example: Dog or Cat

• Large Animal– Livestock species

• Example: Equine, Bovine, Sheep and Goats

• Exotic Animal– Examples: amphibians, birds, or

reptiles• Specialization Private Practice

– Only certain species treated– Example: Equine only, Feline only,

Reptile only Practices

Examples of Specialization• Anesthesiology

– Additional study in anesthetizing animals for surgery– Job: hired by vet clinics to assist with surgeries

• Surgery– Additional training in surgical procedures– Some specialization in species or types of surgeries– Example: Colic surgery in horses– Job: Hired by universities or large scale vet clinics for specific surgeries

• Zoological Medicine– Emphasis on “zoo” animal health– Job: Work for Zoos– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmUEwLDah2o

Government Career• Military

– Send veterinarians across seas to ensure the health of military animals and low income community animals• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSQ

dYEnpJsU

• Food Safety– Quality control of products– Safety of products

• Job: Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Animal Importation– Regulate animals going across state

borders and into new states– Regulate animals leaving or coming

into the country• Job: United States Department of

Agriculture (USDA)

Product Development

• Work for companies to develop over the counter medications for companion or livestock species– Example of Products: arthritis preventatives,

coat supplements, or hoof supplements

Research and Education

• Research at a University– Research different treatment options and

methods– Research for prevention against diseases

• Professor at a University– Educate young veterinary enthusiasts– Teach classes that interest you and help

students accomplish their veterinary dreams

Nonprofit

• Travel around the world and help third world countries companion and livestock animals

• Help with natural disasters– Donate time and energy to help families with sick or injured

pets during unexpected events• Examples: Vet-I-Care Organization, ASPCA, AHA, Rocky

Mountain Conservation Center, International Fund for Animal Welfare, Inc., The Wildcat Sanctuary, Save A Forgotten Equine, Lost Dog and Cat Rescue Foundation, FIXNATION INC, Oak Hill Animal Rescue Inc. etc.

What’s the Difference?

• Licensed Veterinarian Technician•Certified Veterinarian Assistant•Veterinarian Assistant

Know the Difference!

• Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA) states the difference:

• Registered Veterinarian Technician:– A person who has completed a program (commonly a two-

year associates degree) and is certified by Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TSBVME)

• Certified Veterinarian Assistant:– A person who has completed a program through TVMA and

is certified by the TVMA and hired by a licensed vet• Veterinarian Assistant:

– A person who is hired by a licensed veterinarian, is NOT certified, but can still perform animal care tasks

How to Become a Registered Veterinarian Technician

• Must Renew your registration every year with– Fee– Possible hours of continued education

1. Pass a jurisprudence exam (exam covering the laws you are expected to abide by)

2. Be at least 18 years of age3. Have graduated from an educational

institutions program that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

4. Have passed the national exam Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE)

5. Not disqualified under this chapter or board rule

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDbbbqrEOI8

How to Become a Certified Veterinarian Assistant

• 3 levels of Certification• Required renewal every year

– Fee – Verification of current employer in the veterinary field

• Level 1 (High School FFA/4H): – At least 300 hrs of work under a DVM or RVT– Gaining and demonstrating the hands-on skills listed on the

Skills Validation Checklist– Exam Application and Skills Validation Checklist completed and

approved by the DVM or RVT– Successful completion of the certification examination

• More information at: Certified Vet Assistant websiteVet Assistant Video

Ethics• Every licensed veterinarian is expected to follow the

Principles of Veterinary Medical Ethics (the Principles) • Veterinarians should aim to always relieve stress and

minimize pain in every patient they treat• In any emergency the veterinarian has the right to provide

any essential treatment needed by the animal if their life is in danger or to relive any suffering– Limited to euthanasia

• It is unethical to claim any certification or license received through veterinary medicine if NOT received– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luKFkDqeBcQ

• More information on ethics and conduct can be found at– https

://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Principles-of-Veterinary-Medical-Ethics-of-the-AVMA.aspx

Expectations in the Workplace

• Depending on where you work will determine required clothing and work habits.– Scrubs and comfy, closed toed footwear is more common.

• The type of clinic (ex: large, exotic or small) will determine the amount of physical work that will need to be done.

• Be prepared to get messy and to be on your feet all day.

Safety In Veterinary Medicine• Personal Safety

– Learning how to restrain animals safely and properly can avoid personal injury by the animal

– A dog is going to take a different restraint technique than a cat• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KKvciCEIHs

– A cat is going to take a different restraint technique than a dog• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFS2BOrKeDY

– Learning how to safely handle sharps (ex: needles) will prevent you from injuring yourself

• More Safety can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Website:– http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/veterinary/

Website References

• http://asci.uvm.edu/?Page=current/careers.html

• http://www.goarmy.com/amedd/veterinarian.html

• http://www.vet-i-care.org/• http://tvma.org/• http://tvma.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&s

ubarticlenbr=13#.UeVVNY2G18E• http://tvma.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&s

ubarticlenbr=12#.UeVYu42G18E• https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Pri

nciples-of-Veterinary-Medical-Ethics-of-the-AVMA.aspx

• http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/veterinary/

Video References

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSQdYEnpJsU• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmUEwLDah2o• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6415nxQgps• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFS2BOrKeDY• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KKvciCEIHs• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luKFkDqeBcQ• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqZNwmHrBZM• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDbbbqrEOI8