Veterinary physician

A veterinarian or veterinary ( vétérinaire from the French word, from Latin veterinarius ) is a graduate of a university degree in veterinary medicine ( veterinary medicine ), whose profession is for state license to practice in the medical care of animals. After completion of university studies, by creating a scientific work ( dissertation ) of the title Doctor medicinae veterinariae ( Dr. med. ) Are acquired. As in human medicine, there is the opportunity to work during their studies at the doctoral thesis. Postgraduate there is the possibility of training in veterinary specialist and Diplomate of the European College.

Career field

The essence of the veterinary profession is defined in the Code of Conduct for Veterinarians:

" The / the vet / vet is called to prevent suffering and diseases of animals, alleviate or cure to contribute to the conservation and development of an efficient livestock to protect the people from danger and damage caused by animal diseases and food and animal products and to work towards increasing the quality of foods of animal origin. The veterinary profession is not a business; he is by nature a liberal profession. The / the vet / vet is the appointed protectors of animals. "

In addition to the free independent profession as practicing veterinarians ( "Practice " → veterinary practice ) they also work in the Veterinary Administration (agriculture, control of food, etc., see also official veterinarian ), and in research, education and industry.

The veterinary practice is mainly determined by the nature of the treated animals. In agriculture, it is mainly livestock. Small animal practices in urban areas serve predominantly home and pets as well as birds, fish take next exotic small animals already training requires a lower status in the animal health care a (Ritter, 2007). Other practices specialize eg in surgery, laboratory diagnosis, pathology and zoos. In recent years, distinguished in the field of small animal and equine medicine further specialization from. The proportion of animal hospitals is increasing steadily. Modern diagnostic procedures such as MRI, CT and Doppler sonography have been established over the last 10 years here. Caught healing / preventing many practices tend to preventive and have expanded their field of work towards consulting and training.

Leading veterinary medicine cabinet is derived from the right to dispense for practicing veterinarians.

In the past 8 years, the proportion of female vets has been increased somewhat. He was in Germany in 2003 44.92 percent 2011 45.68 %.

Much like in human medicine, veterinarians charge for their treatments fees, for in the fees regulations for veterinarians ( GOT) minimum rates are fixed. Since most animals have health insurance, this fee is paid by the owner, which in the case of serious illness of the animal can lead to significant financial burdens.

• Praxisaustattung

Cutlery

Laboratory equipment

Cages for inpatient admission

Statistics

According to the statistics in 2009 commissioned by the Federal Chamber of Veterinarians 35,780 veterinarians were on 31 December 2009 in Germany reported in the animal medical associations ( women 48%, rising trend ). 25,413 of them were under veterinary active (proportion of women 50%).

A total of 10,367 were not or no longer veterinary worked. Minus the here made ​​to them as graduate students and retirees were 755 unemployed ( decreasing trend ), 1,597 did not practice the profession, and 867 went to a non-occupational activities after.

However, the veterinary degree is still attractive. From late 2001 until the end of 2006 the total number of veterinarians has increased by 3,362. At the veterinary educational institutions were in the winter semester 2006/2007 6,522 students enrolled ( women 86%). In 2006 888 students passed the state examinations of the Department of Veterinary Medicine from in Germany.