Veterinarian
Duties of veterinarian
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Advise an owner on how to help his overweight dog slim down
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Risk getting bitten, scratched, or kicked by an upset animal
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Handle an emergency surgery at 6:00 p.m. on a Friday
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Work out payment plans for owners who can’t afford treatment
Salary
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that chiropractors earned an average salary of $78,780 in 2011. But pay can vary greatly by location.
Want to learn more about the Ontario Veterinary School?
Government economists expect job growth for veterinarians to be much faster than the average for all careers through 2020. Open positions for veterinarians will probably outnumber qualified applicants, in part because there are few accredited vet schools.
People spend more money on their family pets these days. Also, new developments in medicine and technology mean that vets now offer more-complex treatments and services.
Opportunities should be good in public health and in government -- for example, inspecting farm animals to make sure they are healthy. Also, most vets want to work with pets rather than farm animals, so you’ll find less competition if you specialize in large animals.
If you’ve ever pulled a thorn from a dog’s paw, you know the satisfaction that comes from making an animal feel better. But if you’ve ever given a cat a pill, you also know that it’s not easy to tell an animal what’s best for it.
As a veterinary student, you’ll learn about more than the health problems of animals. You'll also learn how to diagnose patients who can’t explain their own symptoms.
You may be surprised to learn that people skills are a must for veterinarians. That's because for every animal a vet treats, there's a human standing by. In fact, one of the hardest things vets have to do is tell someone it’s time to let go of a sick pet.
Job Outlook
