The majority of veterinarians are employed in private practice treating animals (75% of vets in the United States, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association). Small animal veterinarians typically work in veterinary clinics, veterinary hospitals, or both. Large animal veterinarians often spend more time travelling to see their patients at the primary facilities which house them, such as zoos or farms. Other employers include charities treating animals, colleges of veterinary medicine, research laboratories, animal food companies, and
pharmaceutical companies. In many countries, the government may also be a major employer of veterinarians, such as the
United States Department of Agriculture or the
Animal and Plant Health Agency in the United Kingdom. State and local governments also employ veterinarians. The
COVID-19 pandemic has created a greater demand for veterinary services. Many people are home with extra time on their hands, and adoption agencies and animals shelters have seen a surge in pet purchases as a result.
Focus of practice Veterinarians and their practices may be specialized in certain areas of veterinary medicine. Areas of focus include: • Exotic animal veterinarian – Specializes in treating animals other than common pets and livestock. Includes
reptiles, exotic birds such as
parrots and
cockatoos, and small
mammals such as
ferrets,
rabbits, and
chinchillas. •
Conservation medicine – The study of the relationship between animal and human health and environmental information. • Small animal practice – Usually
dogs,
cats, and other
companion animals/household pets such as
hamsters and
gerbils. Some practices are canine-only or feline-only practices. •
Laboratory animal practice – Some veterinarians work in a
university or industrial laboratory and are responsible for the care and treatment of laboratory animals of any species (often involving
bovines,
porcine species, felines, canines,
rodents, and even exotic animals). Their responsibility is not only for the health and well-being of the animals, but also for enforcing humane and ethical treatment of the animals in the facility. • Large animal practice – Usually referring to veterinarians that work with, variously,
livestock and other large farm animals, as well as
equine species and large reptiles. • Equine medicine – Some veterinarians are specialists in equine medicine. Horses are different in
anatomy,
physiology,
pathology,
pharmacology, and
husbandry to other domestic species. Specialization in
equine veterinary practice is something that is normally developed after qualification, even if students do have some interest before graduation. • Food supply medicine – Some veterinarians deal exclusively or primarily with animals raised for food (such as
meat,
milk, and
eggs). Livestock practitioners may deal with
ovine (
sheep),
bovine (
cattle) and
porcine (
swine) species; such veterinarians deal with management of
herds,
nutrition,
reproduction, and minor field surgery. Dairy medicine practice focuses on dairy animals.
Poultry medicine practice focuses on the health of flocks of poultry; the field often involves extensive training in pathology, epidemiology, and nutrition of
birds. The veterinarian treats the flock and not the individual animals. •
Food safety practice – Veterinarians are employed by both the
food industry and
government agencies to advise on and monitor the handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent
foodborne illness. •
Wildlife medicine – A relatively recent branch of veterinary medicine, focusing on
wildlife. Wildlife medicine veterinarians may work with
zoologists and conservation medicine practitioners and may also be called out to treat marine species such as
sea otters,
dolphins, or
whales after a natural disaster or
oil spill. • Aquatic medicine – mostly refers to veterinary care of fish in aquaculture (like salmon, cod, among other species), but can also include care of aquatic mammals. For certain countries with high economic income from aquaculture, this is an important part of the veterinary field (like Norway, Chile). Other countries (particularly those which are landlocked), might have little or no emphasis on aquatic medicine. • Dentistry – Many practices are incorporating dentistry into their daily medical services. Veterinary dentistry can extend the life of the patient by preventing oral disease and keeping the teeth and gums of the patient in healthy condition.
Veterinary specialties Veterinary specialists are in the minority compared to general practice veterinarians, and tend to be based at points of referral, such as veterinary schools or larger animal hospitals. Unlike human medicine, veterinary specialties often combine both the surgical and medical aspects of a biological system. Veterinary specialties are accredited in North America by the AVMA through the American Board of Veterinary Specialties, in Europe by the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation and in Australia and New Zealand by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council. While some veterinarians may have areas of interest outside of recognized specialties, they are not legally specialists. Specialties can cover general topics such as
anesthesiology,
dentistry, and
surgery, as well as organ system focus such as
cardiology or
dermatology. A full list can be seen at
veterinary specialties.
Mobile practice Many veterinarians, especially in large animal practice, offer
house calls and farm calls through a mobile practice. The start-up and operating costs of a mobile practice are typically lower than those of a traditional brick and mortar clinics, which can cost millions of dollars or more for equipment and surgical supplies. Costs associated with mobile units can range from as low as $5,000 for a utility box in an SUV to around $250,000 for a fully equipped custom built
chassis. The potential advantages to the client are not having to transport the animal, lower stress for the animal, a lower risk of disease transmission from other animals, and convenience. A 2015 study published in the
Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association showed that
blood pressure readings,
pulse rates and
body temperature increased by 11–16% when those readings were done in the clinic versus in the home. However, mobile practices often lack the facilities and equipment to provide advanced care, surgery, or hospitalization. Some mobile practices maintain a relationship with a traditional hospital for
referral of cases needing more comprehensive care.
Salary The last
AVMA Report on Veterinary Compensation, published in 2018, indicated private practice associate veterinarians who had board certification earned a mean of $187,000. A veterinarian's salary can easily exceed $300,000 depending on the specialty. The median starting salary for new veterinary graduates without specialization in 2018 was $103,800 in the United States according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while the lowest paid earned less than $89,540 annually. States and districts with the highest mean salary are California ($398,340), Michigan ($325,100), Illinois ($324,870), New York ($322,500), and Hawaii ($221,150). Veterinarians who own their own clinics are typically paid a much higher salary. The average owner payout is $400,000 for every $1,000,000 of clinic income. In 2021 there were practices sold with $8–10,000,000 in yearly revenue with the owners drawing salaries of several million dollars. Over 90% of practice owners do not regret purchasing or starting their own practice, according to a 2020 survey of clinic owners. ==Education and regulation==