Facts about camels

We tend to get our camel facts in bits and pieces. We know that some camels have one hump, others have two, and they are famous for being able to go long distances or periods with out water. We've heard that they can be easy to ride, or uncomfortable to ride, depending on who you talk to. We tend to associate them with desert areas, and may have even heard that they once roamed free in the state of Nevada.

While any list of camel facts can be lengthy, let's try to put together some information that gives a good picture as to where this animal comes from, what it is like, and how it is used. First of all, the camel is an ungulate, an animal that has hoofs. There are two true camels, the dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) which has single hump, and the Bactrian camel (Cameulus bactrianus) which has two humps. The dromedaries are mostly found where we tend to expect them, in the arid regions of northern Africa. Nearly half of the dromedaries living today will be found in Somalia and Ethiopia, the remainder are spread across North Africa from Sudan to Morocco. The bactrain camel exists in much smaller numbers, and live mostly in northern Asia.

Both species were introduced into the United States in the 1800's, with the United States Army using them as draft animals for a short time. This experiment did not prove to be successful, as horses could not easily be used alongside the camels (horses do not like the small of the camel), and the troops never became accustomed to them. Many of the animals were simply allowed to run free and were spotted roaming free in the southwest, especially in Nevada, from time to time for a number of years. There is a feral population if the Australian Outback, thought to be several hundred thousand in number. While native to Africa and Asia, the true camels have cousins in South America, those being the vicuña, alpaca, and the llama.

Among the camel facts you may come across which are not true, are those which suggest that the camel is able to store huge quantities of water, and that is the reason for the hump(s). While the camel will drink a large amount of water when it is able to, its secret is not so much in being able to store water, but in being able to use water very efficiently. The camel can withstand very hot temperatures, and looses much less water through sweating and respiration than is the case with most other animals. Its coat tends to insulate the body against the heat of the sun, minimizing perspiration. Also, a camel can lose over 20% of its weight through dehydration before being in danger of dying. 3% is the limit for most animals. A camel can often go a week without a supply of water, and when grazing, efficiently extracts water contained in leaves and plants. The hump by the way, does have a purpose. It consists primarily of fatty tissue which serves as an energy reservoir. A camel can cover 20 mile a day in hot weather conditions, while carrying a 200 pound load.

Although used primarily for transportation, there are a few camel facts of interest regarding their use as a food source. Bedouin tribes use the camels as a source for both milk and meat. Camel milk is very rich; more so than cows milk, and the meat, which is said to taste like beef, has been served for years from Persia (Iran) to Egypt, and points in between. In some regions, camel blood is consumed, being a source of salt, iron and vitamins not always available in the usual diet. Though not food items, camel hair and hides are also valuable commodities, and are often used in fine articles of clothing and leather products. Camel poop (dung if you prefer) is often used as a fuel for heat and cooking.

Camels can move fairly quickly, and as they can maintain a speed of about 25 mph for over an hour, can cover ground fairly quickly. For short distances they can run at speeds of 40 mph, and camel racing is a very popular sport in the Middle East, as popular as horse racing. Camel races are not strictly limited to the Middle East, there is a prestigious camel race held annually at Alice Springs, in the interior of Australia. These are truly remarkable animals, well suited to a wide variety of climatic conditions, able to cover long distances, and, with their broad hooves, able to navigate fairly easily in loose sand. They truly are "ships of the desert".

Information on cockatiel training can be found at the Knowledge Bin site.

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Camels

Camels have been coined the Ships of the Desert, and for good reason. Domesticated more than 3000 yrs ago, humans even rely upon them to this day to transport them across arid/desert environments in Africa and Asia. They can easily carry up to 200 lbs and travel up to 20 miles/day! Wow! They are as fast as a horse, but can go for extended periods of time without any food or water. This makes them well equipped to live in the desert.

They are well adapted to the desert landscape as their feet are round and broad, working somewhat like a snowshoe would in the snow, so that they don't sink into the sand. For humans, sand blown into our eyes can be annoying and painful, as well as unhealthy for the eyes. However, camels have a special membrane over their eyes to protect them from the sand called a nictitating membrane, which works as a clear inner eyelid, letting enough light in for them to see, along with a double row of eyelashes. They are also able to close their nostrils to keep the sand out of their nose.

