 Veterinarians
play a major role in the healthcare of pets, livestock, and zoo,
sporting, and laboratory animals. Some veterinarians use their skills to
protect humans against diseases carried by animals and conduct clinical
research on human and animal health problems. Others work in basic
research, broadening the scope of fundamental theoretical knowledge, and
in applied research, developing new ways to use knowledge.
 Most veterinarians
perform clinical work in private practices. More than 50 percent of
these veterinarians predominately, or exclusively treat small animals.
Small-animal practitioners usually care for companion animals, such as
dogs and cats, but also treat birds, reptiles, rabbits, and other
animals that can be kept as pets. About one-fourth of all veterinarians
work in mixed animal practices, where they see pigs, goats, sheep, and
some nondomestic animals in addition to companion animals. Veterinarians
in clinical practice diagnose animal health problems; vaccinate against
diseases, such as distemper and rabies; medicate animals suffering from
infections or illnesses; treat and dress wounds; set fractures; perform
surgery; and advise owners about animal feeding, behavior, and breeding.
 A
small number of private-practice veterinarians work exclusively with
large animals, mostly horses or cows; some also care for various kinds
of food animals. These veterinarians usually drive to farms or ranches
to provide veterinary services for herds or individual animals. Much of
this work involves preventive care to maintain the health of the
animals. These veterinarians test for and vaccinate against diseases and
consult with farm or ranch owners and managers regarding animal
production, feeding, and housing issues. They also treat and dress
wounds, set fractures, and perform surgery, including cesarean sections
on birthing animals. Veterinarians euthanize animals when necessary.
Other veterinarians care for zoo, aquarium, or laboratory animals.
Veterinarians who
treat animals use medical equipment such as stethoscopes, surgical
instruments, and diagnostic equipment, including radiographic and
ultrasound equipment. Veterinarians working in research use a full range
of sophisticated laboratory equipment.
 Veterinarians
can contribute to human as well as animal health. A number of
veterinarians work with physicians and scientists as they research ways
to prevent and treat various human health problems. For example,
veterinarians contributed greatly in conquering malaria and yellow
fever, solved the mystery of botulism, produced an anticoagulant used to
treat some people with heart disease, and defined and developed surgical
techniques for humans, such as hip and knee joint replacements and limb
and organ transplants. Today, some determine the effects of drug
therapies, antibiotics, or new surgical techniques by testing them on
animals.
Some veterinarians are
involved in food safety at various levels. Veterinarians who are
livestock inspectors check animals for transmissible diseases, advise
owners on the treatment of their animals and may quarantine animals.
Veterinarians who are meat, poultry, or egg product inspectors examine
slaughtering and processing plants, check live animals and carcasses for
disease, and enforce government regulations regarding food purity and
sanitation.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
|
|
