Are you passionate about animals? Do you have a knack for understanding them and making informed decisions? If so, a career as a veterinarian may be perfect for you. Veterinarians play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries in animals, providing surgery and dentistry, offering preventive medical services, and giving advice on animal care and breeding. They also provide important information on food safety, security, and public health.
The profession of being a veterinarian requires a post-secondary education of around 6 years. On average, veterinarians earn a salary of $74.72. They also need to obtain certifications as per provincial regulations. The demand for veterinarians is approximately fewer than 1500 per province per year.
In their day-to-day work, veterinarians perform routine check-ups, emergency exams, and post-mortem examinations. They diagnose diseases, provide advice on preventive healthcare, vaccinate animals, and treat a wide range of injuries and illnesses. They also perform dental work, surgery, obstetrics, and embryo transfer services. Additionally, veterinarians keep records of sick animals and provide humane euthanasia services when necessary.
To diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and other conditions, veterinarians collect and examine samples such as body tissue, feces, blood, urine, and other body fluids. They also take and interpret x-rays, administer anesthesia, perform surgeries and ultrasounds, and conduct endoscopies and contract studies.
Preventive medical services offered by veterinarians include parasite control programs, vaccinations against common diseases, routine exams, advice on hygiene, nutrition, care, and breeding. They also conduct quality assurance programs for food animals, routine blood work, and routine dentistry.
Veterinarians may focus on a specific type of animal or specialize in a particular medical discipline, such as reproduction, surgery, oncology, dentistry, and more. Those working with large animals often specialize in herd health, while others may choose to work in wildlife conservation, public health, or animal welfare.
Important traits and skills for veterinarians include confidence in working with animals, commitment to public health and food safety, good judgment, effective communication skills, and the ability to work independently and with the public. They should also possess physical stamina, observational skills, and a willingness to continuously learn and improve.
If you're interested in pursuing a career as a veterinarian, explore the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes for this profession, including 2006 NOC, 2011 NOC, 2016 NOC, and 2021 NOC categories related to veterinarians.