Veterinary Surgeon

Also known as:

Surgeon, Veterinary
Vet

Introduction

Veterinary surgeons diagnose and treat animals to prevent disease, cure illness and injuries, and improve their general state of health. Vets may specialise in the treatment of domestic pets or farm livestock and horses. Routine duties include immunising animals, 'putting down' sick/old or unwanted animals, and giving owners advice.

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Work Activities

Veterinary surgeons diagnose and treat animals to prevent disease, cure illness and injuries, and improve their general state of health. By far the largest proportion of vets work in general practice. Vets in towns may specialise in the treatment of domestic pets whereas vets in rural areas may deal mostly with farm livestock and horses. However, it is common to work in a mixed practice combining the treatment of pets and farm animals.

Whatever the type of practice, routine duties include immunising animals against diseases, 'putting down' animals that are sick, old or unwanted and advising owners on aspects of welfare, such as feeding and breeding.

Vets in rural practices direct artificial insemination programmes on farms. They also interpret health and productivity records to help them work out disease control programmes. Vets in rural areas also travel in the local area, for example, to visit farms.

All vets perform surgical operations and may undertake post-mortems to find out the cause of an animal's death.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a veterinary surgeon you must have a real concern for the welfare of animals. You must not be squeamish, as you will have to work in the presence of blood and excrement. You must also have an objective attitude to animal welfare - sometimes you might have to put down an animal to prevent suffering.

You must not be allergic to animals.

You also need good communication skills and the ability to be sympathetic and understanding when dealing with pet owners.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Veterinary surgeons with one or two years experience can earn around £25,000 - £30,000, which can include allowances for accommodation, fuel, continued training and professional membership fees.

Experienced vets can earn around £30,000 - £40,000 a year. More senior veterinary surgeons, earn around £45,000 - £60,000, and higher earnings are possible for partners in general practice.

Locum vets earn around £160 - £180 a day.

Veterinary surgeons in private practice usually work around a 46-hour week. However, work at weekends and on-call duties may be required. Part-time and temporary posts may be available.

Employers throughout the UK are:
• the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
• the Scottish Department of the Environment
• private veterinary general practices (vets in general practice may also do some work for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on a part-time basis)
• commercial firms doing research work with firms manufacturing agricultural feedstuffs and pharmaceutical products.

Research and teaching positions are available within the UK veterinary schools.

There are also opportunities in zoos, safari parks, riding stables, the armed forces and with animal welfare organisations such as the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in England and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Scottish SPCA).

This is a popular career choice and there is severe competition for training places.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Some applicants to university veterinary schools have gained work experience of handling animals.

Some adult entrants to degree courses in veterinary science are graduates in a related science subject, such as zoology or biochemistry.

• 30% of veterinary surgeons are self-employed.
• 6% work part-time.
• 10% have flexible hours.

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