Training to become a vet requires a lot of discipline and hard work, including studying for a five year degree. Many vets choose to spend a few years working in a general practice after they qualify, but you can also choose to specialise if there’s an area of veterinary medicine that you’re particularly interested in.
Specialising in one area requires further time and hard work and in most cases you’ll need to complete an internship, diploma, residency, or a mix of all three. However, becoming a specialist can be highly rewarding and many vets enjoy being able to offer particular skills or care in one specific area. There are dozens of specialist disciplines to choose from, so discover more about just a few of the common areas below.
Cardiology
Specialists in veterinary cardiology work to diagnose and treat animals with cardiac conditions, such as heart failure, heart muscle disease, congenital heart defects and high blood pressure . They also carry out specialist techniques and procedures, including pacemaker implantation, management of acute heart failure and treatment of vascular stenosis.
Small animal surgery
Small animal veterinarians typically work with domestic pets, such as cats, dogs, rabbits, birds and reptiles. Duties include operating on sick or injured animals, neutering operations, diagnosing illnesses, giving vaccinations and advising owners about general health care. Vets may also have to euthanize animals or carry out diagnostic tests.
Zoo animals
Zoo veterinarians specialise in the treatment of exotic animals held in captivity. Their duties include many of those mentioned above, such a surgery, giving vaccinations, blood tests and prescribing medication, and they may also treat wounds or provide teeth cleaning for animals like big cats. Specialists in zoo animals work with an exciting range of wildlife, including elephants, giraffes, tigers, reptiles and many more.
Neurology
Vets who specialise in neurology diagnose and treat conditions that affect the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles. They help pets with a diverse range of conditions, including seizures, trapped nerves, loss of limb function and loss of balance.
If you need help landing the perfect vet role for you, get in touch with the team at VetPro Recruitment. We offer specialist recruitment for vets and vet nurses and help match jobseekers with the ideal role for their skillset. Our online database lists the latest vacancies, including permanent and contract roles, and we can also help employers find the right person for their practice. If you’re a jobseeker, register now and discover how we could help.