A Veterinarian

By Hailey McEwan

How to become a Vet• It takes years of study and lots of memorizing facts to get into

Veterinary School.• You should like to work with animals. In veterinary college, students

learn science. They also learn how to work with animals, do surgery, and do laboratory tests with microscopes and other equipment.

• Many people also decide to learn more about a specific kind of illness or animal. They work with experienced vets during a 2-year internship. They might focus on surgery, dentistry, or wild animals, for example.

• Students who want to be vets can get ready now by taking science classes and learning about animals. They also need to take English classes and practice speaking and writing so that they will be able to explain things to animal owners.

Some Facts about Being a Vet

• You have to do 4 years of college and 4 years of veterinarian school to become a vet.

• When you are caring for a pet you need to wash your hands and tools after and before caring for a pet. You do this to make sure that the pet doesn’t get an infection.

• You have to be prepared for the problems that you will encounter in your life as a vet.

What you have to do to become a Vet!

• Prospective veterinarians must graduate with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from a 4-year program at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. There are 28 colleges in 26 States that meet standards set by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

• All States and the District of Columbia require that veterinarians be licensed before they can practice. Some veterinary medical colleges place heavy consideration on a candidate's veterinary and animal experience. Formal experience, such as work with veterinarians or scientists in clinics, research, or some area of health science, is particularly advantageous.

When Animals Are Sick

• When an animal is sick, vets examine it to find out why. They look for clues in the way an animal looks, acts, and smells. Animals can’t talk so you have to observe them.

• Vets give animals blood tests, x-rays, and other tests to look for clues about an animal's illnesses. After the tests , vets decide what kind of medicine the animal needs.

• Vets prevent problems by giving vaccination shots and check-ups and fixing teeth. They also teach and show owners how to feed and train their animals.

Animals That Vets Deal With• Most vets treat small pets, including dogs, cats, and gerbils. But a few focus on

large animals, such as sheep, cows, and horses. • A few vets work in zoos and aquariums. In addition to helping sick animals,

vets can work as animal inspectors, checking to make sure that farm animals are healthy and that their living spaces are clean. Another option for vets is doing scientific research. They try to make new medicines.

• Vets work in many different places. Vets who do research work in laboratories.

• Most vets who take care of animals work in clinics and animal hospitals, but some work in large hospitals.

Work Hours and Business

• Because animals can get sick at any time of the day, vets often work at all hours.

• Many vets like their work because they can be with animals every day. But because some animals are scared and nervous sometimes they try to bite, kick, or scratch their vets.

• Vets who work with large animals often work outside in all different kinds of weather.

Future as a Vet

The Future :Vets are expected to have good job opportunities. And the number of jobs for vets is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations between 2006 and 2016. That's because there will be more pets. More people will be willing to pay for more medical care for their pets.

• Jobs taking care of small animals are expected to increase very quick, especially jobs taking care of cats.

Veterinarian

• Now who wants to be a veterinarian?• Working with animals will be fun if you love

animals.• Help animals in need!• You will make a bond between the animals

you care for!• If this is your dream, this is the information

you need!