Camels live in Africa, Asia, and as feral animals in Australia, which were imported in the 19th century. Some of these camels, who live in environments where it gets cold in the winter, grow thick, shaggy coats, and shed them in the hot summer months.

Camel Classification: 
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Camelidae
Genus: Camelus
Species:
o ferus (wild Bactrian, or two-humped)
o ferus f. bactrianus (domestic Bactrian)
o dromedarius (dromedary, or one-humped)

About 90% of the camels today are dromedaries, which have only 1 hump, and only exists today as a domesticated species. There are 2 types of Bactrian camels, both of which have 2 humps: one of which is wild, and one of which is domesticated. Wild Bactrians are more athletic-looking, have smaller humps and less hair.

* Myth: Camels store water in their hump. This is completely FALSE! In fact, camels store fat in their humps, which is used as an energy store in conditions where food is scarce. Camels can go 1 wk or more without water, and several months without food. This hump, well, gets them over the "hump". How long they can survive depends upon how hot the climate is and their activity level. You can tell a camel that has not eaten, by if his hump leans over to 1 side. This means that he has been delving into his fat stores.

* Myth: Camels spit at you. FALSE! They don't actually spit on you, they throw up and spew it at you. This is to scare off or intimidate whatever is threatening them. YUK!

In some places in the world, people use many camel products: milk, meat, wool, leather, and even their dung for fuel (I don't know if I could do that one!).

My Story: When I lived in Australia in 1994-95, I had the opportunity of riding a camel in Broome, Western Australia at sunset down Cable Beach...Amazing. I got to visit a camel farm near Perth, Western Australia, which was so much fun, and I made a bunch of camel-friends. I even ate camel sausage in Kakadu National Park (Darwin, Northern Territory)...No, it didn't taste like chicken. It tasted similar to venison and was very gamy.

Conservation: Wild Bactrian camels are considered critically at risk. Camels live to be about 50 yrs old, and only have 1 (rarely 2) young at a time. They carry their young for 12-14 months. As I mentioned earlier, 90% of the world's camels are dromedaries, and they no longer exist in the wild. The rest are the domesticated Bactrian, and the wild Bactrian.

Please, donate locally, online, or just spread the word about these strange and wonderful creatures.

by Kimberly Edwards

Kimberly Edwards is the founder of ExoticAnimalLover.com - Keeping Up The Fight To Preserve The Planet's Wildlife. Find awesome information about animals from all over the world, exotic animal news, updates on conservation, and anything else "Animal". For all of you who are exotic animal lovers, you know who you are...Check out: http://www.ExoticAnimalLover.com

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Online Veterinary Practice

Veterinary software today comes in many flavors and sold on many platforms and technologies. Though Windows-based solutions are the most common there are a number of other other software solutions. There a number of downsides to non-hosted software that is not web-based. The world of computers is rapidly evolving and software systems that are closed and tied to a single platform are becoming increasingly obsolete when stacked against online veterinary software solution.The most common vet software program is a windows-based solution that either resides on a single machine or is networked and resides on both a PC and a server. The PC will host the software and the server will host the database.

The first biggest disadvantage becomes immediately apparent: the hardware requirement. Veterinary software vendors typically require the veterinarian to purchase and maintain expensive hardware. The networked server costs at least $2000 and almost as much to maintain on a yearly basis. The PCs that host the system might be cheaper, but by no means are they cheap to maintain, patch and upgrade to the latest software standards. Before purchasing any solution from a software vendor it is important that vet clinics research and understand what and how much hardware is required to operate the software.

A second, even more pressing concern that can't be expressed in dollars, is security. On-premise systems that reside on users machines or a practice's database server are typically woefully insecure. Software vendors will promise "automated backups" and "password protected" logins but typically these vendors are small or medium size businesses with little understand of the more sophisticated security vulnerabilities. Automated backups do not protect against the loss or theft of a machine nor from a hard drive crash. Password-protected logins do not protect from weak password policies or brute force password hackers. A veterinary software systems security will only be as powerful as the people coding the software and typically vet software vendors do not having the man power and expertise to make their systems very sophisticated.

