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Career review: How to become a veterinary doctor

Being a Vet is a dual responsibility, since your patients cannot talk and their owners can. So you

treat and counsel simultaneously, a tough but rewarding job

by Careers360 ‐ 05 May, 2011

Fast Fact

Best Schools: Madras Veterinary College, Chennai; Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and

Animal Sciences, Hisar (Formerly College of Veterinary Sciences, CCS Haryana Agricultural

University)

Qualification: 10+2 in Science with Physics, Chemistry and Biology for Bachelor’s degree

Our advice: Love of animals is a given, preference for a certain breed is another given Main

Employer: Government, private, non ‐ governmental organisations, Banks and Insurance

DID you know Veterinary Science was well developed in India as early as the Vedic period? Did

you know the world’s first veterinary hospital on record existed in Ashoka’s regime? During the

period of Ashoka, human and animal hospitals existed side by side. Hospitals had well ‐ defined

wards, where patients were housed and treated indoors. There was treatment for all sorts of animals. Treatment of elephants was called ‘Palkapya samhita’ and horses ‘Shalihotra samita.’

Even with such early roots in the field, the first veterinary training school came into existence

only in 1862 in Pune. The first veterinary college was established in 1882 at Lahore. Others were

established in Bombay (1884), in Bengal (1993), in Madras (1902) and in Bihar (1930). At the

time of independence, there were nine veterinary colleges in India. Today, the number is much

more.

The numbers game

With over 500 million herds, India has the largest livestock population in the world , contributing

to 15 percent of the world population. Livestock industry of India contributes to 8 percent of the

GDP, where as 32 percent of GDP contribution from the agricultural industry comes from

livestock itself. Great growth can be expected in the field based on these numbers.

Veterinary Science, the science and art of diagnosing, treating, and caring of sick animals,

encompasses all types of diseases and treatments of small animals, birds, and big mammals.

“Previously, there was no consciousness about animals. Today, people are more aware about

the field of Veterinary Science. Farmers know about the importance of animal management at

farms,” shared Dr. Girin Saikia, Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, State Veterinary Dispensary,

Dhemaji, Assam.

Veterinary Science made simple

Practitioners are commonly called veterinary doctors or Vets. They perform surgery as well as all

types of treatment. Breeding, genetic engineering as well as caring for livestock or mass

produced animals for human consumption is part of the job. Commonly, Vets are thought of as

doctors who treat and care for all types of pet animals with a few strays thrown in for good

measure. They prescribe medicine and inform pet owners to properly care and handle their

pets.

Requirements to enter this field vary from country to country. Generally, all require a

background in science subjects like Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.



Top veterinary science schools in the United States are Cornell University College of Veterinary

Medicine, and Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. In Asia, among the top

veterinary schools is Punjab Agricultural University, College of Veterinary Science in India and

University of the Philippines, Los Baños, College of Veterinary Medicine. See listing of Veterinary

schools in India.

Several institutions and universities offer courses in Veterinary Sciences. Some of the famous

ones

include

Indian

Veterinary

Research

Institute,

Izatnagar,

CCS

Haryana

Agricultural

University, Hisar; Bombay Veterinary Science College, Mumbai; and College of Veterinary

Science & Animal Husbandry (Anand Agricultural University), Anand.

Veterinary Science Entrance Exams

* All India Common Entrance Examination

* JNU Combined Biotechnology Entrance Exam.

* Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Science University Entrance Exam

* Indian Council of Agricultural Research Entrance Examination

* Kerala Engineering Agricultural and Medical Entrance Test

* All India Pre Veterinary Test

* Engineering, Agriculture & Medical Common Entrance Test

* Kerala Agricultural University Entrance Exam

* College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Entrance Exam

Getting into Vet school

To practice as a veterinarian it is essential to have a Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science. To

be eligible for B. V. Sc & Animal Husbandry course, you should be 10+2 with science subjects

such as Physics, Chemistry and Biology. “It’s an allied medical science. Second best to medicine

is Veterinary Science and Dentistry followed by Pharmacy and Biotechnology. Profession is

growing, lots of opportunities and it’s a nice respectable profession,” shared Dr. Anil Kumar

Pruthi, Dean, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University, Hisar.

Duration of the BVSc & AH course varies from four ‐ and ‐ a ‐ half ‐ years to five years. First four years

of study are devoted to theoretical and practical training. Various disciplines like anatomy,

physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, livestock management and production, production

technology, pathology, microbiology, pharmacology, genetics and breeding, gynaecology,

surgery, medicine and animal husbandry extension are covered. It’s like going to a medical

school for animals. The fifth year is devoted to hands ‐ on training. Six months is through

internship.

Most veterinary colleges give admission based on performance in the entrance examination

held

at

state,

all

India

and

institute

levels

Veterinary

Council

of

India

conducts

an

‘All

India

Common Entrance examination’ (AICEE) for admission to first year BVSc & AH degree course

held in May each year. For admission to Master’s programmes, an All India Entrance

Examination is conducted by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

“Attendance is most compulsory. You study theory and gain practical learning. The field entails

study of Veterinary Science and management, which is the Animal Husbandry component. Job

creation depends on candidates. Government provides subsidised rates to Vets for setting up

dairy farms etc. Just create your own avenues and don’t give up! Private companies and farms



are always there,” shared Dr. Shinde, PhD student at RAJUVAS, Bikaner. Cost for the programme

varies. Since most schoosl are in the public sector it could set you back by about 2 lakh for the

entire course. While as internationally average tuition fee annually would be about US$15,500.

