What Do Veterinarians Do on a Typical Day?

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At the moment, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, it seems strange to think about what constitutes a ‘typical day’ in the life of a vet. However, things will return to normal and those who are hoping to pursue a career as a vet will be curious about how their daily working lives will be.

We have taken a look at what veterinarians do on a typical day in their job to give you an idea of what you can expect if you venture down this career path.

Examine overnight patients

At a vet clinic, you will usually have a number of animals who have needed to stay in the surgery overnight. This will typically be if they have undergone surgery or need medical care which cannot be provided at home.

The first task for a veterinarian will therefore be to check in on all of these patients, giving them a quick examination and adding any additional care tasks to their to-do list.

Administering vaccinations to new puppies and kittens

Perhaps the cutest part of the job will be assessing and microchipping the new puppies and kittens people have. These young animals require vaccinations early on so that they can be protected against various viruses. Puppies typically have the first set at eight to ten weeks old and then a second set two to four weeks later, while kittens will have a first set at nine weeks and a second set at three months.

Routine appointments

As well as puppies and kittens, adult pets will also need regular check-ups to see that they are in good health. Many of the daily appointments a vet takes will be of this nature and include administering booster vaccinations, prescribing worming and flea medication and just giving feedback to the owner on the general health of their pet (e.g. dental health, weight and any other issues).

Diagnose illnesses

Another reason for appointments with owners will be to diagnose any illnesses or injuries their pets have suffered. These can vary widely but might include an injured limb, vomiting, dental pain or anything else. Some will need to be booked in for surgery or x-rays at a later date, while others will simply require treatment at home with painkillers or other medication. 

Blood tests and x-rays

Some animals will be required to have their blood taken or be x-rayed to better understand any ailments they are suffering from. These animals may then be booked into surgery at a later date. Those who are undergoing surgery will also likely need a blood test to check they are fit enough to undergo the procedure safely.

Surgery

Once a vet has completed their scheduled appointments, they may be required to prepare certain animals for surgery. This can be something routine like neutering, or something more specialised. This will require the veterinarian to work closely with their nurse to ensure the patients are fully prepared for their surgery.

Paperwork and admin

This is likely not the reason you want to become a veterinarian but almost every job will require paperwork and admin of some description! In the case of a veterinarian, this may include phone calls and emails to clients, phone calls with other medical professionals, writing up notes from surgeries and examinations and logging in any follow-up appointments (although the reception desk will handle most routine appointment booking and enquiry calls).

Post-op examinations and preparations for inpatients

The final tasks on a typical day for a veterinarian will be checking on patients who have undergone surgery and making sure all the patients that are staying in overnight are comfortable and have everything they need. These might include administering medications, cleaning out the beds, feeding them and doing a final examination. This will all be done alongside the veterinary nurse who is working with you.

This is what you can expect on a typical day as a veterinarian – it’s certainly busy and interesting! You might then be ‘on-call’ for any emergencies and your daily hours can vary considerably.
The important thing to remember with becoming a veterinarian is that no day is “typical”. It’s a very varied and interesting job and you never know what you will be doing from one day to the next! For more information about veterinary careers, please do browse our blog.