Despite not having any family members with a veterinary or animal-related background, as many veterinarians will say, I grew up in central London and have had the desire to become a veterinarian since I was very young. I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012, and in an effort to advance my fundamental knowledge, I participated in a number of EMS placements with an exotics veterinarian. During these placements, it became clear that the majority of problems encountered are caused by poor husbandry. The realization that an exotics veterinarian is in a unique position to significantly improve the welfare of these animals through education of both pet owners and other veterinary and animal care professionals came to me during these placements.
- Earn a bachelor’s degree. …
- Gain entry to a veterinary school. …
- Obtain licensing. …
- Gain experience. …
- Soft skills for exotic animal veterinarians. …
- Hard skills for exotic animal veterinarians.
What does an exotic animal veterinarian do?
The health of exotic animals kept in captivity is primarily the responsibility of exotic animal veterinarians. Their daily duties center on taking care of the animals and ensuring their welfare.
The following are some of their day-to-day duties:
What is an exotic animal veterinarian?
An exotic animal veterinarian specializes in undomesticated species of animals. Their primary responsibilities include identifying and treating ailments or wounds, immunizing animals, and carrying out other tasks to promote animal health.
veterinarians who specialize in exotic animals have extensive training in caring for wild animals. Giraffes, elephants, lions, zebras, tigers, reptiles, and aquatic animals may be among their patients. Usually, an exotic animal hospital is where a veterinarian for exotic animals works. They can also work in zoos and other facilities for rescuing wildlife, tending to any rescued animals who are ill or injured. Additionally, you can find them in aquariums and wildlife conservation facilities.
How to become an exotic animal veterinarian
Follow these steps to become an exotic animal veterinarian:
1. Earn a bachelors degree
To enroll in veterinary school, all future doctors of veterinary medicine must hold a bachelor’s degree. Students who earn an undergraduate degree have a solid foundation in science. The most preferred programs are those in zoology, animal science, anatomy, chemistry, and biology.
2. Gain entry to a veterinary school
Veterinarian students then join an accredited veterinary medicine school. They graduate with a veterinary medicine degree, which typically requires four years to complete. Coursework includes lessons on topics like animal disease and anatomy and physiology.
3. Obtain licensing
After graduation, you must obtain a state license to practice. State by state may have different requirements for obtaining a license. To obtain a license, many states demand that you pass both a state exam and the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination.
4. Gain experience
The next step is gaining experience in the field. As a new vet, you must complete an internship, which you can do by volunteering. Numerous zoos across the nation provide internship programs that let interns carry out tasks while being supervised. Once the internship program is finished, you can start working as an exotic animal veterinarian.
Skills for an exotic animal veterinarian
For career success, exotic animal veterinarians need both soft and hard skills.
Soft skills for exotic animal veterinarians
Several soft skills, including the following, are necessary for an exotic animal veterinarian:
Hard skills for exotic animal veterinarians
Examples of hard skills needed to work with exotic animals are provided below:
How to Become an Exotic Animal Veterinarian
FAQ
What is a vet that works with exotic animals?
Zoo veterinarians are specialists with advanced training in the care of animals kept in captivity and who treat exotic wildlife species. They are veterinarians who have completed extensive training in providing care for non-domestic animal species.
Which vet school is best for exotics?
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine. …
- Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine. …
- Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine. …
- Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine.
Where do exotic vets make the most money?
It may sound impossible, but you can follow the steps to become a wealthy veterinarian within a few decades, regardless of how much debt you have. Even if you owe the $100,000 to $500,000 that many people borrow to pay for their doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) education, that is still true.
