The following are examples of types of veterinarians:

• Companion animal veterinarians treat pets and generally work in private clinics and hospitals. They most often care for cats and dogs, but they also treat other pets, such as birds, ferrets, and rabbits. These veterinarians diagnose and provide treatment for animal health problems; consult with animal owners about preventive healthcare; and carry out medical and surgical procedures, such as vaccinations, dental work, and setting fractures.
• Food animal veterinarians work with farm animals such as pigs, cattle, and sheep, which are raised to be food sources. They spend their time visiting farms and ranches to treat ill and injured animals and to test for and vaccinate against disease. They may advise farm owners or managers about feeding, housing, and general health practices.
• Food safety and inspection veterinarians inspect and test livestock and animal products for major animal diseases. They also provide vaccines to treat animals, enhance animal welfare, conduct research to improve animal health, and enforce government food safety regulations. They design and administer animal and public health programs to prevent and control diseases transmissible among animals and between animals and people.

Source: United States Department of Labor: Occupational Outlook Handbook. 26 April 2012. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 11 July 2013 http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinarians.htm#tab-1.

Careers where graduates of veterinary medical schools can apply their DVM/VMD degrees:

• Private practice
• Corporate veterinary medicine
• The Federal Government
• The U.S Army Corps and U.S. Air Force
• Research
• Teaching, either in academic or non-professional schools
• Public Health
• Food supply medicine
• Global Veterinary Medicine
• Public Policy
• Shelter medicine

**For more information on each career visit the AAVMC.

In the United States, accredited veterinary schools award veterinarians either a DVM or VMD degree at the end of their training. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree and the Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris (VMD) degree are essentially the same degree. The difference is that the VMD degree is only awarded to veterinarians by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, in Philadelphia, PA. VMD’s and DVM’s receive similar training and must complete a rigorous four-year curriculum to practice veterinary medicine.

You MUST become a veterinarian before you can become a veterinary specialist. Some veterinarians elect to proceed with an optional residency, such as surgery, dermatology, internal medicine, ophthalmology, or a variety of other specialties. There are 22 AVMA-Recognized Veterinary Specialty Organizations comprising 46 distinct AVMA-Recognized Veterinary Specialties. More than 16,500 veterinarians have been awarded Diplomate status in one or more of these specialty organizations after completing rigorous postgraduate training, education, and examination requirements. Board-certified veterinary specialists serve animals and the public through collaboration and teamwork with primary care veterinarians, human medical professionals, research scientists, and public health officials. Visit the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine) or DACVS (Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons for more information.