Careers in veterinary medicine

PETS

We can find pets in most families, sometimes they are considered as family members. The most common pets are: dogs, cats, mice, turtles, budgerigars and hamsters. People love them and keep them for their love and company.

Many children ask their parents for a pet, but not every child is ready for the responsibility. Don’t forget that pets are not only fun, but take serious work. Pets rely on people to take care of them, so owning a pet means caring for another life. Wild animals are different from pets because they can take care of themselves and live independently of people. Pets, on the other hand, need people to feed and care for them. Like people, pets need water and food. Pets should always have plenty of fresh water available to them. Some pets (e.g. dogs) need to be walked several times a day. Some species of snakes only need to eat once a week. It is important to understand that different pets have different needs and require different care.

Pets also need proper shelter to survive. Reptiles, amphibians, insects, and fish need properly equipped tanks to survive. Pets that live outside should have a safe, warm place where they can sleep, rest and stay during bad weather.

Training is also an important part of owning a pet. Training a dog to sit, stay, and come will prevent it from running into busy streets.

Moreover, cleaning up after pets is an important job. A clean pet is a healthy pet. Grooming and picking up after a pet are important. Taking the pet to the veterinarian that treats pets, is also an important part of having a pet. Vaccinations or injections that prevent the animal from getting diseases are necessary.

Finding the right pet is crucial. Pets that need little supervision, such as fish and spiders, may be more appropriate for children and families who do not have a lot of free time. Dogs may be right for active children and families. Small rodents, such as mice, may be good for families in small homes or apartments.

KEEPING PETS SAFE

Before you get your new pet, you need to find out all you can about it - what kind of food, when to feed, when to go to the vet, where is the nearest dog training centre (only if you are getting a dog of course - I don't think they train spiders or mice or even crocodiles!)

A well-behaved and trained dog is easier to handle and much more pleasant to have around than a dog which jumps up, pulls on a lead and is a total embarrassment when other people are around. Young animals like to check out anything new to them with their eyes, claws, tongues and teeth.

It's a bit like having a baby around. You have to think for them and make sure that they can't get at anything which could harm them.

Make sure that electric cords are out of their reach, or cover any cords that are near the ground with something they can't chew through.

Don't give them human medicines. If your pet has a cough, your cough mixture could make it ill.

Keep all medicines - human or pet - out of your pet's reach. Like babies, they will taste everything they see, and they can't read the label either.

Only give your pets treats that are specially made for them. Yes, I know pets think they should share your treats but chocolates and chewing gum can make them ill.

Look around your yard for danger to your pet. Are there any holes, gaps in concrete, drains or swimming pools that your pet could fall into or get stuck in? (If you have a compost heap, it's a good idea to cover it up, as some pets I have known just love rolling in anything smelly!)

Make sure there are no poisons, like snail bait, where your pet could go. Snail bait is very poisonous for dogs and cats.

Be careful to keep your toys away from your pet, as small pieces could get stuck in your pet's throat.

Don't let your pets wander around the district without you. They could get hurt or catch diseases from other animals.

Teach pets to 'do the right things'. If you let your cute puppy jump onto the furniture, will you be happy for him to do the same when he's a fully-grown dog? I don't think so!

Don't leave your dog in a car when the weather is hot.

Give your pet lots of exercise.

As you can see, there are lots of things to think about before you bring a pet into your home.

BREEDING

Animal husbandry is the science of looking after and breeding animals — specifically those that are used in agriculture, to provide products, for research purposes or as domestic pets. The subject covers a wide range of activities, including care and grooming, livestock farming, accommodation and hygiene. The study also overlaps with many other disciplines, such as agriculture, veterinary science and genetics. Not all people involved in husbandry will necessarily take part in all these activities or require knowledge of other disciplines. In many parts of the world, people are essentially practicing animal husbandry through being farmers, ranchers, sheepherders, or simply taking care of large groups of livestock.

As farm animals became domesticated, and as humans began to keep certain species as pets, breeding techniques developed that allowed the creation and maintenance, over many generations, of desirable characteristics. These might include a docile temperament, high milk yield in cattle, or hunting and tracking skills in dogs. The idea was to identify useful traits and breed suitable animals with one another. Offspring with the correct characteristics would then be selected for further breeding. Today, these techniques have been improved by knowledge of genetics, and augmented by new methods, such as artificial insemination and the transfer of embryos to surrogate mothers.

