A Typical Day in the Life of a Veterinarian

A veterinarian has a challenging and rewarding career, ideal for someone who enjoys critical thinking, isn't afraid of hard work, and loves animals. Explore what it's like to work in a typical small animal clinic caring for dogs and cats.

Education and Training Requirements 

To become a veterinarian, you must obtain a four-year college degree followed by a four-year Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. To practice, passing a licensing exam and maintaining a professional license is necessary. Admission to veterinary colleges typically requires a bachelor's degree with courses in biology, microbiology, chemistry, physics, and calculus, plus substantial animal experience.

Admission into veterinary school is highly competitive due to the limited number of programs offering veterinary medical degrees. Once accepted, prepare for rigorous study. Veterinary students learn about a range of animals in addition to dogs and cats, including chickens, pigs, horses, cows, and exotic species like reptiles and fish.

Completing a DVM degree typically takes four years, comprising three years of classroom lectures, anatomy labs, and hands-on animal work, followed by a final year of clinical rotations across various disciplines. This comprehensive training prepares you for the licensing exams. After earning the DVM, veterinarians must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination along with specific state exams. Many graduates pursue a 1-year internship for specialized training and mentorship. Practicing a specialty, such as dermatology, radiology, or oncology, requires residency programs and additional board certifications.

Where Veterinarians Work 

Veterinarians are employed in various settings, including general practice hospitals, emergency and specialty animal hospitals, animal shelters, zoos, or as mobile vets traveling between farms. Some focus on research, studying wildlife or collaborating with farmers and government agencies to ensure food safety. Each setting influences the types of animals treated; a zoo-based doctor needs to be knowledgeable about many exotic species, while a local shelter vet is more familiar with caring for cats and dogs.

Here is an example of a typical day for a veterinarian in a small animal hospital, a setting familiar to many. However, daily tasks can vary significantly.

The Day Begins 

Every animal in the hospital, whether admitted for surgery or illness, undergoes a morning physical exam. This allows the doctor to create a treatment plan and note new findings. A physical exam involves obtaining the animal's medical history from the owner, taking vitals, listening to the heart and lungs, and examining the animal from nose to tail to document any abnormalities.

Animals scheduled for surgery are typically admitted early in the morning. Before this, pre-surgical bloodwork is reviewed to ensure the animal is healthy enough for the procedure. This bloodwork provides vital information on the animal's organ functions that can't be assessed through a physical examination alone. Once the vet evaluates and approves the lab work, the pet is prepped for surgery.

Performing surgeries in the morning allows for patient recovery throughout the day, with staff available to monitor vitals. Veterinarians often conduct routine surgeries such as spays, neuters, mass removals, or dental procedures. Late morning is typically reserved for appointments, including new puppy or kitten visits, check-ups, vaccinations, and sick visits. Euthanasia, a challenging yet compassionate service, is part of a vet's duties and can be either pre-scheduled or an emergency. These moments can be emotional, especially when the veterinarian has cared for the pet throughout its life.

Lunchtime?

Most clinics pause appointments during lunch to permit staff time for nourishment and catching up on tasks. In a busy clinic, employees use this time to return calls, check on hospitalized animals recovering from anesthesia, and ideally, have lunch. Emergencies can arise at any moment, requiring immediate attention. Thus, all team members must practice efficient time management. In offices with multiple veterinarians, operations may continue during lunch with staggered breaks for each doctor.

Afternoon 

Afternoons are generally dedicated to patient appointments and discharging surgery patients later in the day. If a scheduled appointment reveals a pet is seriously ill or needs specialized care, the vet may recommend transfer to a specialty hospital, proactively contacting specialists with the pet's medical history. Sick pets might require lab work, X-rays, or other in-hospital tests for diagnosis. Vet technicians and nurses run these tests while the vet continues attending appointments. A significant part of the vet's role is explaining test results to pet owners and creating a treatment plan, making effective communication with concerned owners essential.

Late afternoon may allow time for returning phone calls, authorizing prescriptions, and finalizing medical records before the final rush of the day’s appointments.

Closing Time

Although the vet hospital may close at a set time and support staff clock out afterward, most veterinarians stay late to complete their work. This involves checking on inpatients, returning phone calls, and finishing medical records. If the vet is also the clinic owner, tasks may include administrative work such as accounting, staff management, scheduling maintenance and repairs, and ensuring compliance with OSHA, DEA, and other local regulations. Despite the long days, many veterinarians find the work rewarding and worthwhile due to their passion and love for veterinary medicine.