Veterinarian

A veterinarian (American English) or a veterinary surgeon (British English), often shortened to vet, is a doctor who treats animals and a practitioner of veterinary medicine. The word comes from the Latin veterinae meaning "working animals". "Veterinarian" was first used in print by Thomas Browne in 1646. Many careers are open to those with veterinary degrees (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), D.V.M., VMD ( Veterinaria Medicina Doctoris), MVB (Medicina Veterinaria Baccalaureate), BVS (Bachelor of Veterinary Surgery), BVMS (Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery), BVetMed (Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine) or B.V.Sc. & A. H. (Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry). Those working in clinical settings often practice medicine in a limited field such as "companion animal" or pet medicine, which includes small animals such as dog, cat, and pocket pets, production medicine or livestock medicine. Production medicine includes specialties in dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, sheep, and poultry, equine medicine (e.g., sport, race track, show, rodeo), laboratory animal medicine, reptile medicine, or ratite medicine. Veterinarians may choose to specialize in medical disciplines such as surgery, dermatology or internal medicine, after post-graduate training and certification.

Some veterinarians pursue post-graduate training and enter research careers and have contributed to advances in many human and veterinary medical fields, including pharmacology and epidemiology. Research veterinarians were the first to isolate oncoviruses, Salmonella species, Brucella species, and various other pathogenic agents. Veterinarians were in the forefront in the effort to suppress malaria and yellow fever in the United States. Veterinarians identified the botulism disease-causing agent, produced an anticoagulant used to treat human heart disease, and developed surgical techniques for humans, such as hip-joint replacement, limb and organ transplants.

Like physicians and animal therapists, veterinarians must make ethical decisions about their patients' care. For example, there is ongoing debate within the profession over the ethics of performing declawing of cats and docking or cropping tails and ears, spaying or neutering dogs, as well as "debarking" dogs, the housing of sows in gestation crates and the housing of egg laying poultry hens in battery cages.

A veterinarian gives an injection to a goldfish

Education and regulation

Veterinarians must first obtain a degree in Veterinary Medicine and a license to practice. The competition for admission into veterinary school is stiff. Individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine must graduate with either a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree from North America; the equivalent degree for veterinarians who graduate in the U.K. or other commonwealth country is a Bachelor of Veterinary Science/Surgery/Medicine (BVS, BVSc, BVetMed or BVMS) degree and the equivalent for veterinary graduates in Ireland is a Medicina Veterinaria Baccalaureate (MVB) degree. The title and degree name "Doctor" in the US is considered around the world as an honorary one, as the DVM degree does not result in a thesis, publication, or other academic doctorate qualification as in a PhD. There was a time in the US where the name of a veterinary degree was also a Bachelor's, but the degree name and academic system was modified to match the honorary title of the profession. This dynamic is still in place in the UK and Australia, where vets are called veterinary surgeons.

In the United States, there are currently only 28 veterinary schools that meet the accreditation standards set by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): Auburn University, Colorado State University, Cornell University, Iowa State University, Kansas State University, Louisiana State University, Michigan State University, Mississippi State University, North Carolina State University, Ohio State University, Oklahoma State University, Oregon State University, Purdue University, Texas A&M University, Tufts University, Tuskegee University, University of California, Davis, University of Florida, University of Georgia, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Minnesota, University of Missouri, University of Pennsylvania, University of Tennessee, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, and Western University of Health Sciences

In Canada, there are currently five veterinary schools that meet the accreditation standards set by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) : Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), University of Saskatchewan, Université de Montréal, Atlantic Veterinary College, and UCVM (University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine) - University of Calgary.

There are a number of other countries that also have AVMA-accredited institutions such as Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Netherlands.

In West Indies, 3 Veterinary Schools - (RUSVM-Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine) Ross University, St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine - St. George's University and St. Matthew's University (SMU) are listed by the American Veterinary Medical Association and Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and its graduates qualify for entrance into the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) certification programs.