The last and probably most pressing disadvantage of most of today's software offerings is the lack of portability. We live in the age of iPads and Blackberries, where data is expected to be always on the go like the rest of us. These software systems were never designed or programmed to work on many different platforms, let alone the software be accessed from somewhere outside the office. As long as the solution is secure, there is simply no concrete disadvantage to having a solution that works inside and outside the clinic than having one that works strictly in the clinic. Software today is meant to move and vets shouldn't have to settle for less. Online veterinary practice management software has none of these distinct disadvantages. If you choose the right provider, the software system will sit on one of the major "cloud infrastructures" that guarantees 99.99% uptime and enterprise-level security. The advantage of cloud hosted solutions are many:

1. No hardware requirement: you can use the existing machines in your office or even your home. And not be tied down to a single software platform like Windows.
2. Enterprise-grade security: A few online software vendors will offer their applications on existing, ultra-secure cloud infrastructures that are used by banks and other industries where security and privacy are paramount. Veterinary software shouldn't suffer from poor security simply because the vet market may be smaller than the bank industry.
3. Portability: When software is hosted on the web it means that any web-enabled device can access it, anytime and anywhere: at work, home, at a cafe, a bookstore or on vacation.

A powerful veterinary software solution I recommend is called VetBlue http://www.eveterinarysoftware.com and has all the advantages of online software we discussed in this article and suffers from none of the setbacks of on-premise, windows-based solutions since it is hosted and available 24/7 from any web enabled PC, Mac or smartphone.

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Veterinary Practice

Another frequently asked question on How To Grow Your Veterinary Practice Is:

How Can I Track If My Marketing Is Working Within My Veterinary Practice?

This is a very good question because the key to any successful marketing campaign is tracking. This is also the difference between the sort of advertising that comes out of Madison Avenue and the sort that actually works for small businesses including veterinary practices.

So how do you go about tracking?

Here are four ways you can track if your marketing is working:

1. Campaign Specific Telephone Numbers

Did you know that it is possible to rent tracking telephone numbers? These are telephone numbers that you can put on your adverts, letters and web pages that when dialed will ring in your office but will be also be logged. For example, say you were running an identical promotion in two different local newspapers at the same time at the ad generated 50 new clients for your practice. If you used the same telephone number on both then you wouldn't know which newspaper had generated the most new clients. You might then be tempted to run the same ad again in both newspapers the following week when, in fact, one of the newspapers had generated 45 new clients and the other one had only generated 5! However, if each ad used a different tracking telephone number then you would know exactly how many had come from each.

2. Campaign Specific Codes

An alternative to using telephone numbers is to use different codes for each campaign. For example, you could specify in your ads or letters: Please mention offer code XYZ345 when making an appointment. This is a cheaper than telephone numbers but also not as reliable as you are relying on the client remembering to give the code and your reception staff remembering to keep track of it.

3. Campaign Specific Vouchers

Another well used tracking method is to include a voucher/coupon on your ad that the client has to bring with them to qualify for the promotion. Again not as good as telephone numbers but still a lot more than the majority of veterinary practice do.

4. Campaign Specific Web Pages

If you want to track clients that have come as a result of visiting your website then you could use different "landing pages" for different campaigns which could include any of the above tracking methods. You can also have Internet only offers so you know could only have been found on your website.

Use a simple spreadsheet which lists each campaign and the total cost of the campaign i.e. postage, paper, advertising costs etc. Then have columns for the number of responders (leads), the number of conversions (sales), the Cost Per Lead (total cost/leads), the Cost Per Sale (total cost/sales) and the value of the sales made. By doing this you can track if you are getting a return on your investment and determine if it is worth running the campaign again.

So don't waste money on advertising and marketing that doesn't work. Track your campaigns and focus on the ones that actually give you a positive return on investment.

Dean Biggs is co-founder of Veterinary Practice Profits based in Heathrow, FL. The aim of Veterinary Practice Profits is to teach veterinary practice owners the practice building and marketing strategies they were never taught at Veterinary school.

To get 20 FREE videos on 10 Frequently Asked Questions and 10 Questions You Should Be Asking about growing your veterinary practice plus a FREE book and CD on How To Consistently Grow Your Practice Every Year just click the following link http://www.FreeVetVideos.com

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Veterinary Practice

Ok, you have just bought your lovely new kitten and are all excited. Now it's time to consider trying to find a local veterinary or vet practice that is the best one to suit you and your kitten.

