Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a veterinarian? Here’s the lowdown on the life of an animal doctor.

What kind of education do vets need?

To become a veterinarian, you’ll need to get good grades in school. Plan to study science in college because veterinary medicine is a science.

Next, you’ll go to a four-year college and study a related subject, such as biology (the science of living things). Then you’ll go to veterinary school, which usually takes four years.

While you study veterinary medicine, you’ll spend time learning about animal health in classrooms and doing studies in labs. You’ll also get practice working with animals and watching veterinarians treat them.

Who makes a good vet?

Good vets love animals! They care about all kinds of critters and want what’s best for them.

Vets should be calm and patient. Sometimes furry, scaly, or feathered patients don’t want to cooperate. That’s especially true of wild animals.

Vets who work in clinics also need to be good with people so they can work with families to give their pets the very best care.

Where can vets work?

If you have a pet, you may have taken it to a vet clinic. Many veterinarians work in clinics that specialize in pets such as dogs, cats, rodents, and reptiles. They examine pets to make sure they’re healthy and treat them when they’re sick. Other veterinarians offer similar services but specialize in large animals like horses.

Zoos, farms, ranches, and animal shelters also employ veterinarians. Basically, vets are needed anywhere animals are cared for.

Not all vets work directly with animals. Some of them work in labs, making vaccines, medicines, and other treatments for animals.

If you’re interested in becoming a veterinarian, start by learning as much about animals as you can. Books and nature shows have tons of information, and some animal shelters even let kids visit with their furry residents!