Running head:VETERINARIAN 1

Veterinarian

Grace K.A. Shoemaker

JACC-ELA 12
VETERINARIAN 2

Abstract

This paper explores all the factors of becoming a Veterinarian, from many varied

resources like Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) and other general articles for this

occupation. These resources can be very helpful to people of prior or no prior information of

animals. For instance, the differentiating descriptive words used for animals in there age and

gender, like a young female pig is called a gilt, or a steer is a castrated male bull. This could

include the process of haltering an animal, a way of leading, training, or restraining an animal, all

these acronyms used for this specific field of study. But the paper also goes to describe

characteristics needed to be qualified for this line of work,the multitude of social and

physiological factors that play a role to make the job and the people who they are, and how the

environment has an impact. Thus the education and degrees that are required, as well as the

required tests needed to graduate. The overall outlook on the jobs promotions and organizations

that can help someone reach their goals, also other Agricultural programs that can be an

alternative or a more specific field of interest. Having Veterinarians in the community is a must

have in any rural or urban town, lives of pets,livestock, and even crops, can be on the line, being

able to have individuals either directly in the occupation of Veterinarian or just the agriculture

field is vital to all.

Veterinarian

What is a veterinarian?

A veterinarian is a doctor of animals, they help animals of all breeds and all sizes. They

make the world better one paw at a time. Veterinarian: Occupational outlook handbook gives a

more specific definition; a person who treats animals including horses, cows, hogs/pigs, goats

and sheep. This kind of defined veterinarian is often referred to as a “large animal veterinarian”

or a “food animal veterrinarian”.They may also assess chickens and turkeys for farmers. Just like

small veterinarians are important for pet needs, large animal veterinarians handle the care of big

pets and potential crop growth as well as protein care. The path to just being a veterinarian is a

long journey riddled with lots of challenges but one very worth it.

What is needed?

In this profession, there are a lot of steps and loops to get to there. First of all, there are

some need some qualifications, or more so, certain needed characteristics. Some include:

handling stress under pressure, during timely durations maybe with a procedure or surgery. A

love and compassion for animals, which is a more obvious one but quite needed. To be

observant, this trait it no small matter, for it helps with quite frankly everything, from diagnosis

to the first thing to do in a crisis. Confidence in what you do, to not second-guess yourself and

lose valuable time. Patience and empathy, time is work and work is time.

Most veterinarians work in one of these three common workplaces: a private animal

hospital or state veterinarian department or maybe even a hospital, as well as farms, ranches, or
VETERINARIAN 4

slaughterhouses. They'll make calls to farms to treat, diagnose and advise on an animal's health

issues and animals in a herd, as a herd.

Social and Psychological Factors?

But being one of this profession comes different social and physiological factors or

factors that play a role in being successful. Being a veterinarian is very demanding and stressful.

You have a life on the line so that pressure and stress is turned up quite a bit. There are many

urgent calls causing them to work long hours including weekends, or evenings, and even

holidays. But that isn’t all, they have to take care of animals that have been severely abused, or

euthanize sick ones that they have probably been trying to treat for weeks, and offer their

emotional support to those anxious owners in waiting. The Veterinarian: Occupational outlook

handbook discussed that having to work with diseased animals puts the veterinarian at risk of

being infected by the disease as well as the risk of being bitten, kicked, and scratched. This can

cause a serious problem for the well being of not only the Vet. but the animal, this stress is not

good for either.

Education?

To become a veterinarian they have to get through the education which might be the

trickiest part, these are the loops. A veterinarian will need to get at least a bachelor's degree and a

veterinarian doctoral degree, it is a four-year program that is very competitive. “Students take

courses on animal anatomy and physiology, as well as disease prevention, diagnosis, and

treatment. Most programs include three years of classroom, laboratory, and clinical work.

Students typically spend the final year of the four-year program doing clinical rotations in a

veterinary medical center or hospital.” ("Veterinarian," 2019). During this time they will be
VETERINARIAN 5

required to pass an exam determined by the International council of veterinary assessment, the

North American Veterinary Licensing Exam or the NAVLE, it is given by ICVA, and is a

requirement to practice veterinary medicine in the US and Canada. There is 360 clinically

relevant multiple-choice questions. ("NAVLE," n.d.). By graduation, they must acquire a Doctor

of Veterinary Medicine degree, including a bachelor's degree in animal science and “a four-year”

degree in veterinary medicine. After that they can find an open spot at a private animal hospital

of the sorts, working about 40-hours a week thus getting an approximate earning salary of

$94,130 annually.

Promotions, Organizations, other Occupations?

When they get promotions it consists of pay increases. Most get paid by the percentage of

the money they bring to the clinic. The longer they work at that clinic, the higher percentage they

make. There are also many organizations that are here to help and support the growing need for

people in the agriscience field. The Veterinary Organizations & Associations provides many

organizations that help veterinarians in specific, those being: The American Association of

Bovine Practitioners, American Animal Hospital Association, American Board of Veterinary

Toxicology, American College of Veterinary Radiology, and so much more. ("Websites -

Veterinary," n.d.). Some similar occupations that are inbound or similar to being are veterinarian,

are listed on LoveToKnow, Animal breeder, Animal trainer, Animal scientist, Hunter and

trappers, Agricultural sciences teacher, Zoologist and wildlife biologist, and a Vet. Tech ("List of

Agriculture," n.d.). There are many possibilities and opportunities for anyone wanting to join the

agriscience field. A career for everyone, specific or general.

In conclusion a veterinarians outlook is a person who cares for the health of animals in

need, by means of diagnosis, research on medical conditions, the diseases of pets, livestock, as

well as any other type of animal in need of treatment. Animals are near and dear to my heart, and

to be able to help the planet with what I can. And maybe it won’t necessarily be doing surgeries

or procedures, but it will be protecting and helping with these hands. Maybe a doctor or a

teacher, just know I will do it with a passion. All of this demonstrates what's needed for this, all

the characteristics, social and psychological factors, education, promotions, organizations, and

other occupations, because if anyone can help both animals, plants, and people it will start with

the ones that take care of the sick, abused, and dying pets and livestock.
VETERINARIAN 7

References

List of Agriculture Careers. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2019, from Lovetoknow

website:

https://jobs.lovetoknow.com/career-fields/list-agriculture-careers

NAVLE. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2019, from International council for veterinary

assessments

website: https://www.icva.net/navle/

Veterinary Organizations & Associations. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2019, from

VSPN

website: http://www.vspn.org/library/wwwdirectory/Organizations.htm

[Veterinarian]. (2019, September 4). Retrieved October 23, 2019, from Bureau of Labor

Statistics

website: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinarians.htm#tab-1