Hopefully there won't be many frequent visits, however when you do, you have to feel happy that they can treat your kitten as and when he requires care.

Before I start, it is worth mentioning that you should not be afraid to ask your vet questions while they are examining your kitten. They will only be too happy to explain what they are checking for.

So here are the seven tips or facts you should consider when choosing a vet..

1. How do other cat owners in your area feel about their vet?

2. Are their requirements the same as yours?

3. What are the practice consultation times and will they be convenient for you?

4. What services and facilities does the practice offer? And what range of animal species are normally treated? For instance you may own a Siberian Kitten, have they had any experiences with that breed before?

5. What are the routine treatment costs? There could be a variation in costs, depending on location, facilities offered and overheads.

6. Where is the practice located and is it near any transport links? Does it have a car par, and are there any branch practices which may be nearer to your home?

7. Is the practice accredited with a recognised Veterinary body or organization?

Keep a note of these tips and facts to consider and wish you all the best with your carefully considered choice.

Leo is an avid researcher and enjoys writing articles online and has been for a while now. This author covers a broad spectrum of topics however he specializes in fitness, dieting and weight loss, you can also check out his informative website at http://www.antioxidants-guide.com/ this is where you can discover the all about the baobab health benefits, its the superfruit everyone's talking about!

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Veterinary Technician

There is always something new about veterinary medicine every now and then. The changes that took place in the profession are always good and makes them more competent in there chosen field. Their efforts have certainly made a great difference in all of our lives. 

Even with all the recent advancements of medicines, prescription and non-prescription veterinary diets and behavior modification training, there are always new and improved ways and techniques to better the animal's quality of life.

That being said, veterinary technicians have been a big part of these medical and non-medical improvements. They are now given more duties and privileges and are finally being properly recognized. Jobs, specific trainings, and continuing education are now being offered by vet tech schools. They certainly have more options this time. 

These privileges and responsibilities given to the vet techs make them a valuable member of the pet health team. They play a very important role in almost all animal care scenarios. Vet techs a needed in vet clinics, research institutions, animal shelters and zoos. They are practically everywhere. 

The veterinary technician's help to a veterinarian has lessened their workload and has improved an animal's health. Their partnership is now a must.

Veterinary technicians are now demanded in all veterinary institutions. It is expected that the demand will be increasing in the years to come. This paved way for more vet tech schools to open and be accredited. This would mean more opportunities for more people. 

As an animal lover, you should choose to get a formal vet tech education since it is needed nowadays. This is going to be a very wise decision to a something you love for a living.

So start the journey by deciding to be a happy veterinary technician. It's going to be a bright future!
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Career In Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary Surgeons or Vets are doctors for animals, since similar to human beings animals will have a number of illnesses which need care and treatment. In order to become a Vet it's important first of all to have a passion for animal welfare. Even though earning a decent living from this job must also be your concern, this must not be your main reason for starting a career in this field.

The skills necessary to become a veterinarian are much like the ones essential to a pediatrician. Basically, animals much like kids are unable to communicate symptoms to you and so you will rely on the testimony of the owners in addition to your own skills to test and diagnose the condition of your patients and give the right treatment.

If you need to become a veterinarian you are required to get a veterinary degree, often known as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, from one of the reputable establishments and also obtain the required license to have a practice. This type of certification will not just enable you to treat animals that have regular complaints, but in addition to concentrate on animal healthcare niche markets. Needless to say, the regulations and rules for veterinary doctors are different in all countries and so you have to seek advice from your local licensing boards while doing your research.

Many people once certified decide to treat domestic pets because there is always a greater demand in this area and newly qualified vets will have many opportunities available. This will also be a good path to take for people who want to start their own practice in the future.

Normally it takes as much as 8 years to get the qualifications in order to become a veterinarian surgeon after leaving secondary institution. On top of that, the competition to get into the Universities which provide degrees in this medicine will be intense, but for individuals who are able to get a spot and then graduate the benefits will be great in both remuneration and job satisfaction.

For more great tips on how to become a vet visit http://www.becomeavet.org/.

