Veterinarians
(NOC 3114)
in All HealthVeterinarians prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases and disorders in animals and advise clients on the feeding, hygiene, housing, and general care of animals. They may choose small-animal, large-animal, or mixed practice, or specialize in a species or medical field. Veterinarians work in private practice or may work for animal clinics, farms, laboratories, government, or industry. Small (companion) animal practices generally accept dogs and cats as patients and sometime treat exotic species like birds, small mammals, and reptiles. Services provided often include pet selection and care, nutrition and behaviour counselling, boarding, and grooming. Large-animal practices provide medical and surgical services for livestock and horses. Large animal veterinarians offer preventative herd health management and monitor for possible disease outbreak.
Job Outlook
Good
Read more
Compared to: All Health
Hourly Pay
N/A
MinimumN/A
MedianN/A
MaximumAnnual Pay
$28,642
Minimum$73,259
Median$104,357
MaximumCompared to: All Health
Hourly Pay
$16.70
Minimum$26.60
Median$43.30
MaximumAnnual Pay
$10,740
Minimum$43,853
Median$88,944
MaximumAbout the job
Nature of work
Veterinarians prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases and disorders in animals and advise clients on the feeding, hygiene, housing, and general care of animals. They may choose small-animal, large-animal, or mixed practice, or specialize in a species or medical field. Veterinarians work in private practice or may work for animal clinics, farms, laboratories, government, or industry. Small (companion) animal practices generally accept dogs and cats as patients and sometime treat exotic species like birds, small mammals, and reptiles. Services provided often include pet selection and care, nutrition and behaviour counselling, boarding, and grooming. Large-animal practices provide medical and surgical services for livestock and horses. Large animal veterinarians offer preventative herd health management and monitor for possible disease outbreak.
Job duties
Veterinarians:
- Diagnose diseases or abnormal conditions in individual animals, herds and flocks through physical examinations or laboratory tests.
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
- Vaccinate animals to prevent and treat diseases.
- Perform routine, emergency, and post-mortem examinations.
- Advise clients on feeding, housing, behaviour, breeding, hygiene, and general care of animals.
- Provide a range of veterinary services including obstetrics, dentistry, and euthanasia.
- May supervise animal health technologists and animal care workers.
- May be responsible for overall operation of animal hospital, clinic, or mobile service to farms.
- May conduct veterinary research related to areas like animal nutrition, health care products development and disease prevention and control.
- May enforce government regulations in disease control and food production including animal or animal-based food inspection.
Sample job titles
- equine veterinarian
- farm veterinarian
- veterinarian
- veterinary dentist
- veterinary inspector
- veterinary laboratory diagnostician
- veterinary parasitologist
- veterinary physiologist
- veterinary surgeon
Skills
- You should have compassion, a fondness for animals, and an interest in science, especially biology, chemistry, and physics. Good health, stamina, and emotional stability are necessary, as veterinarians often work long and irregular hours. You must be patient, reliable, mature, and responsible. Good oral and written communication skills are also needed. Some business knowledge would be helpful in running a private practice.
Job requirements
- Two years of pre-veterinary university studies or completion of a college program in health science and a four to five year university degree in veterinary medicine and completion of national certification examinations are required.
- A provincial licence to practice is required.
- Entry into research positions may require post-graduate study.
Other considerations
- Although many veterinarians work regular hours, those in private practice often work long hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. The work can be physically demanding and emotionally draining. Hazards include contact with potentially dangerous animals and diseases that may be transferred to humans. The duties of veterinarians performing research may be like those of some biologists.
By the numbers
Quick look
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Compared to: All Health
employed in 2016
employed full-time
self employed
median age
Where will I likely work?
Halifax
$54,497 median annual incomeAnnapolis Valley
$67,013 median annual incomeNorth Shore
$78,345 median annual incomeSouthern
$25,798 median annual incomeCape Breton
N/ACompared to: All NS Occupations
Halifax
North Shore
Annapolis Valley
Cape Breton
Southern
Top Industries of Employment
Professional, scientific and technical services
Public administration
What is the age of Employment?
45-54
25-34
35-44
55-64
65+
Compared to: All Health
25-34
45-54
35-44
55-64
15-24
Top levels of education
Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Optometry
$69,849 median annual incomeMaster
N/ADoctorate
N/ACompared to: All Health
College Diploma
$40,033 median annual incomeBachelor
$61,668 median annual incomeMedicine, Dentistry, Veterinary, Optometry
$81,191 median annual incomeHigh school
$24,829 median annual incomeMaster
$69,296 median annual incomeEducation & training
Preveterinary Studies
College or University ProgramThis includes any program that prepares students for admission to a first-professional program in veterinary medicine.
Institutions providing this program
Truro, NS
Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
University ProgramThese programs prepare students for the independent professional practice of veterinary medicine, involving the diagnosis, treatment, and health care management of animals and animal populations and the prevention and management of zoonosis. They include courses in the veterinary basic sciences, infectious and non-infectious disease, diagnostic procedures, veterinary clinical medicine, obstetrics, radiology, anesthesiology, surgery, toxicology, animal health and preventive medicine, clinical nutrition, practice management, and professional standards and ethics.
Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences (Cert., MSc, PhD)
University ProgramThis includes any integrated program of study in one or more of the veterinary medical or clinical sciences or a program undifferentiated as to title.
Institutions providing this program
Truro, NS
Employment requirements & contacts
Regulations
Right to Title and Practice: This job is regulated. The job title is protected, and you may not use it without a professional licence. A licence shows that the holder has met provincial requirements and is required to legally do this work.