Veterinarian

A veterinarian is a specialist who deals with the treatment of animals and the prevention of their health. Today, this profession includes several areas.

It is important to understand that the health of not only animals, but also citizens directly depends on how well the work of the veterinary service is organized in the country. After all, it is veterinarians who are involved in quality control of meat, dairy products, eggs, and everything else that is of animal origin.

A veterinarian is engaged in the treatment of domestic, farm animals, and animals in various entertainment establishments. His responsibilities include vaccinating animals, identifying and treating sick animals, and conducting outpatient appointments.

If the identified disease is not contagious, then the doctor must determine the cause of the disease, change the diet and eliminate the shortcomings in the maintenance of the animal.

If the disease is contagious, then a strict regimen is established for such patients, which excludes contact of a sick animal with healthy ones. The veterinarian, if necessary, performs operations, including cosmetic surgeries. He is also engaged in disinfection and deratization of the premises of the livestock complex.

In addition to the main tasks, the work of a veterinarian includes monitoring the veterinary and hygienic condition of the premises in which animals are located, pastures and watering places.

Veterinarians can work in various organizations: in veterinary hospitals, laboratories at research institutes, livestock enterprises, circuses, menageries, nurseries.

Representatives of this profession can specialize in the treatment of different types of animals, both domestic and agricultural, develop in the field of control and inspection. A person who has the profession of a veterinarian can also master other specializations, for example, a sanitary doctor, a zoologist, a fur breeder or a cynologist.

Responsibilities of a veterinarian

A veterinarian, first of all, must have excellent knowledge in the field of such sciences as: anatomy, microbiology, physiology, obstetrics.

No animal can talk about its illness the way a person can, so the doctor must accurately identify the problem and prescribe the right treatment.

The main tasks of the veterinary specialist are as follows:

• monitor the condition of the animal;
• prescribe treatment;
• carry out operations;
• take preventive measures;
• monitor compliance with sanitary standards;
• provide obstetric care.

Just like humans, animals have a host of diseases that are still being studied. The most common disease among animals is rabies. This disease can occur in absolutely any pet. If the animal has become shy, aggressive and saliva constantly comes out of its mouth, this is the first signal that you need to immediately contact a specialist. In this case, you can save your pet from death only by vaccinating, but it must be timely.

No less rare are diseases in animals such as rhinotracheitis and calcivirosis. These diseases are infectious and affect, first of all, the eyes and respiratory organs. Most often this disease affects young animals. Their symptoms are discharge from the eyes, nose, general weakness, lethargy, sneezing, coughing, lack of appetite. In general, the symptoms resemble a cold in humans. In this case, the doctor prescribes antibiotics.

Another complex and intractable disease is panleukopenia. This disease proceeds quickly enough and most owners do not even have time to understand what happened to their pet.

The main symptoms are incessant vomiting, loose stools, lack of appetite, general weakness. The condition of the animal during the illness deteriorates sharply. Swelling of the larynx can be fatal. In order for the animal not to become infected with this disease, it is important to vaccinate on time.

In what cases should you contact the veterinarian

Pets can get sick with various diseases just like their owners. It is important to determine the presence of an infection or disease in time, as it can be fatal or transmitted to humans. Of course, in the event that the pet simply injured its paw or was slightly burned, you should not consult a doctor. In such a situation, the owner himself can help the animal.

If the situation is more serious, then you should not hesitate to contact a specialist. First of all, every owner should know that the most dangerous diseases are diseases of the heart and blood vessels. If the pet has a weak pulse, the tongue turns blue and it lies motionless, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. This is how acute heart failure can manifest itself, and only an experienced specialist can properly help in this situation.

No less often, animals suffer from various poisonings and serious injuries. A pet can be poisoned by food that has expired, indoor and outdoor plants, and chemicals.

Symptoms of poisoning are: loose stools, severe vomiting, constipation. If a person has noticed that such strange things are happening to his dog or cat, you should immediately go to the doctor. The same applies to fractures of the limbs, swelling and suppuration.

Naturally, the animal will not be able to talk about its pain, so the owner should pay attention to the following symptoms of his pet:

• behavior;
• appearance;
• appetite;
• stool and urination.

Each person is accustomed to the regimen of his pet and knows when he goes to bed, eats, walks and goes to the toilet. If changes in this mode have become sharply noticeable, this is a cause for concern. For example, the pet has a noticeable weakness and lethargy, or, conversely, aggressive behavior and anxiety, or the animal has changed its place of sleep. In this case, the animal should be well monitored to prevent more severe symptoms.

Appearance is what you should pay attention to. A healthy pet has a neat appearance, does not emit an unpleasant smell, the coat is smooth, shiny and does not roll into tangles. The eyes of the animal are always clean and clear. From the mouth and other natural openings, no unusual secretions stand out.

If a person noticed that the coat began to fall out, a noticeable amount of dandruff appeared, the coat faded, and the animal began to itch – this is a symptom of the disease. There may also be salivation, discharge from the ears, nose and eyes.

In addition, you should pay attention to the stomach, with some diseases, ulcers and acne appear there.

One of the brightest signs that are hard to miss is appetite. It may decrease or disappear completely. Every loving owner knows what kind of treat his pet loves. If he suddenly refused to eat, began to act up and not eat up the usual portion – this is not the norm. Vomiting and stool disturbance may be added to the lack of appetite. It is worth noting that excessive thirst is another symptom that indicates malaise.

Often, animals suffer from urolithiasis and cystitis. The first sign is frequent urination in the wrong place. Blood can also be found in the urine. The animal is often simply unable to endure. In bitches, this disease is not so pronounced, since they have structural features of the genitourinary system.

Females often suffer from inflammation of the uterus. The first and dangerous symptoms are thirst and vaginal discharge. Inexperienced owners can confuse them with the usual secretions during estrus.

Therapies

Different diseases require fundamentally different treatment. In some cases, medications can be dispensed with, and more complex cases require surgical intervention.

You can diagnose the disease with the help of tests and ultrasound and other modern diagnostic methods. Their type depends on the disease of the animal, and is appointed exclusively by a veterinarian.