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Who are some famous people with this career?

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Who are some famous people with this career?

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Katrina Warren, Emma Milne, Harry Cooper.

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Veterinarians promote public health, use food safety practices, and facility sanitation.

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Today's veterinarians are the only doctors educated to protect the health of both animals and people. They work hard to address the health and welfare needs of every species of animal. Veterinarians also play critical roles in environmental protection, research, food safety, and public health.

Protecting the health of animals and society

Employment opportunities for veterinarians include such diverse areas as clinical practice, teaching and research, regulatory medicine, public health, and the uniformed services.

Private or corporate clinical practice

In the United States, approximately two-thirds of veterinarians work in private or corporate clinical practice, providing veterinary care for a wide range of species. Many treat only traditional or exotic pets such as dogs, cats, birds, small mammals (e.g., hamsters, guinea pigs), reptiles, and fish. Some veterinarians exclusively treat horses. Others treat a combination of species. Some veterinarians limit their practice to the care of farm/ranch animals and advise owners on production medicine and protecting our nation's food supply from farm to fork.

Teaching and research

Veterinarians in academia instruct veterinary students, veterinary technology students, other medical professionals, and scientists. Veterinary college faculty members conduct research, teach, provide care for animals in the veterinary teaching hospital, and develop continuing education programs to help practicing veterinarians acquire new knowledge and skills.

Research veterinarians employed at universities, colleges, governmental agencies, or in industry are finding new ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent animal and human health disorders. These veterinarians have made many important contributions to human health. For example, veterinarians made discoveries that helped control malaria and yellow fever, solved the mystery of botulism, produced an anticoagulant used to treat some people with heart disease, and identified the cause of West Nile virus infection. They also developed and refined techniques such as permanent artificial limbs and new treatments for joint disease and broken bones.

Veterinarians in pharmaceutical and biomedical research firms develop, test, and supervise the production of drugs and biological products for human and animal use. In addition to a veterinary degree, these veterinarians usually have specialized education in fields such as pharmacology, toxicology, virology, bacteriology, laboratory animal medicine, or pathology.

Veterinarians also work in management, regulatory affairs, technical sales and services, agribusinesses, pet food companies, and pharmaceutical companies. They are in demand in the agricultural chemical industry, private testing laboratories, and the feed, livestock, and poultry industries.

Regulatory medicine

To prevent the introduction of foreign diseases into the United States, veterinarians are employed by state and federal regulatory agencies to quarantine and inspect animals brought into the country. They supervise international and interstate shipments of animals; test for diseases that could threaten animal and human health or our food supply; and manage campaigns to prevent and eradicate diseases, such as tuberculosis and rabies, that pose threats to animal and human health.

Veterinarians at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) or a state department of agriculture ensure that only healthy animals enter our food supply. They see that our meat, poultry and egg products are safe for consumption through carefully monitored inspection programs.

Veterinarians in the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) monitor the development and testing of new vaccines for safety and effectiveness. USDA-APHIS veterinarians are also responsible for enforcing humane laws for the treatment of animals, protecting the health of our nation's agriculture through disease surveillance, and preventing foreign animal diseases from entering the country and endangering the nation's food supply. Other branches of the USDA, such as the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) employ veterinarians in research, research administration, and animal care.

Public health

Veterinarians serve as epidemiologists in city, county, state, and federal agencies investigating animal and human disease outbreaks such as food-borne illnesses, influenza and rabies. They help ensure the safety of food processing plants, restaurants, and water supplies. Many serve in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.

Veterinarians working in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study the effects of pesticides, industrial pollutants, and other contaminants on animals and people. At the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), veterinarians evaluate the safety and efficacy of medicines, medical products, pet foods and food additives. Veterinarians also work at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its National Library of Medicine.

More than 100 veterinarians are employed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect public health by investigating zoonotic diseases and other diseases affecting the

health of animals and people. CDC veterinarians are involved in investigating disease outbreaks throughout the world and developing programs to prevent the spread of diseases such as malaria, Ebola and avian influenza.

Veterinarians in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also protect the health and safety of animals and people through their work in developing disease surveillance and antiterrorism procedures and protocols.

Manmade and natural disasters pose significant risks to animals and humans, and veterinarians play vital roles in helping communities prepare for and recover from disasters.