As of 2013, one of the biggest growth areas may be the genetic engineering of livestock. This allows the creation of animals with improved characteristics through the transfer of genetic material. It can achieve the desired results much more quickly than selective breeding, and opens up many new possibilities. It may be possible to not only improve meat and milk yields, but to provide healthier and more nutritious food, and even to farm animals that produce useful drugs.

ANIMAL WELFARE

The emphasis on greater productivity and reduced costs in agriculture has led to controversy over some farming methods. Some specialists in animal husbandry have looked into ways of reducing the space requirements for accommodation, modifications to produce more docile animals, and genetic alterations or drug injections to increase yield. The introduction of bovine stimulating hormone (BSH) to increase milk production in cows is one example. Other experts believe feel that goals in raising stock should always be focused on humane caring for livestock. Many have argued for a “free-range” approach and for organic farming methods that do not involve the use of drugs or hormone injections.

Controversial Practices

In the quest to produce animals that are ideally suited to their purpose, a number of controversial practices have arisen. These include the de-horning of cattle; the tail docking, ear cropping and debarking of dogs; and the declawing of domestic cats. Those in favor of these techniques put forward a number of arguments. For example, dehorning of cattle may be performed to prevent injury to people working with them, and for the animals’ own safety. Opponents, however, argue that many of these methods are cruel, that they deprive creatures of their natural defenses or means of communication, and that they are unnecessary as they are often done for purely aesthetic reasons.

CAREERS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE

Every community needs veterinary professionals to provide animal health care, but veterinarians also do many other kinds of jobs. They make sure the nation's food supply is safe. They work to control the spread of diseases. They conduct research that helps both animals and humans. Veterinarians are at the forefront of protecting the public's health and welfare.

Besides medical skills, veterinarians often take a holistic approach to human well-being and animal welfare that, combined with communications and problem-solving skills, makes veterinarians uniquely qualified to fulfill a variety of roles. Many veterinarians, of course, provide care for companion animals through private medical practices, but veterinarians are also involved in promoting the health and welfare of farm animals, exotic animals, working animals (like those in the equine industry), and those that need a healthy environment in which to thrive, whether that environment is a rain forest, a desert or even the ocean.

Many veterinarians are engaged in work at the intersection of both human and animal health. For example, veterinarians play an important role in food safety, where epidemiological research is crucial to forecasting the threat of food-borne diseases and outbreaks. They work to keep cattle and other food animals healthy by developing and testing various farm control methods that help to detect, limit, and prevent the spread of food that might be contaminated by salmonella, e coli or other pathogens. And they’re often on the front lines of surveillance where their extensive medical training can help them to detect and treat the outbreak of diseases that have the potential to make the jump from animals to humans.

THE VETERINARY PROFESSION

Veterinarians care for pets, livestock, sporting and laboratory animals, and protect humans against diseases carried by animals. Veterinarians diagnose medical problems, dress wounds, set broken bones, perform surgery, prescribe and administer medicines, and vaccinate animals against diseases. They also advise owners on care and breeding. Most veterinarians are in private practice. Some have a general practice, treating all kinds of animals. The majority, however, just treat small companion animals such as dogs, cats, and birds. Others treat both small and larger animals, and some treat only large animals, such as cattle and horses. Veterinarians in companion animal medicine provide services in 20,000 animal hospitals or clinics. Veterinarians for large animals treat and care for cattle, horses, sheep, and swine. They also advise ranchers and farmers on the care, breeding, and management of livestock. Others specialize in fish and poultry. Veterinarians contribute to human as well as health. A number of veterinarians engage in research, food safety inspection, or education. Some work with physicians and scientists on research to prevent and treat diseases in humans. Veterinarians are also in regulatory medicine or public health. Those who are livestock inspectors check animals for disease, advise owners on treatment, and may quarantine animals. Veterinarians who are meat inspectors examine slaughtering and processing plants, check live animals and carcasses for disease, and enforce government food purity as well as sanitation regulations. Some veterinarians care for zoo or aquarium animals or for laboratory animals. Veterinarians help prevent the outbreak and spread of animal diseases, some of which like rabies can be transmitted to humans, and perform autopsies on diseased animals. Some specialize in epidemiology or animal pathology to control diseases transmitted through food animals and to deal with problems of residues from herbicides, pesticides, and antibiotics in animals used for food.