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Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary medicine has become a very booming career opportunity in this modern era. Though, the relationship between the man and animal is quite old but with the passage of time, it has strengthened a lot. Veterinary medicine is one such occupation that primarily focuses at the wellbeing of the animals- both wild and domestic.

Veterinary doctors are supposed to be the specialized physicians meant for animals. Animal used to be tamed for domestic uses in the olden times and now there are different breeds of pets that are to be kept and owned. The bond is strengthening with every passing day and this is the reason, more and more branches of science and medicine are getting being tilted towards the better being of the animals especially those which are being kept as animals. Veterinary medicine basically focuses on knowing and then getting yourself educated and trained to cure the animals of their different diseases, illnesses and injuries.

An injured horse being secured to "The Simplicity Equine" portable operating table in its vertically oriented position during World War I

It is a very vast field that encompasses different genres of animal medicine. There are so many subjects and genres where veterinary medicine offers specialization. Ranging from animal physiology, biochemistry, nutrition, micro biology, pharmacology to therapeutic and diagnostic procedures; there are numerous fields in which specialization can be obtained depending upon the aptitude for specific subject. Other than this, veterinary medicine offers specialization in specific animals like you can become a vet specialized to diagnose, cure and treat dog illnesses, diseases and injuries. You can become a veterinarian specializing in specific animal or you can opt for certain sects of animals like live stock specialization, wild animal diagnosis etc. it all depends what is your aptitude.

There are numerous well reputed institutes that offer veterinary medicine specialization. There are certain prerequisites to enter in such an institute. There are many veterinary schools as well where different types of courses and specializations are being offered in the field of animal physiology and the related subjects. Obviously, in order to become a specialized animal physician, you are supposed to gain the degree in this very subject along with the required training sessions. Online help can be opted in this regard to know about the entrance to all such schools and institutions. As far as the training is concerned, for this the student can become an assistant to an already established veterinarian.

Veterinary medicine is not only a booming career opportunity rather it serves as a medium to take great care of our pets or wild ones as well. Research done in this field can lead us to know a lot more about these animals and new discoveries can be made for their wellbeing and their good health.

LEO'S PET CARE is a full-service veterinary medical facilities like vet clinic and animal hospital Indianapolis. LEO'S PET CARE seeks to provide the best possible medical care for their patients.

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Veterinarian

Are you between the ages of 8 and 12 years old and you want to become a veterinarian? I know exactly what you are going through. I am a veterinarian and I made my decision to become a veterinarian at 11 years of age. The truth is, you are at the age when most veterinarians make their career decision. Recently, I surveyed over a hundred veterinarians nationwide and 65% of them said they made their decision to become a veterinarian before they reached the age of 13. So you are in the most important years for a future veterinarian. Do all you can to explore animals and veterinary medicine right now!

OK, so I've got you ready to go, but what should you do? Let me be your guide on how to become a veterinarian. As a Vet for Kids, I focus my time on helping future animal doctors like you pursue their dreams. In fact, I recently connected with practicing veterinarians all over the country and I want to share the advice these veterinarians had for kids like you.

When I asked them how to become a veterinarian, by far, the top recommendation of the veterinarians I surveyed was for you to explore and study science as much as possible. When I meet children who want to be veterinarians, the first thing I tell them is "Many children love animals. The children who love both science and animals are the ones who become veterinarians." It's so important to explore as much science as you can in school, but don't stop there.

Science doesn't only live in the classroom. Visit a museum, go to a science camp or get involved with a science club. If you want to have an even greater impact, you can help scientists collect data on animals. There are many national programs like the Great Backyard Bird count and local programs like amphibian monitoring sponsored by organizations throughout the country. You can go out in the area around your home and help scientists track the animal populations across our country.

The veterinarians I surveyed also recommended that you get as many "animal experiences" as possible. What this means is that, when they were younger, many practicing veterinarians found unique ways to be around pets and learn all they could about the science of animals. Some took the leading role in caring for their family pets, some fostered pets for the local animal shelter and others pet-sat for their neighbors.

When I asked one veterinarian oncologist her advice on how to become a veterinarian, she shared what she did when she was young. She told me she made animals a part of everything she did at school. If she had to write a book report, it was always on an animal book. If she was drawing a picture for an art project, it was always of an animal. If she had to bring something in to share with the class, it was something she got from a trip to the local zoo or aquarium. Animals and the science of animals were a major part of everything she did at school.

