1. Veterinary Medicine
What’s it all about?

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

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

4. Companion & Exotic Animal Practice
Amphibians
Ferrets
Rabbits
Birds
Rodents
Fish
Horses
Reptiles
Cats
Dogs

5. Food Animal Practice

6. Mixed Animal Practice

7. Species-Specific Animal Practice

8. Veterinary Specialists
Dentistry
Surgery

9. Pets in the United States
59 million
55.6 million
3.5 million
4.8 million
4 million
13 million
5.7 million
53 million
2007 US Pet Ownership & Demographic Sourcebook, AVMA

10. Teaching & Research

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

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

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

14. 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)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

22. U.S. Veterinary Medical Colleges

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

24. National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
Additional Resources
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)
National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
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