Uniformed services

Veterinarians in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps are protecting the United States against bioterrorism. They are responsible for food safety, veterinary care of government-owned animals, and biomedical research and development. Officers with special education in laboratory animal medicine, pathology, microbiology, or related disciplines conduct research in the uniformed services and other governmental positions.

In the U.S. Air Force, veterinarians serve in the Biomedical Science Corps as public health officers. They manage occupational illness, food borne disease, and communicable disease control programs at Air Force bases around the world. These veterinarians promote public health through surveillance of disease trends, food safety practices, and facility sanitation.

In the uniformed services, veterinarians play a vital role rebuilding and improving animal care systems in underdeveloped and war-damaged countries. Many societies are heavily dependent upon animal agriculture, and improving the health of their animals improves the quality of life for the human community.

Other professional activities

Veterinarians are also employed in animal welfare, zoologic medicine, aquatic animal medicine, aerospace medicine (shuttle astronauts), animal shelter medicine, sports medicine, animal-assisted activity and therapy programs, and wildlife medicine. There are veterinarians involved in local, state and federal governments, working with legislators to shape laws that protect the health, welfare and well-being of animals and people.

The road to becoming a veterinarian

Students should perform well in general science and biology in junior high school and pursue a strong science, mathematics, and biology program in high school to prepare for pre-veterinary

coursework at a college or university. Before applying to veterinary college/school, students must successfully complete university level undergraduate prerequisites. Each college or school of veterinary medicine establishes its own pre-veterinary requirements, but typically these include demonstrating basic language and communication skills, and completion of courses in the social sciences, humanities, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics.

Admission to veterinary school is highly competitive, with the number of qualified applicants admitted varying from year to year. Applicants may be required to take a standardized test (for example, the Graduate Record Examination or GRE).

Most veterinary schools require applications through the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). For information about application requirements, applicant data statistics, and other admissions resources, visit www.aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas.htm

After completing the required veterinary medical curriculum and earning a veterinary degree, some graduates choose to pursue additional education in one of more than 20 AVMA-recognized veterinary specialties such as surgery, internal medicine, animal behavior, dentistry, ophthalmology, pathology or preventive medicine.

Is vVeterinary medicine right for you?

Today's veterinarians are extremely dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of animals and humans. Veterinarians are animal lovers and understand the value of animals in our families and society. Other personal attributes that contribute to a successful career in veterinary medicine are:

A scientific mind
A student interested in veterinary medicine should have an inquiring mind and keen powers of observation. Aptitude and interest in the biological sciences are important.

Good communication skills
Veterinarians must meet, talk, and work well with a variety of people. Compassion is an essential attribute for success, especially for veterinarians working with owners who form strong bonds with their animals.

Leadership experience
Many environments (e.g., clinical practice, governmental agencies, public health programs) require that veterinarians manage employees and businesses. Having basic managerial and leadership skills contribute to greater success in these work environments.

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Veterinarians: Protecting the health of animals and people

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Today's veterinarians are the only doctors educated to protect the health of both animals and people. They work hard to address the health and welfare needs of every species of animal. Veterinarians also play critical roles in environmental protection, research, food safety, and public health.

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What is the salary range for this career?

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What is the salary range for this career?

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Average pay-$90,080.

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Are you paid fairly?

Get a free, personalized salary estimate based on today's market

Recent Salary Reports

Below are the most recent veterinarian salary reports. Employer name has been removed to protect anonymity.

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Salary: Veterinarian in San Diego, CA | Glassdoor

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Are you paid fairly? Get a free, personalized salary estimate based on today's market Below are the most recent veterinarian salary reports. Employer name has been removed to protect anonymity.

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Nail trimmers, cutters, hoof grinders, speculums, ear syringes, dehorners, and scalpels.

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The medical supplies that veterinarians use to treat animals are similar to those that doctors use on human patients. These include otoscopes and ophthalmoscopes for examining the throat, ears and eyes, and aspirators and regulators for surgical procedures. Vets use other kinds of tools depending on the patients they are treating, which might be equine, companion or food animals. Some vets specialize in a certain treatment, such as dentistry, surgery, internal medicine, microbiology or pathology, and require certain equipment to complete their work.

