Focus on veterinary surgeons
Last updated 19:48, Thursday, 21 August 2008
VETERINARY surgeons work to safeguard the health and welfare of animals.
In general practice they are responsible for the prevention of disease and for the medical and surgical treatment of pets and animals in homes, farms, zoos and wildlife parks.
Most practices specialise according to their location in either a rural or urban area.
Vets combine their knowledge of animal physiology, nutrition and medicine with practical surgical skills to diagnose illnesses, prescribe medicines, manage anaesthesia and radiography, and perform surgery.
Vets are also employed in other sectors, such as education and research, government agencies, animal charities and pharmaceutical companies.
Most general practice work is undertaken either in the surgery in consultations with owners and their animals, or in animals’ living environments (such as farms, stables or owners’ homes).
Typical work could include:
handling, examining and treating all species of animals
meeting and consulting with animal owners
carrying out diagnostic tests, such as x-rays, blood samples and scans
giving advice to farmers on issues such as breeding, nutrition and herd health
undertaking routine visits to farms to check the health of livestock
mmunising animals against disease
euthanasing old, sick or terminally ill and unwanted animals
caring for in-patient animals, including examining and advice
dealing with out-of-hours emergencies when on call
providing suitable paperwork for animals travelling abroad
inserting identification microchips into animals
maintaining records, preparing reports and certificates in compliance with current legislation.
Vets working as practice partners have the additional responsibility of managing practice finances, promoting the surgery to clients, and recruiting and managing veterinary surgeons, nurses and receptionists.
Vets working for government agencies may research diseases, test and manage infection outbreaks or food safety, and complete paperwork for pet passports.
Salary and Conditions
SALARY levels for new graduates depend greatly on the size and location of the practices they work for. A package for newly qualified vets can start from £30,000 and include accommodation, car, fuel allowance for private use, professional fees and a continuing professional development (CPD) allowance.
Experienced vets can earn around £48,000, and senior partners may earn over £50,000, depending on the size of their practice.
Every veterinary surgeon has an obligation to deal with emergencies in any species at any time – most practices offer a 24-hour, 365 days a year service.
Work is often on a rota system – veterinary surgeons rarely work a nine-to-five day.
There are more vacancies than the number of vets seeking employment, so finding a job is not hard, provided you are flexible and willing to relocate. The job may be physically demanding, carries a high level of responsibility and may be stressful.
Entry Requirements
A DEGREE in veterinary science or medicine and registration as a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is required to practise as a veterinary surgeon in the UK and the European Union.
The six institutions offering relevant degrees are the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool and the Royal Veterinary College, London.
Nottingham University has set up a veterinary degree course and is awaiting RCVS recognition.
Degree courses are five years in length (six at Cambridge). Applicants are expected to pay full fees which will depend on individual circumstances, so applicants should check with the institutions where they intend to study.
Standard entry requires good A-level grades, with chemistry usually a requirement in addition to two other subjects, usually biology, physics or mathematics.
Entry on to courses with an HND only is not usually possible unless supported by the required A-levels or evidence of the equivalent knowledge.
Graduates and diploma-holders are advised to discuss their applications with veterinary schools’ admission tutors.
Pre-entry experience is essential. All veterinary schools require candidates to show evidence of their interest and commitment through periods of work experience involving handling animals, including livestock.
This might include experience in veterinary practices, farms, stables, or kennels. Experience of handling horses and helping with lambing may also be useful.
As well as scientific ability and animal handling skills, candidates will need to show evidence of excellent communication skills, particularly when dealing with clients in difficult circumstances; a flexible approach; an understanding that economic realities will affect how you undertake your work, for example, you will need to understand the commercial priorities of farmers when treating farm animals; the ability to deal tactfully and sympathetically with animals and pet owners.
Animal welfare societies, such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), offer good opportunities to build up experience.
Training
CPD is a mandatory and key part of career development. The RCVS recommends a minimum of 105 hours’ CPD over a three-year period.
The RCVS Professional Development Phase (PDP) will provide a structured approach to help judge professional competences in small animal, equine or production animal practice.
It is possible to gain diplomas and certificates in a range of clinical specialities while working in a practice.
A certificate takes around two years to complete. Certificates cover a wide range of areas, including ophthalmology, cardiology and orthopaedics.
The RCVS has introduced modular certificates, which are designed to be accessible to all vets and encourage lifelong learning. There may also be the opportunity to train to become a local veterinary inspector (LVI). Most practices have a trained LVI who is qualified to test for TB and rabies, and to issue the documentation for animals to travel abroad.
Newly qualified veterinary surgeons usually work as assistants for some time before being offered the opportunity to become a partner or a principal. However, many practices are now owned by large companies that employ vets on a salary basis, which has decreased partnership opportunities.
There are opportunities to increase specialisation, either in existing practices or in practices noted for expertise in a particular field, such as equine medicine, small animal surgery or dermatology.
Further training is required for these specialisations, which may lead to a diploma.
With further training and extensive professional experience, and by publishing articles on your chosen area, it is possible to gain Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Recognised Specialist Status. Recognised specialists offer consultation in their chosen field.
There are also opportunities to work for employers such as animal welfare societies and government services, for example in the Veterinary Laboratories Agency or the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), which is focused on the licensing of veterinary medicines.
Vets may undertake research, teaching and academic work in universities, research institutes and pharmaceutical companies.
Veterinary research leads to a greater understanding of how diseases originate and spread, and what effect this has on animals.
