Question 24: It seems like most of the veterinarians I hear about work with pets. What other career opportunities are available to veterinarians?

Answer: It is true that a large percentage of veterinarians work with pets in exclusively small animal practices. However, there is a wide variety of career opportunities available to individuals with degrees in veterinary medicine. Many of these career fields are summarized below. For more information, click here.

Private Practice
            Small Animal Exclusive - dogs, cats, pocket pets, birds, ferrets, reptiles, exotics, fish
            Large Animal Exclusive – cows, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, turkeys, elk, bison, llamas
            Equine Exclusive - horses
            Mixed - Small, Large, Equine
            Humane Societies, Animal Shelters, Rescue Groups, Refuges, Sanctuaries
            Wildlife
            Zoos, Circuses 

Private Business
            Research and testing for drugs or medical device companies
            Sales Representative for drug or medical device companies
            Zoos, Circuses 

Government
            U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
            U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
            Agricultural Research Service
            Fish and Wildlife Service
            Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
            National Institutes of Health (NIH)
            Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine (FDA)
            National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA)
            Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
            Boards of Veterinary Medicine
            Military
            Police – canine, equine
            Animal Control
            Zoos     

Academia
            University hospital practitioner
            University hospital administrator
            Teaching
            Research