Veterinarians
Health Science > Therapeutic ServicesProjected Growth: Much faster than average
Projected Job Openings
Extensive Preparation Needed
Job Description
Your job is to Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals.
Common job titles of Veterinarians include:
.
Experience and Education
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
75.12% said they needed a Doctoral Degree.
23.47% said they needed a First Professional Degree.
Tasks
Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
Advise animal owners regarding sanitary measures, feeding, general care, medical conditions, or treatment options.
Train or supervise workers who handle or care for animals.
Research diseases to which animals could be susceptible.
Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
Provide care to a wide range of animals or specialize in a particular species, such as horses or exotic birds.
Direct the overall operations of animal hospitals, clinics, or mobile services to farms.
Counsel clients about the deaths of their pets or about euthanasia decisions for their pets.
Perform administrative or business management tasks, such as scheduling appointments, accepting payments from clients, budgeting, or maintaining business records.
Determine the effects of drug therapies, antibiotics, or new surgical techniques by testing them on animals.
Plan or execute animal nutrition or reproduction programs.
Inspect and test horses, sheep, poultry, or other animals to detect the presence of communicable diseases.
Specialize in a particular type of treatment, such as dentistry, pathology, nutrition, surgery, microbiology, or internal medicine.
Drive mobile clinic vans to farms so that health problems can be treated or prevented.
Euthanize animals.
Attend lectures, conferences, or continuing education courses.
Conduct postmortem studies and analyses to determine the causes of animals' deaths.
Establish or conduct quarantine or testing procedures that prevent the spread of diseases to other animals or to humans and that comply with applicable government regulations.
Inspect animal housing facilities to determine their cleanliness and adequacy.
Tools
X ray intensifying equipment
X ray film processors
Volumetric glass pipettes
Visible light curing units
Veterinary vaginal specula
Veterinary ultrasound equipment
Veterinary surgical mouth gags
All ToolsVeterinary suction equipment
Veterinary rehabilitation treadmills
Veterinary patient warming systems
Veterinary orthopedic splints
Veterinary oral specula
Veterinary obstetrical forceps
Veterinary immersion hydrotherapy equipment
Veterinary dental x ray equipment
Veterinary dental mouth props
Veterinary dental impression trays
Veterinary anesthesia machines
Urinary catheters
Ultrasonic instrument cleaners
Ultrasonic dental scalers
Ultrasonic blood pressure monitors
Ultrasonic aspirators
Towel clamps
Tourniquets
Tissue forceps
Thyroid collars
Thoracic drainage catheters
Tattoo equipment
Tablet computers
Suture needles
Surgical scalpels
Surgical retractors
Surgical masks
Surgical magnifiers
Surgical gloves
Surgical calipers
Surgical bone saws
Steam autoclaves
Stationary x ray equipment
Staple removal forceps
Sponge forceps
Specimen collection containers
Skin staplers
Single dose syringes
Semiautomated or automatic external defibrillators AED
Safety goggles
Safety gloves
Respiration monitors
Radiation detecting film badges
Pulse oximeters
Protective face shields
Prophylaxis angles
Portable veterinary x ray equipment
Personal computers
Periosteal elevators
Periodontal curettes
Periodontal chisels
Oxygen administration equipment
Otoscopes
Osteotomes
Orthopedic drills
Optical compound microscopes
Ophthalmoscopes
Ophthalmic tonometers
Ophthalmic surgical blades
Operating microscopes
Nuclear scintigraphy equipment
Nose tongs
Needle holders
Nail trimmers
Muzzles
Mosquito forceps
Mobile multiparameter monitors
Microscope slides
Microhematocrit centrifuges
Mechanical stethoscopes
Mechanical intermittent positive pressure ventilators
Mayo scissors
Magnetic resonance imaging MRI systems
Low speed dental handpieces
Lip retractors
Linear accelerator equipment
Lead gloves
Lead aprons
Laser surgery units
Laryngoscopes
Laptop computers
Laparoscopic equipment
Laboratory scales
Kelly forceps
Intravenous syringe pumps
Intravenous IV fluid warmers
Intravenous IV fluid pumps
Intravenous IV administration sets
Insemination equipment
Image guided intensity modulated radiation therapy IMRT equipment
Hoof trimmers
Hoof testers
Hoof picks
Hoof knives
High-speed dental handpieces
Hemostats
Hemocytometers
Hemoclips
Hematology analyzers
Handheld refractometers
Hand scalers
Goniometers
Glucometers
Gamma ray cameras
Fluoroscopy units
Fiberoptic endoscopes
Eye lavage kits
Extraction forceps
Evacuated blood collection tubes
Enteral feeding equipment
Enema equipment
Endotracheal ET tubes
Electrosurgery units
Electronic animal scales
Electric animal clippers
Echocardiogram equipment
Ear syringes
Dressing forceps
Digitizers
Digital x ray equipment
Digital veterinary thermometers
Digital cameras
Differential cell counters
Desktop computers
Dental spreaders
Dental root tip picks
Dental reamers
Dental probes
Dental material pluggers
Dental files
Dental explorers
Dental examination mirrors
Dental elevators
Dental cord packers
Dental burs
Dental amalgam carvers
Dental amalgam carriers
Dehorners
Dart guns
Cryosurgery units
Crown pullers
Computed tomography CT scanners
Coagulation analyzers
Chest tubes
Cattle chutes
Castrating knives
Cast cutting saws
Cardiac monitors
Capture rifles
Bone ronguers
Bone rasps
Bone marrow aspirators
Bone holding forceps
Bone fragment forceps
Bone cutting forceps
Bone curettes
Bone clamps
Bone chisels
Blood gas analyzers
Blood collection syringes
Biopsy punches
Benchtop centrifuges
Battery-operated orthopedic drills
Barcode scanners
Bandage scissors
Avian restrainers
Automated microbial identification systems
Automated chemistry analyzers
Aspiration catheters
Arthroscopic surgical equipment
Arterial line catheters
Animal snares
Animal electrocardiograph ECG units
Animal catching poles
Angiography catheters
Ambu bags
Technologies
Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Access
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Word
American Data Systems PAWS Veterinary Practice Management
Complete Clinic
All TechnologiesEklin Information Systems VIA
Henry Schein ImproMed
IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Cornerstone
IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX VPM
ImproMed Infinity
InformaVet ALIS-VET
IntraVet
Mobile Data Software VetInfo
Sneakers Software DVMax Practice
Vetport
Web browser software
Skills
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
Management of Personnel Resources
Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
Abilities
Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Problem Sensitivity
Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Inductive Reasoning
Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Expression
Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Cognitive Abilities › Idea Generation and Reasoning Abilities › Deductive Reasoning
See details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Sensory Abilities › Visual Abilities › Near Vision
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Oral Comprehension
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Comprehension
Communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Cognitive Abilities › Verbal Abilities › Written Expression
Keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Fine Manipulative Abilities › Psychomotor Abilities › Arm-Hand Steadiness
Precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Fine Manipulative Abilities › Psychomotor Abilities › Finger Dexterity