An alternative to becoming a licensed veterinarian is becoming a veterinary technician. Veterinary technicians are, essentially, veterinary nurses, and are graduates of two or four year college-level programs and are legally qualified to assist veterinarians in many medical procedures. Veterinary assistants are not licensed by most states, but can be well-trained through programs offered in a variety of technical schools.

The prerequisites for admission to veterinary programs vary from school to school with many programs not requiring a bachelor's degree for entrance. Instead they require a number of credit hours that range from 45 to 90 semester hours at the undergraduate level. However, most students admitted have completed an undergraduate program and earned a bachelor's degree. So despite the fact that a bachelor's degree is not required, applicants without a degree are at a disadvantage.

Preveterinary courses should emphasize the sciences. Veterinary schools typically require applicants to have taken classes in organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, general biology, animal biology, animal nutrition, genetics, vertebrate embryology, cellular biology, microbiology, zoology, and systemic physiology. Additionally, some programs require calculus. On the other hand, some require only statistics, college algebra and trigonometry, or precalculus. Most veterinary schools also require some courses in English or literature, other humanities, and the social sciences as a basic background education. Furthermore, courses in general business management and career development are more and more becoming a standard part of the curriculum.

In addition to satisfying pre-veterinary course requirements, applicants must submit test scores from standardized tests such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT), or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The decision as to which test should be taken depends solely on the requirement of the college to which the applicant is applying. As of 2007, 22 schools require the GRE, 4 require the VCAT, and 2 accept the MCAT.

Admission to veterinary school is highly competitive, with the number of qualified applicants admitted varying from year to year. This is due in large part to the fact that the number of accredited veterinary colleges has remained largely the same since 1983, but the number of applicants has risen significantly. As a result, only about 1 in 3 applicants were accepted into veterinary school in 2005.

Approximately 80% of admitted students are female. In the early history of veterinary medicine of the USA, most veterinarians were males. However, in the 1990s this ratio reached parity, and now it has been reversed. Most veterinary schools require their applicants to submit applications through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS).

New graduates with a DVM/VMD/BVS/BVSc degree cannot begin to practice veterinary medicine until they have received their license. To be licensed in the United States for example, one must receive a passing grade on a national board examination, the North America Veterinary Licensing Exam. This exam must be completed over the course of eight hours, and consists of 360 multiple-choice questions. This exam covers all aspects of veterinary medicine, as well as visual material designed to test diagnostic skills. Unlike physicians of whom an academic internship is generally required (and 85% eventually board certify in one of a large number of specialties and subspecialties) veterinarians can enter practice after graduation and licensure. The percentage electing further study has increased from 36.8% to 39.9% in 2008. About 25% of those or about 9% of graduates were accepted into traditional academic internships. (2008 -696 graduates accepted a position in advanced study, 89.2% (621) accepted an internship (private practice, 74.5%; academic, 25.3%; and other internship, 0.2%). An additional 6.0% (42) accepted a residency). Approximately 9% of veterinarians eventually board certify in one of 20 specialties..

Interns receive a small salary, but often find that their internship experience leads to better paying opportunities later. Veterinarians who then wish to pursue board certification in medical or surgical specialties, such as internal medicine, oncology, surgery, dermatology, cardiology, neurology, ophthalmology , must complete a 3- to 4-year residency program that provides intensive training. Other specialties, such as epidemiology or toxicology, require a PhD training.

When the application committee decides who gains admittance and who does not, many schools place heavy emphasis and consideration on a candidate's veterinary and animal experience. Formal experience is a particular advantage to the applicant. Formal experience consists of work with veterinarians or scientists in clinics, agribusiness, research, or some area of health science. Less formal experience is also helpful for the applicant to have, and this includes working with animals on a farm or ranch or at a stable or animal shelter and basic overall animal exposure.

