Veterinarian

If you love animals you’ve probably dreamed of growing up to be a vet at some point in your life. A passion for animals is crucial to becoming a veterinarian.  Along with saving animal’s lives, you’ll need to make some tough decisions and put your patient above yourself.

Although a veterinarian may specialise in treating pets such as dogs, cats and small animals, they can also specialise in birds, farm animals and wildlife. Whether you see yourself living in a city, helping people’s pets or if you see yourself out in the bush, there is a place for you within the veterinarian realm.

Tip: Before applying to study Veterinary Science, job shadow a few different types of vets to see if this really is something you would like to pursue after school.

In South Africa, you can only study a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc), or you can opt for the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing (BVetNurs) as a second option if you don’t make it in for veterinary science.  However, the only way you can practice as a veterinarian in South Africa, regardless of which route you take, is through obtaining your BVSc degree through UP.

If you’re actually working in a job where you medically treat animals, chances are you can be called out at any time of the day for emergencies, regardless of whether or not you work in a practice with set operational hours. Just as it is with humans, animals can demand medical attention at any time.

If you opt for something more in the consultancy or commerce line of work, you’re more likely to be able to conform to normal working hours, which equates to a regular 40 hour work week.

According to Payscale, the typical salary for a veterinarian in South Africa amounts to about R497,220 per year, which translates to R41,435 a month. For those who are at the beginning of their veterinary career, the expected annual income hovers around R440,000, or approximately R36,666 per month.

As you accumulate more experience and reach the milestone of a decade or more in the field, your potential earnings could increase to as much as R604,999 annually, equating to a monthly income of R50,416.

During your studies, you’ll cover a wide variety of subjects that will assist you along with your career. You’ll cover things like:

• Language and study skills
• Academic information management
• Genetics
• Biometry
• Chemistry
• Medical terminology
• Animal diversity
• Veterinary professional life
• Ecology
• Ethics
• Physiology
• Surgery

You’ll be studying full-time for six years, so the further along you get with your studies, the more specific and in-depth your modules and topics will be. Your final year will only be practical work to put your theoretical knowledge to work to ensure you graduate as an adequate veterinarian. You can find more exact details about your modules and the work you would cover.

During your studies, you’ll be introduced to the various fields and industries mentioned in the careers section above. This will allow you a look into what a career in that field would be. Be sure to get as involved as possible so that you can make an educated decision on where you would want your future as a vet to lie.