Before looking for a doctor for your pet; learn about veterinary medicine and how a good veterinarian can help you take care of your pet. Set up appointments with two or more veterinarians. Learn what to look for in a doctor of veterinary medicine, what questions to ask, and how a veterinary will help you care for your family pet.

What is a Veterinarian?
A veterinarian is a doctor who specializes in the treatment and care of animals. They diagnose, treat, or research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and animals in zoos, racetracks, and laboratories. The tasks that a veterinarian performs on the job will vary depending oh the vet's medical specialty and where the vet practices. An old fashioned country veterinarian may have a practice that includes house calls to all of the local animals. A veterinarian that practices in an area with many horse farms, such as North Salem, New York, may specialize in equine reproductive services and services more specific to horses.

Before your first appointment, compile a list of questions that are important to you and to the care of your pet. If you decide to hire a veterinarian in a single practice, be absolutely sure the doctor has coverage when he/she is not available or away on vacation.

About Veterinarians
Veterinarians are typically responsible for the following:


• Examine animals to diagnose health problems


• Treat and dress wounds.


• Perform surgery on animals.


• Test for and vaccinate against diseases.


• Advise animal owners about general care, medical conditions, and treatments.


• Prescribe medication.


• Euthanize animals.



Veterinarians work in one or more of the following areas:


Large Animals
Large animal veterinarians focus on farm animals like sheep, goats, horses, and cattle. They generally offer large animal services.

Small Animals
Small animal veterinarians typically care for pets such as cats and dogs.

Exotics Animals
Exotic veterinarians specialize in snakes, lizards, unusual birds, and if the vet works in a zoo their specialty may be elephants, lions, or other animals traditionally found in a zoo.

There are many experienced veterinarians throughout Westchester. To find the best doctor for your pet, meet with several and review the services each will provide. Check that the vet is up-to-date on the latest techniques and treatments available for your pet. A good veterinarian will treat your pet with respect, integrity, and compassion in a caring and professional setting.

To find the best vet, ask a friend for a recommendation or check Veterinarians in Westchester. You can also reference the American Animal Hospital Association list of veterinarians (AAHA). The AAHA evaluates veterinary practices on the quality of their facilities, staff, equipment and patient care. Before making a final decision about a veterinarian for your pet:

• Arrange to meet the veterinarian before you bring your dog or cat home.



• Checkout the vet's facilities for cleanliness, organization, and consider if the vet appears to be up-to-date on the newest treatments and technology for treating your pet.



• How many vets are on staff? Be sure there is coverage if your vet is on vacation or away from the office.



• Be sure you are comfortable with the vet and his methods of treating an animal.

If you live in Westchester, select a local veterinarian in your town or nearby.

Veterinarian in Ardsley-on-Hudson
Veterinarian in Bedford Hills
Veterinarian in Bedford Village
Veterinarian in Briarcliff Manor
Veterinarian in Croton-on-Hudson
Veterinarian in Dobbs Ferry
Veterinarian in Hastings-on-Hudson
Veterinarian in Irvington-on-Hudson
Veterinarian in Katonah
Veterinarian in Larchmont
Veterinarian in Mamaroneck
Veterinarian in Mount Vernon
Veterinarian in White Plains
Veterinarian in Yonkers
Veterinarian in Yorktown Heights

What is Veterinary Medicine?
Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), are medical professionals who play a significant role in the health care and welfare of animals, human public health, medical research, and public safety. They have a broad-based medical background and serve in many capacities.

A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) diagnoses and treat diseases and dysfunctions of animals. They care for the health of pets, livestock, and animals in zoos, racetracks, and laboratories. Some veterinarians use their skills to protect humans against diseases carried by animals and conduct clinical research on human and animal health problems. Others work in basic research, broadening our knowledge of animals and medical science, and in applied research, developing new ways to use knowledge.

Veterinarians give blood tests, x-rays, and other tests, looking for clues about an animal's illness. Then, vets decide what kind of treatment or medicine the animal needs.

Veterinarians prevent problems by giving vaccinations and check-ups and fixing teeth. They also teach owners how to feed and train their animals.

