A Typical Workday in the Veterinary Career
A veterinary career is perfect for someone who loves animals and isn’t afraid of putting in hard work. The typical workday of a veterinarian is dynamic, engaging, and full of lots of furry friends! And, even though working as a veterinarian can be challenging at times, it’s an incredibly rewarding career.
How to Become a Veterinarian
Joining the veterinary career requires about eight to ten years of higher education and training. First, you’ll need to get a four-year degree from a university. Most students supplement their studies by volunteering to work with animals or interning. After completing their undergraduate degree, hopeful veterinarians must attend four more years of veterinary school to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and obtain a state license to practice. If you decide to specialize in a specific facet of animal care, you’ll need at least two more years of training.
What do Veterinarians do?
A veterinarian has many duties throughout the day. Some typical tasks that veterinarians perform throughout the day include:
Examining animals to diagnose diseases and injuries.
Treating sick or injured animals.
Prescribing medications, treating injuries, and performing surgery on sick or injured animals.
Collecting blood, feces, and urine samples from animals to run diagnostic tests.
Counseling clients about their pert’s illness or euthanasia decision.
Giving vaccines to different animals to protect them against disease.
Planning nutrition programs and prescription diets for animals.
A Normal Day in the Life of a Veterinarian
If you’re interested in starting a veterinary career, be prepared for long workdays and crazy hours. Veterinarians have schedules that can often be hectic. Most veterinarians work more than the typical 40 hours per week. A veterinarian’s average day differs depending on the veterinarian, but the majority will look something like this:
Morning
Most veterinarians start their day by attending to patients and performing any scheduled surgeries. Performing surgery in the morning allows animals to use the rest of the day for recovery. A veterinarian will see patients throughout the rest of the morning and perform routine exams and treatment.
Afternoon
Most veterinary offices take a break at lunchtime. However, a veterinarian who works in an animal emergency hospital may not have the time for a break.
Evening
During the evening, most veterinarians will continue to see patients who have scheduled appointments. They’ll also discharge all their surgery patients from earlier in the day. Any pets who are found to have an emergency issue may be referred to an animal hospital.
At closing time, most veterinarians will stay in the office after hours to check in on any animals, complete medical documentation, and return any phone calls or emails. Veterinarians who own their clinics may also use this time to perform administrative tasks.