Working as a veterinarian is a rewarding career with many options for growth. There are so many reasons to become a veterinarian, and we will name a few. All veterinarians must love animals, but most people fail to realize that having people skills is also necessary. So much of a veterinarians day to day work is communicating with clients. If your communication skills are lacking, then you can brush up with a class or book.
Many people wonder what vets do. Veterinarians aren’t just animal doctors but animal advocates. Many treat small companion animals such as cats and dogs, and other veterinarians provide emergency services or work in research. Like human medicine, veterinarians can specialize in various fields,s including surgery, internal medicine, dermatology, anesthesia, and pathology.
If you are up for spending all of your free time studying those anatomy flashcards, then vet school might be right up your alley.
Some of the benefits of being a veterinarian are getting to help animals in a medical setting. Everyone might have their reason to be a veterinarian, but here are the top 12.
#1
Helping Animals – Is a Great Reason To Become A Veterinarian
Veterinarians are compassionate individuals that love animals. Just loving animals will not make you a good vet; there are so many layers to what makes a good vet, including wanting to provide medical treatment for species that cant use English to explain what’s wrong.
Veterinarians get to diagnose problems, treat illnesses, provide surgery and prescribe medication. Veterinarians must be compassionate and caring individuals that genuinely enjoy helping others no matter what species they are.
#2
You Want to Make a Positive Change in the World
Veterinarians get to be a part of the solution. They can help eradicate and control problems like rabies, heartworm, and cancer. Veterinarians provide essential services such as spaying and neutering pets to prevent overpopulation, saving animals, and protecting ecosystems.
Animal care has become an increasingly important part of our lives, and we need veterinarians to help make sure they are living healthy, happy life. We also need veterinarians to prevent overpopulation and ensure that the animals in shelters find forever homes.
People will remember your dedication and hard work as a veterinarian forever!
#3
You Love Learning and Science is Your Strongsuit – One of the More Important Reasons to Become a Veterinarian
To become a veterinarian, you need at least eight years of science education. 4 years for the Bachelor’s degree and another 4 for the DVM degree. So if you are wondering how many years to be a veterinarian, it can vary depending on what specialty you decide to pursue.
If you want to specialize in surgery, you will need more than eight years of college. Many vets will get a Masters’s or Doctorate, and these DVM PhD degrees require you to love school! Veterinarians are constantly learning throughout their lifetime because animal medicine is always changing.
#4
You Love Working with People
In addition to loving animals, veterinarians must enjoy working with people as well. Good communication skills is often one of the overlooked reasons for becoming a veterinarian. No veterinarian can provide services without clients. As a veterinarian, you will spend most of your day working directly with people, and you will need to explain and educate clients on their pet’s health and care. Veterinary services can be costly for pet owners, and veterinarians help them provide the best service possible while keeping within their budget.
If you don’t love working with people, then being a veterinarian isn’t for you!
Keep in mind that some veterinary professions may have less human-to-human communication than others: wildlife veterinarian, author, researcher, and pathologist. Although each and every veterinary profession will require you to interact with humans and discuss cases.
#5
Employment Opportunities – One of the Benefits of Being a Veterinarian
Veterinarians can work in various places, including privately owned clinics, zoos, marine mammal parks, colleges, research facilities, or even your home-based practice. Having a wide range of career opportunities is another great reason to become a vet. Some veterinarians can also become educators by working for colleges providing education to future veterinarians or assisting in research work. Veterinarians will find so many different career options.
They can engage in companion animal practices, general veterinary practices, food production, or work as an animal researcher. Veterinarians who choose to practice companion animal medicine will generally spend most of their time working with pets and other small animals. Even some veterinarians work with exotic pets, and you will learn how to become an exotic animal vet once you get into a DVM program. However, Veterinarians who choose to practice food production medicine will generally spend most of their time working with large animals, such as cows.
Some veterinarians also engage in personal services like coaching. Some offer a mobile service, like Dr. Emanuele, the fish vet, which allows where they come to your home or business to take care of your animal(s).
