| It is estimated by the National Pet Owner's | | | | degree level adequately prepares students to |
| Survey that 63 percent of households have a pet. | | | | perform their job duties correctly. Individuals in |
| This equals out to millions of pets across America | | | | this line of work take on routine laboratory and |
| that at some point may need assistance to get | | | | clinical procedures. Students study courses |
| better from injuries or illnesses. Online career | | | | specifically in science and math. Hands on training |
| training in veterinary science and animal care can | | | | is gained from: |
| be pursued through different degrees. | | | | - working with an animal |
| The two professional pathways that can be | | | | - restraining an animal |
| followed are a veterinarian and a veterinary | | | | - conducting tests |
| technologist or technician. The main focus is on | | | | - performing treatments |
| giving specific care to a patient, which in this | | | | In a way that is safe for the animal. |
| profession is an animal. Veterinarians can work | | | | In a four-year bachelor's program students gain in |
| with household pets as well as livestock. Duties | | | | depth procedural knowledge. This includes |
| include: | | | | anesthesia, dental care, radiology, and clinic |
| - diagnosing health problems | | | | management. The amount of time a student is |
| - vaccinating | | | | able to dedicate to school determines what |
| - medicating | | | | specific roles they will have in a clinic setting. |
| - treating wounds | | | | To become a doctor of veterinary medicine |
| - fixing fractures | | | | students have to complete a graduate program. |
| - advising owners on animal care | | | | To enter a graduate program students must first |
| - providing preventative care | | | | have received a bachelor's degree. Education |
| - performing diagnostic tests | | | | provides in depth study of: |
| All of these job responsibilities will be learned | | | | - animal anatomy |
| through schooling and clinical practice before | | | | - physiology |
| stepping into the workplace. Specific duties learned | | | | - chemistry |
| through coursework involve specific procedures | | | | - microbiology |
| that must be performed to treat an animal. | | | | - high-level math |
| These areas can include urinalysis, blood work, and | | | | - pharmacology |
| dental work. | | | | Two important learning factors that are central to |
| Education is obtainable from an associate's degree | | | | a student's knowledge are surgical procedures and |
| to a doctorate degree. Students typically earn an | | | | lab procedures. The final year of a students |
| associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, or a | | | | four-year degree program centers on clinical |
| doctor of veterinary medicine degree to establish | | | | rotation by treating animals at a college's referral |
| themselves as professionals inside the industry. | | | | clinic. Earning a graduate degree is essential for |
| Students need to take into consideration what | | | | having the highest level of responsibility in the |
| area they want to work in. Students that don't | | | | profession. |
| necessarily want to become a Veterinarian or | | | | Acquiring an advanced degree in this field is |
| want to gain work experience first then go back | | | | competitive. There are only 28 veterinary schools |
| to college should consider becoming a veterinary | | | | that are accredited to reward diplomas. This fact |
| technologist. Individuals with the goal of becoming | | | | limits the amount of educational spaces available. |
| a veterinarian need to take into account that the | | | | Students need to prepare for the aggressive |
| field requires them to have at least a master's or | | | | enrolling process today by equipping themselves |
| doctorate degree to practice. | | | | with experience. Obtaining educational knowledge |
| The titles for veterinary technologists and | | | | in math and science is another beneficial factor for |
| technicians are used interchangeably but there is | | | | students to have. Dedicated individuals will find a |
| one difference. The difference is in training: | | | | place for themselves inside the academic |
| technologists usually earn a bachelor's degree and | | | | community. |
| technicians earn an associate's degree. Either | | | | |