Admittance Comparison

Veterinary school requires extensive preparation, and the likelihood of acceptance is not in favor of the applicant. Nationwide in 2007, approximately 5,750 applicants competed for the 2,650 seats in the 28 accredited veterinary schools in the United States. This statistic results in nationwide acceptance rate of 46 percent

WICHE: Veterinary School Financial Alternative

The Professional Student Exchange Program (PSEP) is one of three exchange programs of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Western states, in particular, can place their residents who are pursuing professional, graduate, and undergraduate programs, which are not available to them in their own state, at a financial disadvantage. These exchange programs are designed to give students in these disadvantageous situations another financial option and place them on a more fair and even status. This is done so by providing the outbound students and their families the option to save money through reduced tuition arrangements.

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, based in Boulder, Colorado, works with 15 states to expand educational access and excellence for all of the citizens in the West region. The states that participate in WICHE include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

If selected to receive support, WICHE exchange students pay reduced levels of tuition. This usually consists of paying resident tuition in public institutions or reduced tuition at private schools. The home state of the students then pays a support fee to the admitting schools to help cover the cost of the students' education. Another advantage that WICHE students receive is that they are given some preference in admission selection process. Each state determines just how many fields and students they are willing and able to support; veterinary medicine is usually one of these fields.

For veterinary medicine, maximum WICHE support is limited to four academic years. The following states are in compliance with the WICHE program and will support students who wish to pursue a DVM Arizona, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. States with additional support arrangements include North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. The following veterinary Schools are those who are willing to receive students under support of the WICHE program University of California Davis, Colorado State University, Oregon State University, and Washington State University.

Educational Requirements in Various Countries

The educational requirements for the veterinarian vary with each country. Typically, it takes from four years to eight years of education after graduating from secondary school. Some countries grant a bachelor's degree - ie, the UK, Australia, Ireland, and India. Due to historical nomenclature modifications, other countries grant a doctoral degree - in the United States and Canada, the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) which are equivalent to the (BVS, BVSc, etc) degrees. In the United States, holders of either degrees are allowed to practice as veterinarians if they succeed in passing national and state board examinations, and after passing three veterinary licensing exams - the Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE), the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners' North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), and the Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE), and a state veterinary law exam, foreign-educated veterinarians may practice as a general practice veterinarian.

Applicants must have earned or be close to earning bachelor's degrees before applying and must take the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT), Graduate Record Exam (GRE), or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The chances of admission in one state might be significantly different from those in another state, depending on the number of in-state applicants and the number of places available.

Admission competition in US Veterinary Schools

In the United States, the average veterinary medicine student admitted into 28 Veterinary Schools, has an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 (minimum) and a GRE score of approximately 1350/1600 (minimum). Some US Veterinary Schools, among total 28 US Veterinary schools, even accept a minimum GPA of 3.8/4.0 and minimum GRE score of 1500 out of 1600. Minimum Work Experience of 2–3 years as Veterinary Assistant or Animal Care Taker / Animal Care Attendant and Interview are also taken into consideration along with GPA and GRE Score, while considering admission into a DVM programme in US Veterinary Schools. In the U.S. and Canada, veterinary school lasts four years (again, normally after the completion of an undergraduate degree), with at least one year being dedicated to clinical rotations. In the U.S., one can enter veterinary school (DVM) after completing the undergraduate pre-veterinary requirements in as little as two years but chances of admission into DVM are less, but most veterinary school applicants have completed a bachelor's degree (most of them hold a 4 years BS in Animal Science/Biology/Microbiology/Zoology with minimum GPA of 3.5) to entry into a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program in 28 US Veterinary Schools. DVM applicants must have strong background in Animal Science, Math, Genetics, Biochemistry, Biology / Zoology with A+ grade.

In many other countries, the veterinary degree is granted upon completion of a bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine and is not usually a post-graduate program as in the U.S. and Canada. After completion of the national board examinations, some newly-accredited veterinarians choose to pursue residencies or internships in certain (usually more competitive) fields. The entry requirement for residency is 1 year of internship or 2 years of clinical experience plus research publication. The admission in residency program is highly competitive. Most of the veterinarians work as general practice veterinarian, only few become Veterinary Specialists.

In India, the Veterinary medical degree is known as Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. and A.H.). The program lasts for a period of five years with 4.5 years of course work and six months of clinical and farm training internships. Admission to the Veterinary Colleges are through the tests conducted by the Agricultural and Veterinary Universities in the respective states or through a National Level Joint Entrance Test. Admission into BVSc & AH program in India is competitive due to fewer Veterinary Colleges and seats.

