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Are you considering a career in veterinary medicine? Because it’s a field of medicine, it requires a fairly extensive amount of education. For a doctoral degree, for instance, you’ll typically have to complete a four-year program at one of 30 schools throughout the United States that have been accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). If you’re willing to invest the necessary work, however, starting a career in veterinary medicine can prove well worth it for the seven following reasons.

#1) Save Animals’ Lives

As a veterinary professional, you’ll play a critical role in saving animals’ lives. Like humans, pets are susceptible to a myriad of medical conditions. While some of these medical conditions are minor, others are life-threatening. Cancer, heart failure and kidney failure rank among the leading causes of death among dogs. Whether you’re treating dogs, cats, reptiles or birds, you’ll be actively working to save animals’ lives.

#2) High-Paying Salaries

Veterinary medicine is a lucrative career field with high-paying salaries. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for veterinarians in the United States is over $93,830. To put that number into perspective, the median annual salary for employees across all industries is about $48,516. As a result, veterinarians earn nearly twice as much as employees in other industries. The BLS also says that employment opportunities are expected to grow by 18% through 2028, which is significantly faster than the growth rate of other industries.

#3) Learn Valuable Skills

You’ll also learn valuable skills when working as a veterinary professional. All veterinary professions — there are many of them — require technical skills. All veterinarians must know how to properly diagnose and treat a wide range of medical conditions in an equally wide range of animals. During veterinary school and afterwards, you’ll pick up essential skills that allow you to diagnose and treat medical conditions in animals. Along with technical skills, you’ll also learn “people” skills when working as a veterinary professional. Veterinarians must talk to pet owners to help identify the medical problems from which their pets are suffering. As a veterinary professional, you’ll learn how to talk to pet owners during otherwise stressful times.

#4) Variety of Professions

Veterinarians are just one of many professions in the field of veterinary medicine. There are literally dozens of veterinary professions. While they all relate, in some way, to diagnosing and treating medical conditions in animals, each profession has its own specific purpose. With so many different professions, the possibilities are endless with a career in veterinary medicine. You may even decide to change professions, which is perfectly fine. Many veterinary professions require the same or similar skill.

Some of the most common veterinary professions include the following:

• Veterinarian
• Veterinary Technician
• Veterinary Assistant
• Veterinary Surgeon
• Veterinary Dentist
• Veterinary Dermatologist
• Veterinary Anesthesiologist
• Veterinary Oncologist
• Veterinary Radiologist
• Veterinary Toxicologist
• Animal Behaviorist
• Veterinary Pathologist
• Animal Rehabilitation Therapist
• Microbiologists

#5) Professional Growth

You won’t get stuck in a dead-end job working in veterinary medicine. It allows for substantial professional growth, meaning you can advance to higher-paying jobs and positions. Most veterinarians, for example, start off by working for existing veterinary clinics. After acquiring an adequate amount of experience, some of them go on to open their own veterinary clinic. Alternatively, some veterinarians may branch out into a specialized field of veterinary medicine, such as oncology or dermatology. Regardless, the sky is the limit when working in veterinary medicine. You’ll be able to progress your career to secure higher-paying or more desirable positions.

#6) National Demand

There’s strong demand for veterinary professionals throughout the country as well as abroad. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), over two in three U.S. households have a pet. From the East Coast to the West Coast, there are millions of pet owners, most of whom will eventually require the services of a veterinary professional. Why does this matter? With national demand, you’ll have the freedom to find employment no matter where you live. If you decide to pack up and move elsewhere in the country, you should be able to find employment at a nearby veterinary clinic.

#7) Community Interaction

Finally, working in the field of veterinary medicine allows you to engage and interact with your local community. The target audience of veterinary clinics is pet owners, most of whom are local. After working at a veterinary clinic for an extended period, you’ll begin to remember clients by name. Veterinary work is heavily driven by community interaction, and you’ll experience a sense of satisfaction knowing that you are helping your local community. Clients will appreciate the hard work you perform to diagnose and treat their pets’ medical conditions.

From saving animals’ lives to financial security and the ability to learn valuable skills, these are just a few reasons to consider a career in veterinary medicine. You’ll likely discover other benefits of veterinary work as well.