Basic Checkups

Veterinarians use a variety of tools to perform simple checkups, dress wounds, set bones, collect body fluids for analysis or conduct short medical procedures. They use nail trimmers or cutters, hoof grinders, speculums, ear syringes or dehorners several times throughout the course of a day. Vets who work with cats may use onychectomy clippers, which are guillotine-type clippers for declawing.

Surgical Procedures

Surgical clamps, microscopes, saws, pin drivers, suction machines and catheters are frequently involved in surgeries, but vets also use equipment designed specifically for animals. For example, cattle and livestock containment chutes restrain large animals and roll to provide access to areas that are difficult to reach. Surgeries on furry animals often require veterinarians to use electric or manual razors to shave a portion of fur. Other materials include snook hooks, which are curved hooks for spaying procedures, and hemostats or tourniquets.

Vaccinations and Euthanasia

Veterinarians use needles of various sizes to vaccinate, treat or euthanize animals. The Humane Society of the United States' Euthanasia Reference Manual, for example, notes that most shelters use 25-gauge needles for euthanization. Vets may have to use animal-handling tools, such as control poles or nets, as well as identification equipment, like microchip scanners. They also keep first aid kits and eyewash stations.

Advanced Appointments

Some veterinarians provide specialized services for pets, such as artificial insemination to assist in reproduction. Insemination procedures typically include the use of ultrasound machines, insemination equipment, and blood or fertility tests. More technologically advanced services include cold laser treatments for arthritis or photo-biotherapy. Vets use 15-, 25- or 30-watt surgical lasers to perform noninvasive procedures that increase blood circulation in animals, which reduce their nerve sensitivity and pain.

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The medical supplies that veterinarians use to treat animals are similar to those that doctors use on human patients. These include otoscopes and ophthalmoscopes for examining the throat, ears and eyes, and aspirators and regulators for surgical procedures. Vets use other kinds of tools depending on the patients they are treating, which might be equine, companion or food animals.

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Where would you work? (company/location)

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Where would you work? (company/location)

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San Diego Humane Society

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In early October, HPAI was confirmed in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. As of Jan. 18, 2023, data from the USDA shows that HPAI H5N1 had been detected in at least 6,192 individual wild birds in 50 states and the District of Columbia since January of 2022. The infection had been confirmed in 316 commercial and 449 backyard domestic poultry and mixed-species flocks in 47 states, affecting a total of 58. 39 million commercial and backyard flocks. In addition to birds and poultry, H5N1 viruses have been detected in some mammals.

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In early October, HPAI was confirmed in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. As of Jan. 18, 2023, data from the USDA shows that HPAI H5N1 had been detected in at least 6,192 individual wild birds in 50 states and the District of Columbia since January of 2022.

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I would have to diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases for all pets.

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Veterinarians held about 84,500 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of veterinarians were as follows:

Most veterinarians work in private clinics and hospitals. Others travel to farms or work in settings such as laboratories, classrooms, or zoos.

Veterinarians who treat horses or food animals travel between their offices and farms and ranches. They work outdoors in all kinds of weather and may have to perform surgery, often in remote locations.

Veterinarians who work in food safety and inspection travel to farms, slaughterhouses, and food-processing plants to inspect the health of animals and to ensure that the facility follows safety protocols.

The work can be emotionally stressful, as veterinarians care for abused animals, euthanize sick ones, and offer support to the animals' anxious owners. Working on farms and ranches, in slaughterhouses, or with wildlife can also be physically demanding.

Injuries and Illnesses

When working with animals that are frightened or in pain, veterinarians risk being bitten, kicked, and scratched. In addition, veterinarians working with diseased animals risk being infected by the disease.

Work Schedules

Most veterinarians work full time, often working more than 40 hours per week. Some work nights or weekends, and they may have to respond to emergencies outside of scheduled work hours.

Veterinarians must have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from an accredited veterinary college, as well as a state license.

Education

Veterinarians must complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. A veterinary medicine program generally takes 4 years to complete and includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical components.

Admission to veterinary programs is competitive. Most applicants to veterinary school have a bachelor's degree. Veterinary medical colleges typically require applicants to have taken many science classes, including biology, chemistry, and animal science. Most programs also require math, humanities, and social science courses.