#6
Work-Life Balance
Life as a veterinarian can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be all the time. Some Veterinarians are on call during emergencies or when there is an issue that requires their attention. When not working in an emergency, some veterinarians set their schedules based on their needs. Many DVM’s have a type-A personality and a strong work ethic; it is highly competitive to get into a vet school. It is much harder to get into a veterinary program than a human medical program. So with this in mind, it is essential to maintain a positive work-life balance so you don’t experience burn-out.
#7
Job Outlook for Veterinarians
There is currently a shortage of veterinarians. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for veterinarians is excellent and expected to grow by 17% in the next ten years between 2021-2031. Veterinarians’ salaries range depending on what state they practice in and their particular specialty, and the most money is in private practice followed by general practice. While some fields within vet med have a lower than average salary like the vet tech salary, most veterinarians make an average or above-average salary. One thing to keep in mind is that the student loan debt of veterinarians is usually high. When you are working through whether being a veterinarian is a good career for yourself, weighing the student loan debt should be one of your factors.
#8
Veterinarians Have Good Problem Solving Skills
Problem-solving skills are essential in everyday life, and veterinarians need to be especially good at it because they must solve complex medical issues. If your animal is sick, you might have to seek out the opinion of another veterinarian or scientist specializing in that particular area of medicine. Problem-solving skills are one factor that plays into what makes a good veterinarian.
#9
Constant Rewarding Career
There is never a dull moment as a Veterinarian. As long as you like working with animals and problem-solving, this career choice will be rewarding because every day is different. Many Veterinarians love their job and find it very fulfilling to help other creatures in need. There are so many options for keeping the career interesting. Some veterinarians work in a clinic but then pick up 1 emergency clinic position in another animal hospital, this allows them to keep their days varied. There are many areas where a vet can specialize, while in vet school, you will learn how many internships you will need for your chosen career path. Having these options for specializing is one of the many reasons why becoming a veterinarian is a great career path.
#10
Continuing Education is Important to You
Veterinarians need to continue education to remain current on veterinary medicine, and many receive professional development credits each year, which helps them stay current with new medical developments. Veterinarians spend a lot of time in classrooms, studying and learning new information. Many clinics will pay for your continuing education credits. If you choose to get board certified in a specialty like exotic animal medicine, you will take continuing education credits each year. Continuing education is one of the benefits of being a veterinarian.
#11
You Have Great Communication Skills
Communication skills are essential in all lines of work, but it is necessary for the veterinary field. Don’t worry if you lack this area; you can quickly learn and practice being a better communicator. Veterinarians have to communicate effectively with their clients to come up with a treatment plan for their pets. Veterinarians often have to educate people on some primary pet care or health concerns.
If you are contemplating why you should become a veterinarian, keep communication skills at the top of your list. Those who desire to become veterinarians should have good communication skills. The veterinarians skilled at client communication will have the most success within this career, especially with the potential to get good reviews on google or yelp. Often those vets with the best reviews try hard to communicate with clients effectively.
#12
You value and respect the ethical responsibilities of being a professional.
Veterinarians have to take an oath: The DVM oath is “Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.
I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.
I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.”
Whether you graduate from the VA Tech vet school or a veterinary school in the Caribbean, it makes no difference. More importantly, you will still need to take the Veterinary Oath.
Veterinarians are ethically responsible for treating their patients to the best of their ability. Some clients will even be more willing to pay higher fees if they know that their veterinarian is honest with them and offers good quality care. Veterinarians have a moral obligation to treat their patients as well as they can so that the animal will live a happier life or will be able to make it through another day.
Conclusion for 12 Reasons To Become A Veterinarian
These are some of the things to know about being a veterinarian. If you think these 12 reasons to become a veterinarian sounds good, then perhaps start planning how to make it happen.
Whatever veterinary specialty interests you, be aware that it is a long and arduous road to becoming a DVM. Do not give up and begin preparing for the DVM journey if you have what it takes. The earlier you start to prepare for vet school admissions, the better.
