Veterinarians examine, diagnose, and treat animals that are suffering from any disease or illness. They have the required education to prescribe treatments, perform surgeries, and vaccinate the sick animal. In severe cases, they are also authorized to euthanize the dying animal after the owner’s approval. In America and many other countries, pet keepers consider animals as their family members; this fact adds to the responsibility of a vet. As the advancement of technology has brought improvements in the medicinal field, it also had similar effects on veterinary science. Now the latest technologies are being used to treat and examine animals across the world. There is a general concept that vets mostly deal with cats and dogs. These may be the most commonly kept pets but vets are equipped to deal with livestock, farm animals, and wild animals as well.
Who can be a Veterinarian in the USA?
Though anyone can take up veterinary education, people with medicinal history and those who have already worked with animals will find it easier and interesting.
Earning a Bachelor’s Degree
It is not a prerequisite to get a bachelor’s degree, but if you have one, it will help you excel in the competitive world. Most of the students that join vet programs have a bachelor’s degree to support their program.
Working with Animals
Only a person who has compassion for animals and wants to eliminate their suffering will opt to be a vet. A person who has prior experience of working with animals will stand out during the program. This can include working with an animal shelter or an NGO.
Enroll in a Veterinary School
Attend a vet school or a program from a certified institute. 30 colleges across the USA offer programs that are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association. This degree takes four years to complete, while the last year is reserved for clinical rotations.
Get Licensed
All states across America require a veterinary license; the license can be acquired by passing the exam from an accredited institute across different states.
Gain Experience
Just like any other field, it is important to get experience before you start practicing. An individual can work for a year as an internee to get the required work experience. The majority of the students prefer internships in small clinics or with animal companies to gain experience.
It is very competitive to gain admission into a vet school since the future is relatively promising for this medicinal field as compared to others.
The Veterinary Oath
The vets are abided by this oath under United States Law.
“Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of livestock resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge. I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation, the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.”
In America, veterinary studies have greatly changed over the years. The veterinary is further divided into categories:
Animal Drugs
Since the adequate amount and safe directions of use cannot be defined in the case of animals, the selling of these drugs is limited to only dispensaries and licensed vet clinics. Only a prescription that is signed by a licensed veterinarian will get you these drugs in the United States. The drug can only be sold or retailed by anyone who is licensed to do so under the State Law. There a few things that are to be included in a prescription:
- Name and address of the distributor.
- Date and the serial number of the order or its filling.
- Name and address of the veterinarian who prescribed or ordered the drug. In some cases, the license number of the vet is also required by the authorities.
- Directions for use.
- Any necessary warning and precautionary statements should be included in the prescription.
• Animal Food
Animal recommended food also has an effect on the people, specifically in the case of livestock, which is later consumed by humans. The center of veterinary association is responsible for:
- Monitoring the constituents of the animal feeds, including that of pet food.
- Approving safe and chemical-free animal food additives.
- Managing the Food and Drug Administration’s prescribed food for animals and pets both.
There are detailed laws when it comes to animal food in the U.S. All the food vendors selling any kind of pet or animal food have to abide by the laws in order to sell the products in the country. The Veterinary association has the right to raise questions on the sale of a particular product if they think that the correct nutrients are not being provided to the animals.
Animal Medicinal Devices
Animal devices and animal medicines both work on the animal body to bring improvement, but they are not the same things. If the intake of something results in a chemical reaction in the body, then it is a medicine and not a device. This drug will be broken down in the animal’s body while the device will only act on the body. Injections, diagnostic kits, x-rays are all categorized as devices.
Doctor of Veterinary program is offered across the country in many accredited universities in the only medical field. The students can go further and specialize in a particular field; they are interested in. The average salary for a veterinarian in the United States is $93,830, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018. Few of the colleges in the U.S that offer the best veterinarian program are:
- University of California – Davis.
- Cornell University.
- Colorado State University.
- North Carolina State University.
- Ohio State University.
- Texas A&M University – College Station.
- The University of Pennsylvania.
- University of Wisconsin – Madison.
- University of Florida
- University of Georgia
If you are passionate about taking a degree in veterinary, then these are only a few of the many universities that you can apply for admission. Every year, a number of international students travel to the U.S. to undertake the vet program. They can specialize in small animal surgery, environmental toxicology, aquatic medicine, or any other major of their choice. There are also a number of veterinary career counsels across the country that can help in getting you the best job according to your expertise. Each month in the United States, several animal awareness days are celebrated by the American Veterinary Medical Association. If you turn your passion into a profession, there are chances that it will go a long way and will also result in a successful career.