Some veterinary medical colleges prefer candidates to have experience such as previous work with veterinarians in clinics, or working with animals on a farm, at a stable, or in an animal shelter.

In veterinary medicine programs, students take courses on animal anatomy and physiology, as well as disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Most programs include 3 years of classroom, laboratory, and clinical work. Students typically spend the final year of the 4-year program doing clinical rotations in a veterinary medical center or hospital.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Veterinarians must be licensed in order to practice in the United States. Licensing requirements vary by state, but prospective veterinarians in all states must complete an accredited veterinary program and pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination.

In addition to passing the national exam, most states require that veterinarians pass a state licensing exam. However, veterinarians employed by state or federal government may not need a state license, because government agencies differ in what they require.

Each state's exam covers its laws and regulations. Few states accept licenses from other states, so veterinarians usually must take exams for the states in which they want to be licensed.

The American Veterinary Medical Association has an Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) certification program, which allows foreign graduates to fulfill the educational prerequisites for licensure.

Personality and Interests

Veterinarians typically have an interest in the Building and Thinking interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Building interest area indicates a focus on working with tools and machines, and making or fixing practical things. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws.

If you are not sure whether you have a Building or Thinking interest which might fit with a career as a veterinarian, you can take a career test to measure your interests.

Veterinarians should also possess the following specific qualities:

Compassion. Veterinarians must be compassionate when working with animals and their owners. They must treat animals with kindness and respect, and must be sensitive when dealing with the owners of sick pets.

Decision-making skills. Veterinarians must decide the correct method for treating the injuries and illnesses of animals. Deciding to euthanize a sick animal, for instance, can be difficult.

Interpersonal skills. Strong communication skills are essential for veterinarians, who must be able to discuss their recommendations and explain treatment options to animal owners and give instructions to their staff.

Management skills. Management skills are important for veterinarians who are in charge of running private clinics or laboratories, or directing teams of technicians or inspectors. In these settings, they are responsible for providing direction, delegating work, and overseeing daily operations.

Manual dexterity. Manual dexterity is important for veterinarians, because they must control their hand movements and be precise when treating injuries and performing surgery.

Problem-solving skills. Veterinarians need strong problem-solving skills because they must figure out what is ailing animals. Those who test animals to determine the effects of drug therapies also need excellent diagnostic skills.

The median annual wage for veterinarians was $95,460 in May 2019. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $58,080, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $160,780.

In May 2019, the median annual wages for veterinarians in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most veterinarians work full time, often working more than 40 hours per week. Some work nights or weekends, and they may have to respond to emergencies outside of scheduled work hours.

Employment of veterinarians is projected to grow 18 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Increases in consumers' pet-related spending are expected to drive employment in the veterinary services industry, which employs most veterinarians.

Veterinary medicine has advanced considerably. Today's veterinarians are able to offer many services that are comparable to healthcare for humans, including more complicated procedures such as cancer treatments and kidney transplants.

Job Prospects

Overall job prospects are expected to be very good.

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Veterinarians held about 84,500 jobs in 2018. The largest employers of veterinarians were as follows: Most veterinarians work in private clinics and hospitals. Others travel to farms or work in settings such as laboratories, classrooms, or zoos. Veterinarians who treat horses or food animals travel between their offices and farms and ranches.

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I would have to complete a four year undergraduate degree and earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.

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Maybe you've wanted to help animals your whole life, or maybe you just realized you want to practice veterinary medicine recently. Now that you've landed on this career path, you need to know which types of skills, degrees, and certifications you need to become a veterinarian. In this guide, we'll clearly lay out all the answers to your most pressing veterinary career questions.

What Skills Do You Need to Have?

To be a successful veterinarian, you'll need to have a passion for helping animals live better and happier lives. You should have a general interest in medicine and healing, and you should also have a scientific, analytical mindset that allows you to incorporate lots of information. There are a variety of skills you'll hone along your path to becoming a full-fledged veterinarian, but here are a few of the core disciplines you'll need to start honing now if you want to pursue veterinary medicine in the future:

1. Anatomy

An understanding of basic animal anatomy is essential to becoming a successful veterinarian. During high school, it might be hard to find courses focusing specifically on animal anatomy, but as soon as you start pursuing your undergraduate degree, you'll gain access to animal anatomy courses that aspiring veterinarians just like you will be taking to hone their skills.