So, there you have it. Remember, the key is to make certain that you are doing something everyday to become a veterinarian of tomorrow. As Walt Disney once said "All of our dreams can come true-if we have the courage to pursue them."

For more information on how to become a veterinarian visit Ichabod Ink.

Dr. Carpenter is considered the Veterinarian for Kids. He has written books and articles for children on veterinary science and presented at schools and camps. A member of the American Veterinary Association and the National Science Teachers Association, Dr. Carpenter recently launched IchabodInk.com. http://www.ichabodink.com/, the go to website for children who want to be veterinarians and parents who want to help their child explore their dream.

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Veterinary Training

If you excel at the sciences and love animals then you should consider exploring veterinary training and becoming an expert in animal care. This is a field where not only can you help improve the quality of life for animals but you can be well rewarded financially for your services.

Veterinary scientists and veterinary technologists/technicians are in high demand. This should come as no surprise. Millions of people In the US and Canada love their pets and are willing to spend good money to see those pets in the best of health.

But it may come as a surprise to you that the skills learned in veterinary training are not just applied to animal care. As a matter of fact, research breakthroughs in diseases affecting animals have been applied to human medicine. After all, many diseases affect both animals and humans.

It takes a special personality to become a veterinarian. It is a given that you need to be compassionate and patient when dealing with animals. But you also need to have a strong constitution to handle the sight of bloody animals. You need to be able to make the tough decisions - deciding that it is best to euthanize an animal rather than trying to treat it.

You should also be interested in understanding animal behavior, habits and the physical systems that they have. You need to be physically fit to be able to lift and restrain animals as well.

Not to mention the academic requirements you need to have. For entry into the veterinary science degree program, you need to excel at the sciences and mathematics.

Another way to demonstrate you early commitment to veterinary training is to get volunteer with your local animal shelter or vet. In fact, it is critical to being accepted into veterinary college that you show that you are committed to animal welfare outside of school as well as inside.

Prior to entry into the doctor of veterinary medicine program (DVM), you need to ensure the program is appropriately accredited. There are not many colleges in the US that offer accredited veterinary degrees. Neither can veterinary science training to be done online. So be careful of schools claiming to offer online DVM programs.

If you feel that veterinary training is not for you, consider doing a certificate in any of the various aspects of animal care. For example, you could do a certificate in dog obedience training or pet grooming.

These in general won't pay as well as having veterinary training. However if you manage to provide obedience training or pet grooming services to an affluent clientele - you can make serious money.

Next, find the top schools that offer veterinary training and find out if this career is suitable for you. Visit: http://www.distancelearningdegrees.org

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Veterinary

It is estimated by the National Pet Owner's Survey that 63 percent of households have a pet. This equals out to millions of pets across America that at some point may need assistance to get better from injuries or illnesses. Online career training in veterinary science and animal care can be pursued through different degrees.

The two professional pathways that can be followed are a veterinarian and a veterinary technologist or technician. The main focus is on giving specific care to a patient, which in this profession is an animal. Veterinarians can work with household pets as well as livestock. Duties include:

• diagnosing health problems
• vaccinating
• medicating
• treating wounds
• fixing fractures
• advising owners on animal care
• providing preventative care
• performing diagnostic tests

All of these job responsibilities will be learned through schooling and clinical practice before stepping into the workplace. Specific duties learned through coursework involve specific procedures that must be performed to treat an animal. These areas can include urinalysis, blood work, and dental work.

Education is obtainable from an associate's degree to a doctorate degree. Students typically earn an associate's degree, a bachelor's degree, or a doctor of veterinary medicine degree to establish themselves as professionals inside the industry. Students need to take into consideration what area they want to work in. Students that don't necessarily want to become a Veterinarian or want to gain work experience first then go back to college should consider becoming a veterinary technologist. Individuals with the goal of becoming a veterinarian need to take into account that the field requires them to have at least a master's or doctorate degree to practice.

