The
Americans call the medical professional who practices veterinary medicine
treating disorders, diseases and injuries in animals as Ashfield veterinarian. In
England, the common name for the same medical professional who does the same
work (and educational preparation to his profession) as veterinary surgeon.
Many people can these professionals as vets.
In
practical terms, these medical professionals care for the health of pets,
livestock, and other animals in zoos, racetracks and in laboratories. Some
veterinary specialists also protect humans from diseases carried by animals and
conduct research on human and animal health problems.
These
animal health professionals diagnose the health problems of animals, vaccinate
them against diseases and do medications for those that are suffering from
infections and other illnesses. They are also well-trained to treat and dress
wounds, set fractures, perform surgery and advise owners on feeding their pets,
their behavior and breeding habits.
Distribution
As
per the American Veterinary Association, 77% of Ashfield veterinarian work in private
practice treating pets mostly. They usually care for dogs and cats but they can
and do work treating birds, reptiles, rabbits, and other animals that kids
usually keep as pets.
16%
of veterinarians work in private mixed with food animal practices. They usually
see goats, pigs, cattle, sheep and other animals in addition to farm animals.
6% of them work exclusively with horses, especially those that are kept for
racing.
Animal types
There
are also vets who work with food animals who drive to farms and ranches to do
vet work and services to herds or individual animals. They usually work with
ranch owners and managers in relation to animal production, feeding and housing
issues.
They
also treat wounds, set fractures, and do surgery including caesarian sections
on birthing animals. Other vets are involved in food safety and inspection.
They
are livestock inspectors who checks on these animals for signs of transmissible
disease, those that are dangerous to humans as well. They can order quarantine
measures, if needed.
Inspectors
Some
vets work as meat, poultry and egg product inspectors doing their examination
work in the slaughter and food processing plants where they check the carcasses
of the animals for diseases. If needed, they can enforce government regulations
on food purity and sanitation.
Some
work on imported meat to check on the presence of unwanted diseases or other
dangerous elements present (germs, spoilage, etc.).
Work conditions
Some
vets are immune to working in private or in clinical practice usually for long
hours and in noisy indoor environment. They sometimes deal with the emotional
issues of owners. All the time, they are at risk when working with frightened
animals or those in pain (kicked, bitten, and scratched).
For
those vets working with food animals where they need to spend time driving to
and from their offices or clinics in all types of weather. Sometimes, they
treat animals in less than sanitary conditions in their natural habitats.
Like
all licensed medical professionals, a veterinarian goes through the usually
hard route for those in the medical field – long college preparations,
internships, tough exams and starting with small salaries.