Higher studies is ‘in’

“Trend now is to pursue Master’s and PhD. Private poultry, research, teaching, you name it.

Graduates of Meat technology can expect Rs. 40 ‐ 45000. ICAR scientist starts with Rs. 50,000.

Academic and research can get Rs. 50,000 with good promotion prospects. In a Vet college,

apart from salary you get a non ‐ practising allowance and other benefits,” shared Dr. Nitin Patil,

Director, National Research Centre in Camel (NRCC), Bikaner about the field. PG course in

Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc) is for two years. Students can specialise in areas like medicine,

surgery, anatomy, bacteriology, biochemistry, cardiology, dermatology, microbiology, molecular

biology, anaesthesia, gynaecology, pathology, toxicology and virology pharmacology. “Students

in India, compared to other developed countries, get exposure to all kinds of knowledge. In

Denmark, focus is on production. In Canada, it is Clinical. In India, you get a complete picture of every aspect of the field,” added Dr. Patil of NRCC.

Opportunities for Vets

“The field is diversifying and growing, especially livestock and poultry. Banks and insurance

require vets for passing of loans for livestock. Entrepreneurs in poultry are growing in India.

Farming of livestock, Kennel Management, Agri Business Management, Pathologist, you just

name it,” emphasised Dr. Pruthi.

Number of specialisations offered is exhaustive. Agriculture sectors, government animal

husbandry departments, poultry farms, veterinary hospitals and clinics all require specialists in

the field. From vaccination of animals, to information on nutrition and health, to scientific

breeding using methods like in ‐ vitro fertilisation and artificial insemination, you are required

everywhere. Various organisations employ veterinarians in research and development

departments. Defence services keep dogs and horses that need a specialized vet. Postgraduates

in the field have tremendous opportunities, though pure graduates too have a bright future.

The scope for veterinarians is bright in rural as well as urban areas. In cities, keeping pets is a

fad, thus increasing the demand for private veterinary clinics and kennels. Growth in the poultry

sector and animal products technology sector has also resulted in increase in demand for

veterinarians in different sectors of livestock and poultry. Veterinary science students can work

with medical institutions of both the private and public sectors. Aviaries, wild life sanctuaries

and zoological parks also need veterinary specialists.

Army recruits veterinary specialists for treatment and care of their mounted regiments. Options

for students are also available in consultation, research and teaching. Private practice earnings

are unlimited. “Earnings for a fresh graduate range between Rs. 20,000 to 4 lakhs depending on

where you work. Graduates can apply for a gazetted Class I vacancy for Veterinary Surgeon and

earn Rs. 45,000 as salary,” added Dr. Pruthi (See Box 2 on Job opportunities in Veterinary field).

Teaching is another option as experienced professionals are recruited in various institutions.

Vets can also take up research work, on their own or in association with the government

agnecies such as ICAR (Indian council for Agricultural Research). Pharmaceutical industries

appoint veterinary scientists in their research and development divisions for drugs, chemicals

and bio ‐ products, particularly antibiotics and vaccines for human and animal use. They can also

work in technical sales, agri ‐ business, marketing, pet food manufacturing industries and in

management of industries dealing with animal feed, animal products, milk and meat products

processing industries etc.



There are also a number of opportunities in Non ‐ government Organisations/Societies working

for the welfare of the animals and livestock owners like BAIF (Bharti Agro Industrial Federation),

Help ‐ in ‐ Suffering, LPP (League of Pastoral People), PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animal) and such other organisations.

Did you know Veterinary Science was well developed in India as early as the Vedic period? Did

you know the world’s first veterinary hospital on record existed in Ashoka’s regime? During the

period

of

Ashoka,

human

and

animal

hospitals

existed

side

by

side.

Hospitals

had

well‐

defined

wards, where patients were housed and treated indoors. There was treatment for all sorts of animals. Treatment of elephants was called ‘Palkapya samhita’ and horses ‘Shalihotra samita.’

Even with such early roots in the field, the first veterinary training school came into existence

only in 1862 in Pune. The first veterinary college was established in 1882 at Lahore. Others were

established in Bombay (1884), in Bengal (1993), in Madras (1902) and in Bihar (1930). At the

time of independence, there were nine veterinary colleges in India. Today, the number is much

more.

Being a good Vet

You need to feel genuine compassion for animals. Since animals don’t speak, you need to read

the signs from their behaviour, owner feedback and diagnose the ailment correctly. Ability to

handle emergencies and working in physically disagreeable conditions is required. If you work

with large animals, you need physical stamina and quick body reflexes to tackle their behaviour.

Back kicks by an animal in pain should be expected.

A vet needs to have and develop the ability to put all animals at ease, be observant, sensitive

and patient. You don’t know who the next patient is going to be. “Private practice is lucrative.

The sky is the limit in Veterinary,” adds Dr. Patil laughingly.

veterinary doctor

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