How To Be A Veterinarian Essay

My first childhood thought of a veterinarian was of a doctor for animals. I loved the thought of spending the day with animals and telling people I saved their pet. However, as I matured and learned more about what it takes to be a veterinarian, my mindset of it changed. It’s not just putting a Band-Aid on a kitten or delivering puppies. It’s one of the grittiest and challenging jobs that take a toll on the person performing it and even their family. A veterinarian has to perform many gory duties such as examining an animal corpse to determine the cause of death, collecting bodily fluids such as urine, feces, and blood for testing, and operating surgeries on numerous species (OK Career Guide). A veterinarian has to face death almost everyday and studies show that they are 4 times at higher risk of committing suicide (Veterinarian Technician). Not only that, but it can also be physically dangerous. Animal attacks, infection, and malpractice suits are all risks of being a veterinarian (Veterinarian Technician). Family life can also be negatively affected by being a veterinarian. Due to the uncertain schedule and often having to work on weekends and through nights, it can cause stress in a …show more content…
The national annual salary, for instance, is $75, 355 (Pay Scale). With experience, this amount grows, as a veterinarian with 20+ years of experience will receive an average of $90,000, while a green one with only 5 years or less will receive $70,000 (Pay Scale). Not including the money, there’s also the emotional benefit. “When a vet saves an animal’s life or cures the animal of pain or other symptoms, he not only restores the pet’s well-being, he also restores the well-being of the animal 's human companions, who often consider their pets another family member,” an article by the magazine Chron states (Chron). This emotional benefit helps counteract the pain from the negative impact of being a