Veterinary Science Courses in India

Veterinary Science Courses in India are meant for only those who really have a heart for the welfare of animals. Also termed as ‘Veterinary Sciences’, it is a branch of Science which is involved in study, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease in animals. Veterinary Science is also referred as ‘Veterinary Medicine’ as it primarily deals with the health of all types of animals – mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes and amphibians. Veterinary Science Practitioners or Professionals are commonly known as Vets - Veterinarians and less commonly as Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, probably because Vet is short and easily pronounced. The primary duty of a Veterinarian is to take care of sick and injured animals. Like doctors of humans, they treat animals; prescribe medicine, perform surgery etc. Veterinarians are considered as ‘Guardians of Animal Health and Welfare’ and ‘Guardians of Human Health’. This is because they prevent disease transmission from animals to humans and humans to animals through various agents. Various countries have different levels of Veterinary Training. There are about 450 veterinary degree programs worldwide based on the recognition of World Health Organization (WHO) or the government of a country. Only about 1/3 rd of these programs provide a doctor's degree to aspirants. In India, Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry are almost the smae with minor differences in course curriculum. Veterinary Council of India conducts an All India Common Entrance Examination for admission to Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry Course.

Some of its specialized fields are –

• Anaesthesiology.
• Animal Behaviour.
• Cardiology.
• Emergency.
• Internal Medicine.
• Neurology.
• Oncology.
• Ophthalmology.

There are other areas of specialisation which are emerging based on individual species, in disciplines which cut across species groups and so on.

Veterinary Courses in India - Content

The study of this field includes all or few of these –

• Avian Production and Management.
• General Veterinary Microbiology.
• Veterinary Physiology.
• Wild / Zoo Animal Health Care & Management / Fish Production.

Objectives

• To better and develop an understanding of the biological and welfare needs of animals.
• To become an expert in health and welfare of diverse animal groups and the conservation of endangered species.
• To formulate and appraise disease control programmes.

Educational Qualifications

Veterinary Courses in India at graduate and postgraduate level are mainly provided by variousAgricultural Institutes in India.  Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree course is known as B.V.Sc. & A.H.B.which stands for Bachelor's in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry. It is also known as B.V.Sc. which is one and the same thing in India. The duration of B.V.Sc & AHB is mostly 5 academic years including compulsory internship of 6 months duration. The duration of the course may vary from 4½ to 5 years depending on the duration of internship.

For studying  Veterinary Science Courses in India:
 
Applicant must have passed the Higher Secondary Examination equivalent to 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. 
Admission to most veterinary colleges is done on the basis of marks obtained in the entrance examination conducted by the university concerned. This test is known as All India Pre-Veterinary Test (AIPVT). It is conducted by Veterinary Council of India for filling up 15% of the total number of seats of the Veterinary Colleges. 
AIPVT is an objective type (multiple choice and reason assertion type) examination. 

Veterinary Science Colleges in India:

• Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh.
• CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, Hrayana (College of Veterinary Sciences).
• Anand Agricultural University (College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry).
• Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh.

Personal Attributes

• A genuine interest in the biological sciences is a must to pursue this career.
• Compassion and Love for animals is basic essential for success in the career field because if you don’t love animals you will not be able to work effectively. It will be very evident whilst working directly with animal client's human owners, most of which have strong bonds with their pets.
• A person should have very good understanding of animal behaviour as animals can't tell their symptoms of their ailment. Therefore a good observation and keen eyesight is a must.
• Good communication skills are vital because veterinarians will be meeting, talking, and working with a variety of personalities and characters.

Remuneration – Depending on one’s qualification and experience, one can expect to be paid well. The remuneration of a veterinarian depends on the kind of practice and the animals which are under treatment. In government veterinary centres, fresh graduates are appointed as junior veterinary surgeon. Their average gross starting salary ranges between Rs.10, 000 – Rs.15, 000 per month. A private practitioner may get lucrative monetary returns depending on his popularity and the number of years of experience. He/she can earn Rs. 40 - Rs. 500 per patient, depending on the type of treatment the animal needs. There are also openings in government department in the positions such as livestock development officers. The monthly salary varies between Rs. 10, 000 – Rs. 20, 000 depending upon the years of experience.

Job Perspectives

Animals are all around us, some are wild, some are domesticated, some are stray and so on. All these need to immunised, treated, rehabilitated and researched upon for various purposes. India being an Agriculture Country, uses animals for manual labour and people keep a variety of pets. Moreover, veterinarians have important roles to play not only in animal health and welfare but in human health, and environmental medicine. The government also provided various veterinary jobs in india, viz. public health professionals whose services are utilised in zoos, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. The Defence Services use horses, dogs, camels etc. Therefore they too need the services of veterinarians. Various organizations, such as zoological research institutes employ veterinarians conduct research and development in various departments and to man their laboratories. As such there is no dearth of veterinary science jobs at various levels. Veterinary Science Careers exist worldwide in private and corporate clinical practice, academic programs, private industry, government service, public health andmilitary. Most graduates are employed in general practice. Others are employed as anaesthetists, radiologists, physicians and surgeons. Vets can also be employed to check the hygiene and health of animals in dairy farms, zoos etc. Veterinary graduates can also find employment in overseas universities, in pharmaceutical companies, with pet food manufacturers or other commercial organisations and supra-governmental organisations such as the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations.
 
Some Job Types

• Animal Inspectors.
• Animal Care and Service Workers.
• Biological Scientists.
• Chiropractors.
• Dentists.
• Optometrists.
• Podiatrists.
• Specialists.
• Pharmacy Research Scientists.
• Veterinary Technologists and Technicians.

Some Employment Areas

• Hospitals.
• Government Projects.
• Research Companies.
• Pharmaceuticals.
• Universities.
• Animal Food companies.
• Animal Welfare Societies.
• Zoos & Wild life Research.
• Sanctuaries.
• Media and Print.
• Veterinary Clinics.
• Veterinary Training.
• Dairy Research Institutes.
• Animals Farms; Dairy, Fish, Piggery, Poultry Farms.