In Pakistan UVAS (University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences-LAHORE) takes its own test for admission in M.Phil degree after DVM. Also interviews are held for the candidate with his choice of department which he is applying to join.

Salary

The mean salary for new graduates in 2010 was US$48,674 including nearly 50% going on to advanced study programs. Those not continuing their studies made US$67,359 at first.

The average income for private practice rose from $105,510 in 2005 to $115,447 in 2007. These increased values exceed those of public practice including uniformed services and government . According to a survey done by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the average starting salaries of new graduates in 2006 depended upon their respective fields of practice. The Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009 Edition recorded the following:

Large animals, exclusively: $61,029

Small animals, predominantly: $57,117

Small animals, exclusively: $56,241

Private clinical practice: $55,031

Large animals, predominately: $53,397

Mixed animals: $52,254

Equine (horses): $40,130

Vets in the UK tend to make less than those in the US with average new graduate wages starting at an average of £25000.

Work

Veterinarians may:

• Diagnose animal health problems, and perform diagnostic tests such as X-ray, EKG, ultrasound, blood tests, stool tests, and urinalysis.
• Vaccinates against diseases, such as distemper and rabies.
• Medicate animals suffering from infections or illnesses.
• Treat and dress wounds.
• Set fractures.
• Perform minor to complex surgery, depending on training.
• Advise owners about animal feeding, behavior, and breeding.
• Euthanize animals when necessary.
• Provide preventive care to maintain the health of food animals.
• Test for and vaccinates against diseases.
• Dental work

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, about three-quarters of veterinarians were employed in either an individual or group practice. The remainder were employees in other settings, including colleges of veterinary medicine, medical schools, research laboratories, animal food companies, and pharmaceutical companies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that around 1,400 civilian veterinarians are employed by the United States federal government, mainly in the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health and Human Services, and Department of Homeland Security. State and local governments also employ veterinarians.

Skills required of a general practice veterinarian

In many respects a veterinarian is similar to a pediatrician. Animals cannot talk like human beings, and much of the clinical history is obtained from the owner or client as a pediatrician would obtain the medical history from a child's parents. Excellent people skills and communication skills are required. Veterinarians, like other physicians, require well-functioning physical and sensory faculties in order to diagnose and treat their patients. They also make use of diagnostic tests like x-ray, C.T., M.R.I., blood work, urinalysis, and fecal exams to diagnose patients. Veterinarians are well trained in laboratory medicine and parasitology.

The general practice veterinarian spends one third to one half of his or her time in surgery. Animal neutering operations are done in most veterinarians' offices. Many veterinarians also perform orthopedic procedures, bone setting, dentistry, and trauma surgery. Surgery requires good hand and eye coordination, and fine motor skills.

Focuses of practice

Many areas of focus exist for veterinary practices. These include:

• Exotic animal veterinarian - Generally considered to include reptiles, exotic birds such as parrots and cockatoos, and small mammals such as ferrets, rabbits, chinchillas, and degus.
• Conservation medicine - The study of the relationship between animal and human health and environmental conditions.
• Small animal practice - Usually dogs, cats, and other companion animals/household pets such as hamsters and gerbils. Some practices are canine-only or feline-only practices.
• Laboratory animal practice - Some veterinarians work in a university or industrial laboratory and are responsible for the care and treatment of laboratory animals of any species (often involving bovines, porcine species, felines, canines, rodents, and even exotic animals). Their responsibility is not only for the health and well being of the animals, but also for enforcing humane and ethical treatment of the animals in the facility.
• Large animal practice - Usually referring to veterinarians that work with, variously, livestock and other large farm animals, as well as equine species and large reptiles.
• Equine medicine - Some veterinarians are specialists in equine medicine. Horses are different in anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, and husbandry to other domestic species. Specialization in equine veterinary practice is something that is normally developed after qualification, even if students do have some interest before graduation.
• Food animal medicine - Some veterinarians deal exclusively or primary with animals raised for food (such as meat, milk, and eggs). Livestock practitioners may deal with ovine (sheep), bovine (cattle) and porcine (swine) species; such veterinarians deal with management of herds, nutrition, reproduction, and minor field surgery. Dairy medicine practice focuses on dairy animals. Poultry medicine practice focuses on the health of flocks of poultry; the field often involves extensive training in pathology, epidemiology, and nutrition of birds. The veterinarian treats the flock and not the individual animals.
• Food safety practice - Veterinarians are employed by both the food industry and government agencies to advise on and monitor the handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness.
• Wildlife medicine - A relatively recent branch of veterinary medicine, focusing on wildlife. Wildlife medicine veterinarians may work with zoologists and conservation medicine practitioners and may also be called out to treat marine species such as sea otters, dolphins, or whales after a natural disaster or oil spill.

