A Sydney veterinarian is a licensed medical doctor practicing in the special filed of
treating animals. His filed is veterinary medicine treating disease, disorders
and other maladies in animals, including injuries. In England, they are called
veterinary surgeons (they do surgery), and fondly called a vet all over the
world.
Professionally,
they are responsible for the care of the health of animals, whether pets or
livestock, those for show in zoos, in racetracks and those used for laboratory
research work. In a sense, their work is vital to humans because they protect
us against disease carried by animals.
Within
their field, these vets do their diagnosis on animals for health problems; do
vaccinations on animals with infections and other disease. Their training
enables them to treat and dress animal wounds, set fractures, perform surgery.
They also advise owners on animal diets, behavior and breeding.
Practice
Among
practicing vets, there are now around 77% working in private practice treating
pets. Their patients are usually dogs and cats. However, they are also in the
business of treating other pets like birds, reptiles, rabbits and other animals
usually kept as household pet.
Another
16% of Sydney veterinarian worked in private while being able to mix it with food
animal practices like pigs, cattle, goats, sheep and other farm animals. Some
6% of the vets work exclusively with horses.
Training preps
The
vets-to-be have to graduate with a degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from
an accredited college of vet med in four years. Admissions to these colleges
are very competitive with so many applicants.
The
graduates of doctoral degree in vet medicine can start their practice right
away after having their license. Many graduates, however, choose to enter one-year
internship programs even with a small salary. This internship is important in
gaining better opportunities in pay.
Work
For
those who are working in private or in clinical practice work in long hours
indoors inside their clinics. The conditions can sometimes deal with some
emotional issues regarding demanding owners. The risk is also great while
working with frightened animals or those in pain either by being scratched, or
bitten, or kicked.
The
veterinarians working with food animals or horse have to spend time driving to
and from their offices or clinics to places (farms and ranches) where their
patients are located. Their work is usually outdoors in all kinds of weather.
They may also treat animals in not so sanitary conditions.
Others
work in animals residing in zoos, aquariums and laboratories. The work includes
birthing young animals, and includes euthanizing animals when necessary.
Food industry
Some
vets also work in the food safety and inspection. They work as livestock inspectors
to check on animals for transmissible disease to humans. They also act as
advisers to owners in the treatment of their animals, sometimes helping enforce
quarantines.
There
are also others who work in the meat, poultry or egg production product
inspectors. They are in charge of examining slaughtering and processing
procedures in plants and checking carcasses for disease. They work to implement
government regulations on food and sanitation. A veterinarian can do many
things.