2. Biology

The more you understand about biology, the better you'll be able to pursue your career path as a veterinarian. A vet's day-to-day professional life focuses more on animal behavior and common animal maladies, but understanding the core principles of biology will prepare you for the specialized studies you'll need to undertake as part of your career path.

3. Animal Behavior

Understanding how animals behave is one of the core aspects of being a veterinarian. Since animals can't speak and tell us what's wrong, veterinarians need to learn how to recognize the non-verbal cues animals provide that can relate information on their symptoms and underlying conditions.

What Degree Do You Need?

To become a full-fledged veterinarian, you'll need to complete a four-year undergraduate degree and earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. This degree is commonly abbreviated as a DVM or a VMD, and it takes four years to earn.

In some cases, a DVM program might accept applicants who haven't completed their undergraduate degrees. To be eligible for one of these special programs, you must pursue veterinary-related courses during the first two or three years of your undergraduate studies. Once you've entered your DVM program, you'll study subjects including:

* Veterinary practice

* Animal health and disease

* Veterinary psychology

* Gross anatomy

* Radiology

* Parasitology

* Pharmacology

Do You Need Any Certifications or Licenses?

Veterinarians everywhere in the United States must be licensed to practice legally. You can only acquire your veterinary license after you have completed an accredited DVM program, and you'll also have to pass a certification exam. A variety of entities provide certification exams for aspiring veterinarians, but the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) is considered to be the best exam for easy certification.

How Long Does Veterinarian Training Take?

In most cases, you will need to study for eight years to become a veterinarian. During your first four years of studies, you'll pursue an undergraduate degree that includes coursework related to your desired career. Then, you'll spend four more years pursuing your DVM degree.

In most cases, it's possible to take your exam and become licensed immediately after you complete your DVM program. Keep in mind that your DVM program will involve intensive training in clinical environments. In this training, you'll gain on-the-job experience and meet contacts who will help you further your career after you graduate.

If you make it into an accelerated program, you may be able to complete your DVM and become certified in six or seven years. To do so, you'll need to cut your undergraduate degree short and enroll in a special DVM program.

How Much Will You Make as a Veterinarian?

In 2018, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that veterinarians made an average salary of $93,830. The lowest 10 percent of veterinarians made $56,540, and the highest 10 percent made an average of $162,450. These statistics show that there is immense pay variation within the veterinary medicine field; depending on where you practice and your experience, your annual salary could vary by as much as $100,000.

What Are Your Job Prospects as a Veterinarian?

The BLS reports that the veterinary industry is growing much faster than the average growth rate of all industries in the United States. While most jobs are projected to grow by seven percent between 2016 and 2026, veterinary jobs are expected to grow by 19 percent during this same window.

These statistics indicate that it's a great time to become a veterinarian. Even if you start on your career path today, there will be far more jobs open when you're done in eight years than there will be in other disciplines. In 2016, there were only 79,600 veterinary jobs in the United States, but in 2026, there will be 94,600.

How Do You Find Work as a Veterinarian?

The contacts you make during your studies will play a key role in your ability to find a job once you graduate. During your clinical studies, you'll meet a lot of veterinarians who already work in the field, and some of them might work in large companies that are seeking to add more human assets.

Even if you decide to open your own practice immediately after graduating, knowing people in the field will help you with professional networking and support. Knowing the colleagues you will interact with at conferences before you graduate will be a huge plus. If you're unable to start your own practice and none of your contacts pan out, you can always apply for open veterinary positions in your area.

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What Degree Do You Need To Be A Veterinarian

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Maybe you've wanted to help animals your whole life, or maybe you just realized you want to practice veterinary medicine recently. Now that you've landed on this career path, you need to know which types of skills, degrees, and certifications you need to become a veterinarian.

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Years ago, sheep herder’s dogs got sick and needed someone to treat them.

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The history of veterinary medicine has seen tremendous change over the past 100 years. It's hard for us to remember that there was a time, not that long ago, when cats, dogs, rabbits, and other domestic animals weren't cared for by a veterinarian.

In fact, it wasn't until the early 1900s that pets began to more commonly receive medical care. Horses that were the primary focus of veterinary medical care, though, as they also served a function as transportation.