Veterinary specialties

Main article: Veterinary specialties

As opposed to human medicine, general practice veterinarians greatly out-number veterinary specialists. Most veterinary specialists work at the veterinary schools, or at a referral center in large cities. As opposed to human medicine, where each organ system has its own medical and surgical specialties, veterinarians often combine both the surgical and medical aspect of an organ system into one field. The specialties in veterinary medicine often encompass several medical and surgical specialties that are found in human medicine.

Veterinary specialties are accredited in North America by the AVMA through the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (http://www.avma.org/education/abvs/). In Europe, specialties are accredited through the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (http://www.ebvs.org/). In Australia, specialties are recognized by the Australian Veterinary Boards Council (http://www.avbc.asn.au/special.htm). While some veterinarians may have areas of interest outside of recognized specialties, they are not legally specialists.

• Anaesthesiology - A specialty limited to teaching in hospitals and schools. Most veterinarians practice anesthesiology in their own office. In North America, anesthesiologists are certified through the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia.
• Animal behavior - A relatively new specialty, with an increased interest in modulating abnormal animal behavior. In North America, behaviorists are certified through the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
• Cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery - Manages cardiac and conductance disorders; also performs cardiothoracic surgery for the treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease. In North America, cardiologists are certified through the American College of Internal Medicine as a subspecialty.
• Dentistry - Relates to prevention and treatment of dental disease. In North America, dentists are certified through the American Veterinary Dental College.
• Dermatology and dermatopathology - Relates to the skin. Veterinary dermatologists diagnose and treat skin disease. Dermatology in animals encompasses much of the field of allergy and immunology. In North America, dermatologists are certified through the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.
• Emergency Medicine and Critical Care - Also cover the field of emergency or trauma surgery. The veterinarian is trained in medicine, surgery, and critical care of the severely injured or ill animal. In North America, criticalists are certified through the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care.
• Epidemiology and public health - Focus on infectious disease in animals (including zoonotic disease, infectious diseases in animals which are transmitted (in some instances, by a vector) to humans. In North America, epidemiolologists are certified through the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine.
• Internal medicine - As opposed to human medicine, where an internist is often considered a primary care physician of adults; a veterinary internal medicine specialist, is a specialist. The specialty in the United States requires 3 years of residency training. They are trained to manage complex medical conditions, and often work at teaching universities and hospitals. In North America, internists are certified through the American College of Internal Medicine as a subspecialty. Internists subspecialize in either small animal or large animal medicine.
• Microbiology Work in the diagnosis and control of infectious diseases in animals. Specialists in this field often work in industry, the regulatory agencies, and teaching institutions. In North America, micriobiologists are certified through the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists. There are subspecialties in Virology, Bacteriology/Mycology, and Immunology.
• Neurology and Neurologic Surgery - Veterinary neurologists are both surgeons and neurologists in practice. This is different than in human medicine, where neurologists are the medical side of the specialty, and neurosurgeon or orthopedic surgeons focus on the surgical side. In North America, neurologists are certified through the American College of Internal Medicine as a subspecialty.
• Nutrition - An important food animal medicine, and herd medicine. Specialists in this area include veterinarians and animal scientists. Most large animal veterinarians are also excellent nutritionists. Nutritionists also work in the pet food industry in quality assurance and research. In North America, nutritionists are certified through the American College of Veterinary Nutrition.
• Oncology - Covers the diagnosis and management of malignancies in animals. As animals are considered to be a part of the family, curative and pallative care is often demanded when malignancies develop. In North America, oncologists are certified through the American College of Internal Medicine as a subspecialty.
