Layton 1

Monica Layton
May 5, 2016
BUS-1010
Prof. Alldredge
Project Term Paper
Veterinarian Owning a Vets Office/Building
Job Description
As a veterinarian, my duties would include diagnosing animals injuries. I would
prescribe any medicines as needed and give shots regularly. I would perform any surgeries as
needed, most commonly spays and neuters. Any needs an animal has, or the owner has, I would
tend to. My goal would be to keep animals happy, and healthy but also caring for those that were
less fortunate in appropriate manner. I would most likely end up being a companion animal
veterinarian. Companion animal veterinarians treat pets and generally work in private clinics, my
dream is to own my own private clinic. The American Veterinary Medical Association says that
more than seventy-five percent of veterinarians who work in a private clinical practice treat pets,
such as cats and dogs but also birds, ferrets and rabbits (Veterinarians). I plan to make my life
in Sevier County. About 75% of people in this town have horses and their horses need the same
care and treatment that dogs, cats, rabbits and ferrets do, so I would eventually have to become a
equine veterinarian, one who works with horses (Veterinarians)
As a business owner and owning an office or building lot to become a vet clinic duties
would include paying space rent, ordering clinical supplies when needed, paying any bills as they
come up. I would make sure business licenses were up to date and never expired. I would do any
hiring of vet assistants and secretaries. I would oversee all employees and assure their jobs are
done correctly. Being the owner, I would be responsible for land and space maintenance, which I
more than likely would hire someone to do that.

General Career Path

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Entering this career would be difficult and I wouldnt expect to graduate school and
immediately own a clinic and be the top vet in my area. I would start from the bottom and work
my way up. My first step, of course, would be to graduate veterinary school and after I graduate
would be to find a job working in a vet clinic. Whether I started out as a veterinarians assistant,
veterinarian technician or even just a secretary at a vets clinic I would just want to begin in a
clinic and start working with animals and gain the hands-on experience.
Shortly after I got my veterinarian degree I would start business school. I would go to
business school while I worked in a clinic and once I graduated with a business degree, I would
start looking for empty buildings that I could turn into my own clinic. My dream would be to
have my clinic by my house so I could quickly make into the office when an emergency came in,
but I would start with what was available. I would rent a space first, to save money and make
transitioning to a property I want happen quicker and easier.
Education Experience
Education for future veterinarians is long, and challenging but the outcome is rewarding.
Veterinarians are required to complete a four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) along
with undergraduate school. Veterinarians are also required to obtain a license to practice this
profession, licensing varies by state (Veterinarian education requirements and info).
Veterinarian students typically obtain a bachelors in science of animal, before completing
the DVM. Bachelors of animal sciences include classes like zoology, molecular biology,
chemistry, animal science, biochemistry. Additional classes include; microbiology, animal
management, animal nutrition and equine care (Veterinarian education requirements and info).
Before getting a bachelors degree, they go through undergraduate school and attend biology,
chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, anatomy and many more (Veterinary Training).

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Future veterinarians then move forward to DVM. Some DVM programs can take up to
four and a half years to complete. The first few years consist of classroom instruction while the
last two years-two and a half years focus on clinical practices. Coursework for DVM programs
include; animal behavior, veterinary pharmacy, clinical pathology, large and small animal
medicine, diagnostic imaging, anesthesia and surgery principles (Veterinarian education
requirements and info). In clinical practices, students complete rotations and receive hands-on
experience. They complete rotations in dentistry, cardiology, oncology and equine care. Students
learn skills such as how to: treat wounds, prescribe medication, perform surgery, and set fractures
(Veterinarian education requirements and info).
After completing DVM and earning a degree, veterinarians must become licensed. All
states require vets to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE). The
NAVLE consists of a 360 questions test that last seven and a half hours and tests the students
knowledge of veterinary activities and animal species (Veterinarian education requirements and
info). Some states require additional requirements like veterinary law and clinical skills exams.
To take the NAVLE, students can go online to www.nbvme.org and submit two applications and
from there, schedule their exam (NAVLE process summarized).
Average Salary
Salary for veterinarians vary depending on state, and how good the veterinarian is. The
average salary for the top ten percent veterinarians is $53,210 annually, compared to the top 50%
(Median) which is $88,490 (Occupational Employment Wages - Veterinarians). The greatest
veterinarians, the top 90% is $158,260 annually. For Utah, where I plan to make my living, the
average salary for veterinarians is $87,410 annually. The highest annual salary, reported in 2015,
is in New York City at $123,650 annually (Occupational Employment Wages - Veterinarians).

