Veterinarians
What is a Veterinarian?
A veterinarian is a medical professional who specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases and injuries in animals. They play a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of various species, including pets, farm animals, and wildlife. Veterinarians provide a wide range of services, including routine check-ups, vaccinations, surgical procedures, and emergency care. They also educate pet owners on proper animal care, nutrition, and behavior, helping to promote responsible pet ownership. In addition to clinical practice, veterinarians may work in specialized fields such as veterinary surgery, dermatology, or internal medicine, and they may also engage in research, public health, and policy-making. Through their expertise, veterinarians contribute significantly to animal welfare and help prevent zoonotic diseases, which can be transmitted from animals to humans. Their dedication to the health of animals also supports the agricultural industry and promotes the overall well-being of ecosystems.
Tasks
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
- Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
- Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
Technology Skills
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Data base user interface and query software
- IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX VPM
- Microsoft Access
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Presentation software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
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Medical software
- American Data Systems PAWS Veterinary Practice Management
- InformaVet ALIS-VET
- Sneakers Software DVMax Practice
- Vetport
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Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Excel
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Electronic mail software
- Microsoft Outlook
Tools Used
- Surgical clamps or clips or forceps
- Animal husbandry equipment
- Veterinary injection or suction unit
- Veterinary nail trimmers or cutters
- Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use
Knowledge
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Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
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Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
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Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Skills
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Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
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Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
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Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
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Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Abilities
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Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
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Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
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Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Education
How much education does a new hire need to perform a job in this occupation?
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Doctoral degree
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Post-doctoral training
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Professional degree
Awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession
Work Activities
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Making Decisions and Solving Problems
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
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Getting Information
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
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Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
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Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
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Documenting/Recording Information
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Detailed Work Activities
- Operate on patients to treat conditions.
- Prescribe medications.
- Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.
- Immunize patients.
- Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
Work Interests
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Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
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Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
Job Outlook
Projected salary and job growth
$72360.0 - $201440.0
This career will grow rapidly in the next few years.
Assessment
Related assessments and tests
No assessment available.