• Ophthalmology - Focuses on eyes, the diagnosis of eye diseases, and surgery of the eye and eyelid. In North America, veterinary ophthalmologists are certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology.
• Pharmacology - The study of drug action. As animals metabolize drugs in many different ways, veterinary clinical pharmacologists are important in the study of drug use in animals. In North America, veterinary pharmacologists are certified by the American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology.
• Parasitology - Focuses on study of parasites such as whipworms, fleas, and ticks. While almost all veterinarians encounter parasites in some patients, parasitology specialists are usually found in teaching hospitals and universities. In Australia, parasitologists are recognized by the Fellowship of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists. There is not yet a parasitology specialty college in North America, although development of a subspecialty in the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists is underway.
• Anatomic Pathology and Clincal Pathology - A broad field covering multiple species, organ systems, and domestic and foreign animal diseases. The veterinary pathologists perform necropsies (autopsies), collect specimens, and read pathological slides. They assist clinicians in the diagnosis of illnesses and seek causes of deaths in animals. In North America, veterinary pathologists are certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists, and subspecialize in either anatomic pathology or clinical pathology.
• Radiology and radiation oncology - Interpretation of imaging modalities, including X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT scans), ultrasounds, echocardiograms, and Doppler devices; administration of radiation treatment for malignancies and endocrine diseases. In North America, veterinary radiologists are certified by the American College of Veterinary Radiology.
• Surgery - In North America, surgeons are certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Surgeons subspecialize in either small animal or large animal surgery.
• Theriogenology involves the study and treatment of reproductive disorders. Reproduction is an economically important aspect of bovine, porcine, ovine, and equine practices. In North America, theriogenologists are certified by the American College of Theriogenology.
• Zoological medicine - The treatment and care of captive zoo animals, free ranging wildlife species, aquatic animals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and non-domestic companion animals. In North America, zoological medicine specialists are certified by the American College of Zoological Medicine.

In popular culture

Well-known depictions of a veterinarian at work are in James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small, made into a BBC series.

Doctor Dolittle is a series of children's books, one of which was turned into a 1967 movie. The movie was remade in 1998 with Eddie Murphy as Dr. Dolittle.

US-based cable network Animal Planet, with animal-based programming, frequently features veterinarians. Two notable shows are Emergency Vets and E-Vet Interns, set at Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, Colorado.

The song Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, performed by the husband and wife duo "Elmo & Patsy", is a song performed by a veterinarian, Elmo Shropshire, DVM.

Fictional character veterinarians in TV series include Steve Parker in Neighbours; Jim Hansen in Providence, and Vincent Ventresca in the horror film Larva

Workplace

Small animal veterinarians typically work in veterinary clinics or veterinary hospitals, or both. Large animal veterinarians often spend more time traveling to see their patients at the primary facilities which house them (zoos, farms, etc.).

Criticisms

Concerns about the role of veterinary surgeons in helping health threats survive and spread have been raised by several commentators, particularly with respect to pedigree dogs. Koharik Arman (2007) reached the following conclusion for example: "Veterinarians also bear some responsibility for the welfare situation of purebred dogs. In fact, the veterinary profession has facilitated the evolution of purebred dogs. ‘Breeds’ that would not normally be sustainable are propagated by the compliance of veterinarians to breeder wishes.” A finding that was echoed by Sir Patrick Bateson in his Independent Review of Dog Breeding following the broadcast of the BBC documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed: "Its only the ready availability of modern veterinary medicine that has permitted some conditions…to become widespread.”

See also

• Animal breeding

External links

• Template:Dmoz