The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) reports that at this time there are thirty Colleges of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) in the United States that are accredited for training and graduating nearly 3,000 students each year.

Advice for Training

The AAVMC advises students who are interested in pursuing veterinary medicine studies:

• To pay close attention to the required undergraduate prerequisites
• To prepare in their undergraduate work for the rigid science requirements of the CVM by working through science courses up through biochemistry
• To understand that advanced math courses are expected

The AAVMC also noted that CVM are looking for students who have non-technical skills, and suggests a strong foundation in communications and writing courses. These abilities are essential to becoming a professional business person. Field experience is also important, and students should expect to fulfill a minimum of 400 hours of animal-related activities such as volunteering in a shelter, working in a veterinary office, or working in a research lab.

Job Growth

The U.S. Bureau of Labor foresees a 27.6 percent job growth in 2016 for those in the veterinary field. One explanation for the predicted job growth focuses on the advancements being made in specialty fields of veterinary medicine which include such procedures as:

• Cancer treatments
• Blood transfusions
• Hip replacements
• Preventive dental care
• Prosthetics
• 3-D printing that allows for new types of medical procedures

Specialized Fields of Veterinary Medicine

The strong job market outlook is partially influenced by two trending issues found in veterinary medicine:

• Owner affluence
• Owner belief that the pet is a member of the family and health care considerations should be viewed as if it were a human

Students trained in nontraditional or specialty veterinary services will find more opportunities for employment as owners continue to want the best and the latest in care for their pets. Specializing in a field of veterinary medicine requires additional training and testing. When treating a pet for a health problem that requires equipment or expertise not available within the veterinary clinic, a referral is made to a veterinary specialist in much the same way as with human care.

Specialty Fields

Specialty fields are determined by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties, and include areas such as the following:

• Anesthesia
• Dentistry
• Dermatology
• Emergency Care
• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Nutrition
• Ophthalmology
• Pharmacology
• Radiology
• Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Surgery
• Toxicology

Specialty Practice

Certain species of animals require specialty clinical practice veterinarians for their care. These include, for example, the following:

• Avian
• Equine
• Beef cattle
• Canine
• Feline
• Exotic companion mammals
• Dairy
• Goat
• Reptile and amphibian
• Swine health
• Zoological medicine

Other Career Options

Veterinary medicine also provides opportunities for careers outside of the private practice. For example, The U.S. Department of Agriculture employs a large number through its Food Safety and Inspection Service to provide research that protects the health and welfare of its public. Areas that provide employment for those within the veterinary medicine include:

• Scientific and technical services
• Colleges, universities and professional schools
• Social advocacy organizations
• Scientific research and development services
• Various government departments

As technology continues to merge with the science of veterinary medicine to change the outlook of traditional services in animal care, the opportunities for those in the veterinary medical field will continue to grow at a rapid pace.

Interested in learning more about the trends in veterinary medicine? Contact your Covetrus representative today by calling 855.724.3461.