6 things you should know about becoming a veterinary doctor

Are you an animal lover and would you like to help your furry friends in need? Then you can consider becoming a veterinarian. Read on to find out more!

Veterinary science is a profession highly respected around the world. Not only that, but it’s also a lucrative career option for those interested in animal welfare. Becoming a veterinarian is a popular choice, especially among students who are passionate about medicine and animal care. If you are one of them, this guide will show you how to become a good vet.

1. What is a veterinarian?

Before going into all the details on how and why to become a veterinarian, you should know exactly what these doctors do.

A veterinarian is a doctor specializing in animals of all kinds. They have different specializations like-

Animal behavior, nutrition and welfare

Have you always been curious about why animals behave the way they do? Then you can specialize in animal behavior, nutrition and welfare as a veterinarian. Besides animal psychology, this field will also teach you about the nutritional needs of animals and the many legal and ethical guidelines that revolve around their work.

Infectious diseases and zoonoses

It is one of the most sought after specializations for most veterinarians. Indeed, it transmits in-depth knowledge on subjects such as vaccinations, biosafety emergency management and zoonosis protection programs. With this specialization, you could also venture into academic research in the field of veterinary science.

Reproductive biology

This area will be best suited for aspirants looking to establish themselves in the ranching and ranching industry. In this specialization, you will learn about the fertility, reproduction, development and life cycles of animals. You can then become a specialist in private or government breeding organizations.

Veterinary epidemiology and public health

On the other hand, if you are more inclined to decipher everything related to animal diseases, then this specialization is for you. This area will teach you all about the different models of animal disease outbreaks and disease modeling.

2. Skills needed to become a veterinarian

There are several skills, both transferable and non-transferable, that you will need to develop to become a successful vet. One of the most important transferable skills is critical thinking and investigative thinking. A few others include –

Ability to understand symptoms and signs of distress. It is one of the most difficult skills to develop as a veterinarian. Since your patients will not be able to speak, you will need to look for telltale signs of distress and other symptoms to make an accurate diagnosis.
Knowledge of diagnostic tests. As a veterinarian, you will also need to get involved in diagnostic testing. Therefore, you must have basic and advanced skills in laboratory research.
Basic clinical skills. These skills to help you inspect and diagnose animals accurately.
Keep up to date with the latest veterinary developments. You should be able to interpret the scientific literature and stay informed about the latest trends and forms of treatments being researched.
A good foundation in biology. In addition, you will need a fairly solid foundation in the fundamental concepts of biology.
communication skills. Since you will not only be dealing with pets, but their owners as well, communication will be an important part of the job. You should be able to appease disgruntled homeowners and also deal with any other conflicts that may arise.

3. Topics you will learn in a veterinary course

The discipline of veterinary science is vast. This means that there is a huge list of topics that you will need to study. Although the curriculum of a veterinary science course may vary from university to university, there are a few common subjects that are taught in almost all of them.

Here is a list of some of the topics you can expect to study in any veterinarian course –

Veterinary osteology
Biochemistry in animals
Veterinary virology
Animal histology
Veterinary myology
Breeding
Veterinary hygiene
Pharmacology
Veterinary gynecology

Clinical abnormalities
Veterinary reproduction
Anesthesiology
Veterinary diagnosis
Spermatogenesis
Veterinary immunology
Ethics and animal welfare
Diseases of animals, birds and aquatic animals
Veterinary surgery
Animal health management
Veterinary epidemiology
Animal nutrition
Animal genetics

4. How to become a veterinary doctor?

Eligibility criteria for a veterinary course may differ from region to region. However, there are some qualifying factors that are generally common to all regions of the world –

High school diploma from a recognized institution with an overall mark of at least 50%.
You must have studied a combination of physics, chemistry, and biology in your high school to qualify for any entrance exam to veterinary science courses.
You should also have a decent score on the respective entrance exam as per the guidelines of the university you are applying to.
If you got your undergraduate degree in another field, you can still enroll in an undergraduate degree in veterinary science.
As for the age limit, the lower age limit to apply for an undergraduate program in veterinary science is 17 and the upper age limit is 27. However, these age limits are subject to change depending on where you take the course.

5. Details of the veterinary doctor course

Different countries have veterinary science courses registered at various universities. However, in most places, the typical veterinary doctor’s degree at the undergraduate level ranges from 3 to 6 years.

Duration of the course

For example, an undergraduate veterinary science course in the United States and Canada typically lasts 4 years. On the other hand, most European universities offer veterinary science courses that last 6 years. Veterinary science courses in Asian countries like China, India, and other parts of South and Southeast Asia typically last around 5½ years.

Course fees

Just like the duration of the courses, the course fees are also very varied. For example, course fees in the United States are around $ 200,000 to $ 275,000, and the same in Canada can be around $ 70,000. On the other hand, course fees in European countries could range between $ 45,000 and $ 50,000.

veterinarians at work — Veterinarians, like regular physicians, need rigorous training and appropriate practical experience.

However, if you are looking for a more affordable alternative, you may want to consider South and Southeast Asian countries. Here, the same course fee could be around $ 500 to $ 1,500.

6. The best universities to study veterinary science

Below are some of the best universities in the world to study veterinary science. You can find undergraduate and graduate programs in various specializations at these universities. Some of them also offer research programs for those who wish to enter the research portion of the field.

Cambridge University
Royal Veterinary College, London
University of California, Davis
University of Edinburgh
Cornell University
University of Guelph
Utrecht University
Ohio State University
University of copenhagen
Glasgow university

And after?

If you are looking to become a veterinarian and pursue your passion for helping the animals around you, here are some of the things you need to know. But above all, it is important that you have a decent grade in high school in pure science subjects.

Without a fundamental understanding of pure science, you will not be able to enroll in a veterinary science course. So, if you are planning to become a veterinarian, don’t forget to choose the science stream right after you finish your grade 10 in school.

Faq

1. Is it more difficult to become a doctor or a veterinarian?

Each profession has its own difficulties. It depends on the profession that appeals to you the most. If you are passionate about helping animals and have a scientific mind, becoming a veterinarian will be easier for you.

2. What are the qualifications of a veterinarian?

Qualifications may vary from country to country for veterinarians. For example, in some countries the qualification is called Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). In some other countries it is known as the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc).

3. What is the salary of a veterinarian?

In Asian countries, a veterinarian can earn between $ 3,000 and $ 46,000 per year. In America, that salary scale would rise to $ 95,000 per year, and the same in European countries could be around $ 50,000 per year.

You have more questions ? Please feel free to contact us or leave a comment below.

Good luck!

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