2 answers
Rakel
Student
Memphis, Tennessee
3
Questions
Asked
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What do veterinarians do on a daily basis?
I'm a 10th grader that have a future career to become a veterinarian. #future #veterinarian
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2 answers
Elizabeth F Schilling DVM
Veterinarian/Educator
37
Answers
Redlands, California
Updated
Elizabeth F’s Answer
@Dawn it's never too late!!
@Rakel, one of the best things about the veterinary profession is just how vast and varied it is. Most people are familiar with the dog/cat veterinary clinics in every town. Veterinarians also take care of horses - both companion/pet horses and competitive athletes in a wide variety of disciplines. Veterinarians also play important roles in public health - both in terms of helping with animal shelters and helping to keep animal populations healthy, but monitoring human health where it overlaps with animals, especially in regards to diseases like rabies, tuberculosis, and salmonella. There are regulatory veterinary jobs, ensuring the health of whole animal populations - from livestock who will provide part of our food supply, to horses traveling for competitions, to monitoring diseases like new canine influenza or parvoviruses in the general population. Conservation and wildlife rehabilitation are additional areas where veterinarians might work (there are veterinarians that work for the Smithsonian for example). Movie animals need veterinary care - sometimes in really exciting locations! There are veterinarians in the armed forces - making sure that the food supply for our military is safe, as well as treating working military dogs, horses, and dolphins. There are myriad opportunities to be involved in research - whether you are ensuring the health of the animals being studied, or trying to find a cure to help animals and people. Veterinarians are also involved in the business of veterinary medicine - as part of the companies that supply veterinary clinics or universities, and veterinarians are also teachers - whether at the undergraduate level, or helping to train future veterinarians, technicians and researchers. There are even veterinarians in Congress and in space!
So the answer to your question depends on which part of the veterinary profession they have chosen. Most people think of the local cat/dog veterinarian, so for example, on any given day, you might be seeing new puppies and kittens to make sure they are healthy, providing vaccinations to keep them healthy, taking radiographs (X-rays) to figure out why a pet is hurting, suturing up cuts or other injuries, performing dentistry, an number of surgeries and other procedures, and you may help some pets cross the Rainbow Bridge when it is time to end suffering. In any one day you might perform tasks related to being a generalist, a criticalist, a dermatologist, an ophthalmologist, a radiologist, a dentist, a surgeon, an oncologist, a cardiologist, and much more - and you could also specialise in any one of those fields too!
Other areas of the profession can have equally varied days, or if you choose to specialise, your days might be limited more to the part of veterinary medicine that you enjoy the most.
FInding a veterinarian to shadow is a great idea (though it is a little difficult in 2020)
Check out other aspects of the veterinary profession and see what interests you!
Does your school offer a vet med class?
When you get to college, be sure to look for the pre-vet clubs and associations and network!
@Rakel, one of the best things about the veterinary profession is just how vast and varied it is. Most people are familiar with the dog/cat veterinary clinics in every town. Veterinarians also take care of horses - both companion/pet horses and competitive athletes in a wide variety of disciplines. Veterinarians also play important roles in public health - both in terms of helping with animal shelters and helping to keep animal populations healthy, but monitoring human health where it overlaps with animals, especially in regards to diseases like rabies, tuberculosis, and salmonella. There are regulatory veterinary jobs, ensuring the health of whole animal populations - from livestock who will provide part of our food supply, to horses traveling for competitions, to monitoring diseases like new canine influenza or parvoviruses in the general population. Conservation and wildlife rehabilitation are additional areas where veterinarians might work (there are veterinarians that work for the Smithsonian for example). Movie animals need veterinary care - sometimes in really exciting locations! There are veterinarians in the armed forces - making sure that the food supply for our military is safe, as well as treating working military dogs, horses, and dolphins. There are myriad opportunities to be involved in research - whether you are ensuring the health of the animals being studied, or trying to find a cure to help animals and people. Veterinarians are also involved in the business of veterinary medicine - as part of the companies that supply veterinary clinics or universities, and veterinarians are also teachers - whether at the undergraduate level, or helping to train future veterinarians, technicians and researchers. There are even veterinarians in Congress and in space!
So the answer to your question depends on which part of the veterinary profession they have chosen. Most people think of the local cat/dog veterinarian, so for example, on any given day, you might be seeing new puppies and kittens to make sure they are healthy, providing vaccinations to keep them healthy, taking radiographs (X-rays) to figure out why a pet is hurting, suturing up cuts or other injuries, performing dentistry, an number of surgeries and other procedures, and you may help some pets cross the Rainbow Bridge when it is time to end suffering. In any one day you might perform tasks related to being a generalist, a criticalist, a dermatologist, an ophthalmologist, a radiologist, a dentist, a surgeon, an oncologist, a cardiologist, and much more - and you could also specialise in any one of those fields too!
Other areas of the profession can have equally varied days, or if you choose to specialise, your days might be limited more to the part of veterinary medicine that you enjoy the most.
Elizabeth F recommends the following next steps:
Thank you Elizabeth I found your answer very helpful.
Rakel
Dawn Bratton
Business Sales
6
Answers
Paoli, Indiana
Updated
Dawn’s Answer
I also wanted to be a veterinarian, and still do. I think to get a feel of what they do, you should go visit a local veterinarian and ask if you can shadow one of the assistants for an hour or two. Finding a mentor is always a good way to 'get a taste' of the career that you want to have.
Thank you so much for your advice.
Rakel