Veterinary science offers a large number of avenues of work. A good vet is one who, besides being genuinely fond of animals, can also empathise with their needs, and has an insight into their psychology. Besides regular practice, vets can also take up research work, either on their on in association with the government. Opportunities also abound in livestock management.

Training Programme

    The Bachelor's program in Veterinary Science or Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc/B.V.Sc and AH) is a 4 -1/2 years course and an additional one year is necessary for internship. The basic qualification is plus 2 with the subjects physics, chemistry and biology.
Admission procedure varies from university to university. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) conducts all India level entrance examination and the announcement would be made in January for the exam slated for the month of May.

The Course

    The bachelor's course of veterinary science is divided into two phases: pre-clinical and clinical. The syllabus in the pre-clinical phase includes physics, chemistry, anatomy, physiology and allied areas. In the clinical phase, the subjects covered are animal husbandry, veterinary medicine and surgery, veterinary hygiene and pathology. The practical training will ensure exposure to real life situations and field experience.
    The master's programme is two-year's course for which you would need to have a Bachelor Degree. Various specializations are offered at this level and they include anatomy, animal nutrition; genetics and animal breeding; animal reproduction; micro-biology; parasitology; surgery; poultry science; food; hygiene and veterinary public health; diary cattle production and so on.

Job Profile

    The emphasis in the general practice of veterinary medicine is on diagnosis and the treatment of disease and injury. Vets also administer inoculation on animals against diseases and offer advice on matters such as food and breeding. Vets working with farms are concerned with animal health and welfare, improvement in productive and artificial insemination. Teaching is also linked to veterinary colleges as part of the faculty. Alternatively, research work is carried out in laboratories- run largely by the government.

Work Situation

    Veterinarians are expected to work in unhygienic conditions. Appropriate clothing may be put on during such conditions. Vets in the general practice will have to be with many contacts with people from a variety of social backgrounds. A great deal of traveling will also have to be undertaken for visiting the houses of his clients or their farms. Their work is a dedication for the health and welfare of the animals. They have to be very tactful and patient as well as sympathetic. Good power of observation is an essential item since animals are not able to explain their cases. He will have to make his own deductions for arriving at a correct diagnosis manual dexterity is needed for performing even difficult surgical procedures. Instances are not rare that vets are expected to assist the female ones in assisting them during the difficult delivery of their calf.

Placement

    With the emphasis on a scientific approach to diary and poultry fields in both the government and private sectors, veterinarians in general practice have very prospects. They are expect placements in 2000 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Commercial organizations like Amul and Parag, specializing in diary production, also have many placements in research and development of improved high quality products. Some Non-Governmental Organizations in the field of animal protection like Worldwide Fund for Nature and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) also have positions for veterinarians in their projects and field works.
Vets can also opt for research and teaching. If you are a person with entrepreneurial drive, you may also consider setting up a create for animals. Most veterinarians turn to a particular area of expertise. Some of these areas are enumerated below.

Private Practice

    Veterinary doctors in urban areas can set up private practice to deal mainly with small or domestic animals. This can be quite profitable, especially in big cities, but does tend to get restricted to canine and feline pets.
    Hospitals: Veterinary surgeons attached to veterinary hospitals in cities may also find themselves handling domestic pets. But Government posting in rural areas would provide the opportunity to tend to cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and poultry. Vets are also recruited by the army for the care of horses and ponies, in particular.

Extension Officers:

    Veterinary doctors are required for extension programmes, for which they educate and livestock farmers to build up the quality of their animal stock. They also offer advice on animal farm management and animal health problems.

Diary Sector

    Veterinary doctors practicing in this area are expected to work towards ensuring increasing yield in milk production and also the health and breading of diary cattle.

Pharmaceutical Companies:

    Veterinarians are employed in the pharmaceutical companies where they handle the production of vaccines, or are involved in the development of animal feeds and fertilizers.

Wildlife and Environment:

    Veterinarians play an important role in the captive breeding of wild animals, particularly those feared to be on the verge of extinction. This helps in maintaining the ecological balance and in catering to the health of wild animals.

Where to Study Vet.Science?

College of Veterinary Science and Animal Science, Mannuthy, P.O., Thrissur, Kerala - 680 651

College of Veterinary Science and Animal Science, Pookkotte, Wayanad, Kerala.

Veterinary College of Research Institute, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu.

Diary science college, National Diary Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana.

Gujarat College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Anand - 388001

College of Veterinary Science, Pantnagar - 261145, Nainital, Utter Pradesh.

College of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry, Jabalpur - 482001, Madhya Pradesh

College of Veterinary Science, Tirupati - 517502, Andra Pradesh.

Nagpur Veterinary College, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Seminary Hills, Nagpur - 440006, Maharashtra

Assam Agricultural University, College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara, Guwahati - 781022.

Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat - 785013.

Central Agricultural University, Imphal, Manipur - 795001.

Faculty of Veterinary Science & Animal Science, P.O.Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Nadia - 741252, W.

College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa - 751003.

Faculty of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Kanke, Ranchi - 834007.

Rajendra Agricultural University, Bihar Veterinary College, Patna

College of Vet. Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow

Nagpur Vet. College, Seminary Hills, Nagpur, Maharashtra - 440006.

Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidhyalaya, Raipur - 492012.

College of Vet. Science and Animal Husbandry, Mathura - 211002

College of Veterinary Sc. Research Pantnagar, Nainital - 263145

Chandra Shekar Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur - 208002

Indian Vet. Research Institute, Izatnagar - 243122

Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Palampur - 176062

Choudhary Charan Singh University, College of Vet.Science, Hissar - 125004

Agriculture University, College of Vet.Science Ludhiana, Punjab - 141004

Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sc., Shalimar Campus, Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir - 191121

Faculty of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Baghi Ali Mardan Khan Nowshera, Srinagar

Rajasthan Agricultural Univ., College of Veterinary & Animal Science, Bikanere - 334001

Agricultural University, College of Vet.Science and Animal Husbandry, Sardar Krushinagar, Banaskantha - 385506

Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Nana Patil College of Vet. Sc. (Shirwal) Ahmednagar - 413722

Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth Bombay vet. Science College, Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400012

College of Vet. Science and Animal Science, Parbhani- 431402

College of Veterinary Sc., Udgir

Punjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth, PG Institute. Skola - 444001, Madhya Pradesh.

NG Ranga Agricultural Univ. College of Vet. Science, Rajendranagar, Hydrabad - 500030

Madras Veterinary College, Vepery, Chennai, Tamil Nadu - 600007

Veterinary College, P.O.No. 6, Bidar - 585401

Univ. Agricultural Sc. & Vet. College, Hibbal, Bangalore, Karnataka - 560006

University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka - 560065

Courtesy : Deepika Education