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There was no report of veterinarians salary near Sevier County but there was near Provo, about 2
hours north of Sevier. The average salary reported for veterinarians in Provo, in 2015, is $91,400
(Occupational Employment Wages - Veterinarians).
Outlook
Sevier County is a relatively small area and there are currently two vet clinics in my area
and both are great vets with strong clientele. Sevier County people are very loyal to their doctors,
hair dressers, vets, etc...so starting my career here could be rough. I would plan to open a clinic
that was available for after hour and weekend emergencies. The veterinarians already here have
an emergency number people can call but they arent always available. I would make sure
myself, or another veterinarian, would always be available to help animals and satisfy their
humans. Finding another veterinarian to partner with in this area could be challenging, as well.
Once I got settled into this career, had my own clinic and a full staff I believe business
would start to kick off! Sevier County is an ever growing area and new business are arriving and
bringing more people around and realistically I wouldnt be settled for another 5-10 years.
Around that time, this area could be as big as Salt Lake and more veterinarians would be needed.
Biology of Dr. Kelsey
Dr. Kelsey has been mine and my families vet since we moved down here in the late 90s.
Hes exceptional at his job, and he owns his own clinic. Hes recently retired but still works a
few days a week because he loves it so much. Hes partnered up with Dr. Johnson, who is also an
exceptional vet. Dr. Kelsey graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of California.
He worked as an intern for a few years in a clinic in California before moving to his hometown,
Richfield. Dr. Kelsey said the hardest part of starting his career was forming a clientele. He

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didnt know very many people and because he was a young vet, not very many people trusted
him regardless of his diploma and few years internship in California.
Dr. Kelsey found a small building on the outskirts of town and purchased it with the help
from his parents. He eventually brought in clientele when everyone learned he specialized in
equine care. Word spread quickly, and he became the top veterinarian in Sevier County.
My family had goats, dogs, rabbits, cats, ferrets and even snakes when I was growing up
and I remember always bringing them to Kelsey when we had a problem. Dr. Kelsey would even
meet us at his office in the middle of the night when one of our dogs was acting sickly, or when
one of our dogs attacked our goats. He was gentle with them, he was kind to us, and he never
acted like his career was just a job. I grew up wanting to be a veterinarian because of Dr. Kelsey.
He was always willing to work with us with payments, and sometimes even shrugged it off and
helped us free of charge. His kindness was a fraction of why he was so popular in this town.
Pros and cons
Advantages of pursuing this career would go far beyond the pay, which is great. The
number one advantage would the reward of doing what I loved! I wouldnt hate going to work
everyday, I would love it, I would be excited for it! Saving an animals life would be a huge
advantage. I would also love being control of what happens in my clinic with being the owner.
Disadvantages would be inevitable, putting sick animals down. Ive been through that
with my dog and it was the worst pain Ive been through and the veterinarian that put him down
even teared up. The long hours would definitely be a downfall. I would start early and sometimes
not leave until late that evening and then theres the possibility of an emergency arising after I
arrived home. Theres always a chance of dealing with agitated animals and getting bitten. A

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great disadvantage would be dealing with an upset pet owner. Being a veterinarian can be
physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding (Advantages and Disadvantages).
The advantages would overcome the disadvantages, simply because Id love what I was
doing. Going to work everyday was a hobby, not a chore. (Kelsey, Deon).
My Fit with this Career
I could strive in this career because I have a strong love for animals and a strong will to
achieve. I would struggle with the schooling but my love for the animals and my want to help
them would get me through it. After my first euthanization, I would be an emotional wreck and
want to quit the career all together but at the end of the day I would still love my job.

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Works Cited

-Advantages and Disadvantages of being a veterinarian. (n.d.). Retrieved May 04, 2016, from
http://www.careerride.com/view.aspx?id=10441
-Kelsey, Deon. (2016, May 1st). Personal Interview.
-NAVLE Process Summarized. (n.d.). Retrieved May 04, 2016, from
https://www.nbvme.org/navle-general-information/navle-process-summarized/
-Occupational employment wages - Veterinarians. (n.d.). Retrieved May 04, 2016, from
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291131.htm
-Veterinarian Education Requirements and Career Info (n.d.). Retrieved May 04, 2016, from
http://study.com/veterinarian_education.html
-Veterinarians (n.d.). Retrieved May 04, 2016, from
https://collegegrad.com/careers/veterinarians
-Veterinary training. (n.d.). Retrieved May 04, 2016, from
https://www.avma.org/public/YourVet/Pages/training.aspx