Oakland Veterinary Referral Services explores ways the field has changed and how far the history of veterinary medicine has come!

The Early Roots of Veterinary Medicine

The first known veterinary practice came into being in 9,000 BC in the Middle East. Sheep herders used rudimentary medical skills to treat their animals, which included the dogs that watched over their herds. Thousands of years later, in Egypt between 4,000 - 3,000 BC, medical treatment of animals became more common, but was still largely undeveloped. Ancient humans began domesticating cats, fowl, and dogs, and their owners considered them as members of their household-like many of us do today.

In approximately 1,900 BC, someone captured the first written accounts of veterinary medicine in four sacred Hindu texts. Within these texts, two distinct writings outlined the fields of human and animal medicine. Millennia later, in 1850, archaeologists discovered fragments of an ancient veterinary medical textbook made of papyrus. This text covers diseases relating to birds, cattle, dogs, and fish. Horses were the primary focus of ancient medical care as they were economically important for transportation, agriculture, and trade.

The Last Few Centuries of Veterinary History

In the 1760s, Claude Bourgelat established the first school of veterinary medicine in Lyon, France. Popular modern thought is that this was the founding of veterinary medicine, despite some level of animal medicine predating 9,000 BC. With the opening of the school in France, the scientific study of veterinary medicine was officially born.

As human medicine flourished and progressed through the last few centuries, so did veterinary medicine. In the 1700 and 1800s, we discovered treatments for cholera, Typhoid fever, and tuberculosis. We could then apply those treatments to protecting farm animals from these same deadly diseases. In Britain, the field of veterinary medicine had its roots in the Odiham Agricultural Society. The Society was the first to apply scientific principles to the treatment of animals. From there, another institution was born, the London Veterinary College, in 1791.

In America in 1863, the American Veterinary Medical Association came into being as a way to promote the field. Its purpose was to oversee the advancement of veterinary medicine and its practitioners. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added a Veterinary Medical Branch in 1965 to oversee veterinary pharmaceuticals. It later became the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). The work of the CVM is still essential in that it oversees regulations relating to food, medicine, and other products for animals.

The Rise of Technology

Despite these advancements, only in the past 30 years has there been a huge shift in veterinary medicine. We've moved away from a focus on medical care only for livestock. Veterinarians opened thousands of animal hospitals devoted to the care of cats and dogs and other small pets. These small, furry creatures have moved into our homes and hearts and have family status.

Advancements in veterinary technology and diagnostics continue to improve our ability to detect diseases early. This motivated regular wellness exams to catch help prevent disease or detect it early. Wellness and preventive care allows us to give our pets a better chance of good health and a higher quality of life. Using tools like digital radiology, advanced diagnostic and surgical equipment, and pharmaceuticals, we are better equipped to successfully treat them and keep them living longer.

Attitudes about animals and their status have also prompted changes in how we view wellness care. It now includes things such as dental cleanings, grooming, and alternative treatments like massage and acupuncture. Thirty years ago, the only veterinary equipment for diagnosis was the x-ray. We now have digital x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, advanced laboratory testing, laparoscopic technology, and more.

Anesthesia and anesthetic monitoring for animals has also made leaps and bounds, making surgery safer and more effective for our pets. With a better understanding of animal pain, we are able to manage pain and discomfort in our pets with new medications and alternative therapies. New treatments for cancer mean we can frequently give pet owners much more time with their pets, and give the pets a good quality of life during those extra months or years.

Along with these medical changes, technology now enables us to communicate with our patients in ways that increase speed, convenience, and efficiency. Texting, online booking, apps-we're much more connected. There is no aspect of veterinary medicine or care that has not changed. The use of new technologies continues to increase the speed of change. Those changes make it possible for us to care for our animal companions with increasing success.

The team at OVRS is amazed to consider the history of veterinary medicine and its ongoing evolution. We are at the forefront of veterinary medicine and take full advantage of medical and technological advances. Our specialists push those boundaries to ensure that our patients have the best care available. If you have any questions relating to our therapies and services, please do not hesitate to call.

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Retrospective: A Brief History of Veterinary Medicine

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The history of veterinary medicine has seen huge change, especially in the past 30 years. It isn't long since we didn't value pets as members of the family.