Veterinarians use special tools to perform surgery. They fix broken bones, take out tumors, replace knees and hips, and more. Vets also treat and cover wounds.

Most Veterinarians treat small pets such as dogs and cats. But a few focus on large animals, such as sheep, cows, and horses. Large-animal vets usually drive to ranches and stables where their patients live. They check for infections in the animals and give advice to the animals' owners. Often, they help when the animals give birth.

In addition to helping sick animals, Veterinarians can work as animal inspectors, checking to make sure that farm animals are healthy and that their living spaces are clean. Another option for vets is doing scientific research and discovering new medicines.

Where does a Veterinarian Work?
Veterinarians work in many different places. Vets who do research, work in clean, dry laboratories. Most vets who take care of animals work in small clinics and hospitals. Some vets work in large hospitals with the most advanced equipment. Veterinarians who work with large animals often work outside in all kinds of weather and conditions.

Many Veterinarians supervise technicians and assistants in a Veterinarian Hospital; other vets may choose to own their own business.

Some Veterinarians work in zoos and aquariums. They may care for zebras, sharks, and other wild or endangered animals.

Because animals can get sick at anytime, vets often work long hours. Those in group practices may take turns working weekends or evenings and dealing with emergencies.

Requirements to become a Veterinarian
All Veterinarians need to go to college. The first step for most vets is to get a bachelor's degree, which usually takes 4 years. They study biology, chemistry, physics, nutrition, and animal science. They also need to take math and English classes. Many people also get experience by working at animal hospitals or shelters.

The next step is to go to veterinary college for 4 more years. Getting into veterinary college is competitive. In veterinary college, students learn more science. They also learn how to work with animals, do surgery, and do laboratory tests with microscopes and other equipment.

Many people also decide to learn more about a specific kind of illness or animal. They work with experienced vets during a 2-year internship. They might focus on surgery, dentistry, or wild animals, for example.

After college, a Veterinarian student takes a test in order to obtain their license to practice. After finishing school, nearly all Veterinarians keep taking classes about new diseases and treatments in order to stay current and up-to-date in their field.

Veterinary Jobs and Future Opportunities
Employment of veterinarians is expected to increase as fast as the average for all occupations over the 2004–14 projection period. Despite this average growth, very good job opportunities are expected because the current 28 schools (as of 2004) of veterinary medicine, even at full capacity, result in a limited number of graduates each year. However, as mentioned earlier, there is keen competition for admission to veterinary school. Pets are increasingly viewed as a member of the family; and pet owners are increasingly willing to spend on advanced veterinary medical care, creating further demand for veterinarians.

Pet owners are becoming more aware of the availability of advanced care and are more willing to pay for intensive veterinary care than in the past because many pet owners are more affluent and because they consider their pet part of the family. More pet owners even purchase pet insurance, increasing the likelihood that a considerable amount of money will be spent on veterinary care for their pets. Many pet owners also will take advantage of nontraditional veterinary services, such as preventive dental care.

Jobs taking care of small animals are expected to increase quickly, especially jobs taking care of cats. There will be more jobs for vets who can have advanced training and can give special kinds of care, such as dentistry.

The number of jobs for large-animal veterinarians is likely to grow more slowly than that for veterinarians in private practice who care for companion animals. Nevertheless, job prospects may be better for Veterinarians who specialize in farm animals than for companion-animal practitioners because of low earnings in the former specialty and because many veterinarians do not want to work in rural or isolated areas.

Continued support for public health and food safety, national disease control programs, and biomedical research on human health problems will contribute to the demand for veterinarians, although positions in these areas of interest are few in number. Homeland security also may provide opportunities for veterinarians involved in efforts to minimize animal diseases and prevent them from enteringthe country. Veterinarians with training in food safety, animal health and welfare, and public health and epidemiology should have the best opportunities for a career in the Federal Government.

In conclusion, before meeting your Westchester veterinarian, make a list of questions and requirements that you want your veterinary to have. In this way, you can get the best pet hospital, pet clinic, and veterinarian, to care for your family pet.

Sources include: U.S. Department of Labor