Careers with Dogs. Kim Campbell Thornton
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Emory University, Neuroscience and Animal Behavior, www.psychology.emory.edu/nab
Indiana University, Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior, www.indiana.edu/~animal
International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, www.iaabc.org
Journal of Comparative Psychology, www.apa.org/pubs/journals/com/index.aspx
Patricia McConnell, www.theotherendoftheleash.com
University of North Texas, Department of Behavior Analysis, www.pacs.unt.edu/behavior-analysis
Veterinary Medicine
Becoming a general practitioner in a private practice is not the only career path for veterinarians, although it’s the first one most people think of. The field of veterinary medicine is highly diverse and offers many opportunities that aren’t often considered. Veterinarians may find work with pet-food manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, animal-welfare departments, federal and state agencies, the military, and colleges and universities. Some veterinarians choose to specialize in particular fields, such as dentistry or opthamology. Veterinary specialists offer a level of medical care that rivals anything available in top hospitals for people.
Becoming a Veterinarian
Veterinary medicine is an appealing profession for anyone who has an interest in science and medicine and a desire to care for the health of dogs, cats, and other animals. When you also consider the expected employment growth rate of 33 percent between 2008 and 2018, it’s no surprise that a career in veterinary medicine was named as one of the fifty best careers of 2010 by U.S. News and World Report. But becoming a veterinarian requires persistence and dedication, as well as years of hard work in veterinary school.
What Veterinarians Do
Veterinarians provide health care for animals of all types. The majority work in private practices, caring for small animals, such as dogs, cats, birds, and guinea pigs. Others work with large animals, such as horses and livestock, or care for animals in zoos. The medical equipment that is available to and used by veterinarians ranges from the basic stethoscope and standard surgical instruments to sophisticated radiographic and ultrasound equipment.
In a private practice, expect to work fifty or more hours each week. Veterinarians at emergency clinics work nights and weekends, and some private-practice veterinarians work at least one weekend day and are on call outside regular office hours.
Sarah Charney, DVM, radiation oncology and oncology specialist, prepares a Shetland Sheepdog for the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery treatment for tumors.
While it’s satisfying to return sick or injured animals to health and help keep pets and working animals at the peak of wellness, the life of a veterinarian can be emotionally stressful. Veterinarians must deal with anxious owners, help people manage the costs of pet care, and euthanize animals that are very old or cannot be helped medically. The job can also be physically dangerous. Veterinarians are sometimes scratched, bitten, or otherwise injured by aggressive, frightened, or hurt animals, although advances in tranquilizers and technology make it easier to work with large or fractious animals. Despite these challenges, most people who become veterinarians find working with and caring for animals to be rewarding.
Maintaining a balance between their professional lives and their home lives is crucial for veterinarians and everyone else in the working world, says Sally Perea, DVM. “I think this is a personal choice, and I have made it a priority to have good balance in my life. It is easy for anybody in any career to make work their life. However, if you prioritize your life correctly, you should be able to create a good balance.”
Who Veterinarians Are
In the age of globalization, veterinarians must have a wider knowledge of science, economics, politics, and societal trends, especially as these areas apply to public health issues. Veterinary schools and employers will be looking for people with good leadership skills and ethics, business and crisis management abilities, an awareness of how the law affects animals, and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
The science that veterinarians need to know encompasses ecosystems, comparative medicine, bioinformatics (the application of information technology to the field of molecular biology), genomics (the study of the genomes of organisms), and proteomics (the large-scale study of the structures and functions of proteins). They must also be able to coordinate and communicate information between scientists, policy makers, and the public.
As society’s relationship with animals evolves, veterinarians will take the lead as spokespeople on animal issues, contributing to public-policy development and awareness of the correlation between the food system and human and animal health.
Camp Vet
The Arizona Animal Welfare League and SPCA has a summer program called Camp Vet for those age twelve to seventeen who are interested in veterinary careers. Among the activities included in the week-long program are watching spay/neuter surgeries, dissecting organs, studying anatomy, and learning pet first-aid techniques. It’s not unusual for “campers” to return year after year.
A similar program takes place at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, in North Grafton, Massachusetts. Open to adults and college, high-school, and middle-school students, the Adventures in Veterinary Medicine program allows attendees to hear lectures, participate in laboratory sessions, and get hands-on experience with animals.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
VETERINARIAN
A veterinarian should have the following characteristics:
Adaptability
A love for and understanding of animals
An aptitude for the sciences, particularly biology
An inquiring mind
Compassion
Creative-thinking skills
Good decision-making and leadership skills
Good people skills for communicating with pet owners
Hand-eye coordination
Manual dexterity
Keen observation skills
Tolerance for a noisy work environment
Willingness and ability to help people deal with grief and loss