Preventive Medicine
Dr. Donald Abt, former Associate Dean of the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine, says that veterinary medicine has traditionally emphasized preventive care. Doctors in small animal practice and in equine (horse) medicine have encouraged owners to provide their animals with preventive inoculations and nutritionally balanced diets.
While economic factors are not usually related to the purpose of preventive medicine, Dr. Abt explains that there is one area recently in which preventive medicine and finances relate. The main purpose of the trend in cattle herd programs is to increase productivity and raise health levels through preventive medicine.
The herd programs provide many new jobs, for instance, in controlling and eliminating the disease mastitis, keeping detailed records of fertility cycles, calving dates and immunizations to create model herds-and enhance the breeders' return on their investments.
Computerization Of The Field
The computer did not bypass veterinary medicine as it revolutionized the business world. Today, small and large animal practitioners use personal computers to maintain medical records and financial balance sheets. Computer-based diagnostic systems are used in many large animal hospitals; they help veterinary surgeons and assistants in pinpointing medical problems, and often refer them to other sources of information on a given medical subject. The chapter on veterinary medicine describes the tremendous effect of hi-tech methods on this field.
Care And Conservation Of Wildlife
Veterinarians and other animal health care workers have new advocates in the increasing numbers of people in our country who have become newly aware of the need for wildlife care and conservation. Until recently, only small, special-interest groups expressed concern over birds and animals lost to declining natural habitats or disappearing because of ecological damage. Now, hundreds of thousands of caring citizens are aware that healthy wildlife is both a humane goal and a necessity if the balance of nature is to be preserved. With this growing support and publicity, more workers in animal care have recently been able to make wildlife preservation and conservation their specialties.
Pets And Psychology
Another current trend is the preoccupation with fitness. These are holistic times, dedicated to the well-being of the whole person. Personal fulfillment, contentment, and a healthy mind are concerns that share attention with top physical condition. This concern for fitness extends to animal care. Today, there are pet psychologists; neurotic animal behavior can be painstakingly treated in frequent visits to a specialized pet doctor.
When pets are not being analyzed themselves, they may be providing comfort as companions to the aged, as anchors to reality for the mentally disturbed, or as an incentive to action for the physically impaired. "Dumb animal" is simply not an accurate appraisal when one witnesses the miracles that can occur between pet and human. Animal ecologists (another growing specialty) have discovered that animals have a special sensitivity to the needs and problems of handicapped people, a seemingly obvious idea that only recently has been recognized. The therapeutic value of pets gives an additional meaning to the word companion in companion animal-the animal care professional's phrase for pets.
The Veterinary Assistant
The sharing of professional responsibilities formerly exercised almost entirely by the veterinarian has led to new and satisfying jobs in the animal field. Paralegal and paramedical assistants have been around for many years, but the appearance of the para-veterinary specialist is relatively recent (the title is generally veterinary assistant or veterinary technician rather than para-veterinary, but the functions and duties are equivalent). The veterinary assistant now has far more complex assignments than the usual routine animal care chores. Surgical preparation, emergency first aid, and the basics of preventive medicine are among the many duties performed by these qualified specialists.
The roll-call of fields and specialties within animal care continues to grow each year. From animal ambulance driver to pet bereavement counselor, total animal care is a priority of this decade, and beyond.
This is good news for you. It means more jobs, greater choice, and more opportunity to enter this worthy field and create a life-long career. While many positions may be somewhat difficult to attain right now, the popularity of animal care and an increasing realization of its importance is creating new opportunities.
