Veterinary Medicine Whats it all about Grades 7

Veterinary Medicine What’s it all about? Grades 7 -12

Areas of Veterinary Medicine q q q Private Practice Teaching & Research Regulatory Medicine Public Health Uniformed Services Industry

Private Practice Ø Examine animal patients Ø Vaccinate against infectious diseases Ø Diagnose diseases Ø Perform medical & surgical treatments Ø Prevent transmission of disease Ø Advise owners how to keep their pets healthy

Companion & Exotic Animal Practice s n a ibi h p Am Ferr ets s t n Dogs Birds Fish Cats s e s or H Rep tile e d Ro s Ra s t i bb

Food Animal Practice

Mixed Animal Practice

Species-Specific Animal Practice

Veterinary Specialists Dentistry Surgery

Pets in the United States 59 million 53 million 3. 5 million 4. 8 million 4 million 5. 7 million 2007 US Pet Ownership & Demographic Sourcebook, AVMA 55. 6 million 13 million

Teaching & Research

Teaching & Research Ø Prevent & solve health problems in animals and people Ø Develop ways to reduce or eliminate threat of disease

Regulatory Medicine Ø Quarantine & inspect animals brought into the United States Ø Test for presence of disease & supervise animal shipments Ø Enforce animal welfare laws

Public Health Ø Study effects of pesticides & other pollutants Ø Make sure medicines & food additives are safe and effective Ø Investigate disease outbreaks Ø Evaluate safety of food processing and water supply

Where can these veterinarians work? • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) • Food & Drug Administration (FDA) • Department of Homeland Security (DHS) • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) • Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) • Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)

Uniformed Services Ø Manage infectious diseases control programs Ø Monitor & control insect-borne diseases Ø Manage human disease vaccination programs

Industry Ø Develop, test & supervise production of drugs, chemicals and vaccines

The Possibilities are Endless! Where do veterinarians work? • Aquariums • Classrooms • Farms • Hospitals and clinics • Laboratories • Zoos …almost anywhere!

High School Preparation § Good grades in math & science § Experience working with animals § Communication skills § Leadership skills

How do you get experience? • Volunteer • Shadow a veterinarian • Join a club like 4 -H or FFA

College Preparation § Study math & science § Veterinary and animal-related experience § Join a pre-veterinary club § Complete preveterinary coursework

Admission to Veterinary School • Good Grades in math & science courses • Veterinary and animal–related experience

U. S. Veterinary Medical Colleges

Veterinary Technicians • Work closely with the veterinarian • Restrain animals • Perform certain procedures and tests • Administer treatments and monitor patients …and much more!

Many Opportunities

Additional Resources American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) www. avma. org Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) www. aavmc. org National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) www. navta. net © copyright 2010 AVMA All rights reserved