The titles for veterinary technologists and technicians are used interchangeably but there is one difference. The difference is in training: technologists usually earn a bachelor's degree and technicians earn an associate's degree. Either degree level adequately prepares students to perform their job duties correctly. Individuals in this line of work take on routine laboratory and clinical procedures. Students study courses specifically in science and math. Hands on training is gained from:

• working with an animal
• restraining an animal
• conducting tests
• performing treatments

In a way that is safe for the animal.

In a four-year bachelor's program students gain in depth procedural knowledge. This includes anesthesia, dental care, radiology, and clinic management. The amount of time a student is able to dedicate to school determines what specific roles they will have in a clinic setting.

To become a doctor of veterinary medicine students have to complete a graduate program. To enter a graduate program students must first have received a bachelor's degree. Education provides in depth study of:

• animal anatomy
• physiology
• chemistry
• microbiology
• high-level math
• pharmacology

Two important learning factors that are central to a student's knowledge are surgical procedures and lab procedures. The final year of a students four-year degree program centers on clinical rotation by treating animals at a college's referral clinic. Earning a graduate degree is essential for having the highest level of responsibility in the profession.

Acquiring an advanced degree in this field is competitive. There are only 28 veterinary schools that are accredited to reward diplomas. This fact limits the amount of educational spaces available. Students need to prepare for the aggressive enrolling process today by equipping themselves with experience. Obtaining educational knowledge in math and science is another beneficial factor for students to have. Dedicated individuals will find a place for themselves inside the academic community.

Interested students should seek out colleges and universities that offer accredited degree programs that fit their career goals. Accrediting agencies like the Distance Education and Training Council (http://www.detc.org) can provide full accreditation to qualifying schools and colleges. Accreditation provides proof of a quality education. Learn how to treat animals by enrolling in a program today.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

Copyright 2010 - All rights reserved by PETAP.org.

Renata McGee is a staff writer for PETAP.org. Visit http://www.petap.org to locate Online Veterinary Schools and Colleges providing the education you're looking for. PETAP.org, your Partners in Education and Tuition Assistance Programs.

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Veterinary Science

Veterinary science specialists are needed in many areas, especially the plethora of zoos and aquariums all over the world. These specialists take the form of marine biologists, biochemists, and habitat and ecosystem specialists. The animals that are housed in zoos and aquariums are sometimes endangered species that do not exist outside of captivity. The care and preservation of these fish and animals is important for the health of our planet and many different specialists in many fields of animal sciences and marine biology are always in demand.

Zoos and aquariums are spectator favorites all over the world. The career opportunities for the field of veterinary and biomedical sciences are many. Every country can boast at least one zoo; in the United States most individual states have many zoos and aquariums. Each creature in each one of these facilities requires special care and handling. Zoos and aquariums are subject to stiff State and Federal regulations that ensure the proper care of all animal species. However, as one can imagine, protecting so many animals in captivity can become a daunting task. Much of the responsibility lies with the individuals charged with the daily care and upkeep of these animals.

Careers in animal or veterinary science at zoos or aquariums have a vast range in technical expertise. Jobs range from animal caretakers, handlers, and feeders to animal trainers and those who perform with animals all the way up to the veterinarians, zoologists, and marine biologists that acquire and care for the animals and fish when an issue occurs. The care and protection of fish and animals in human captivity is an awesome responsibility, one that requires the cooperation and observant attendance of caring individuals at many levels.

It is especially important in these cases of human care that every individual involved with the preservation of these animals be open and honest with each other about the behavior and condition of a fish or animal. Many of these animals are so large or abundant they require a team of caregivers. These individuals must communicate about the behavior of the animals continuously for their own protection and the safety of the fish and animals as well.

Dr. Elizabeth White

Veterinary Science Information Technologies

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Animal Husbandry and Nutrition

Animal husbandry, or animal science, is commonly described as the study of the biology of animals under the control of humankind. Although this definition has traditionally centered around farm animals, over the past decades the term has been broadened to include companion and exotic animals as well. Human and animal kind continue to find themselves coexisting in an ever changing variety of ways as human dwellings move farther and farther out into what were once wild habitats.

Where livestock and range management deal primarily with large and small scale animal producers and the conditioning and marketing practices involved in food animal production, animal husbandry (science) is concerned with understanding how animals work. Animal science deals with the physiology and biochemistry of tissues and major organs all the way down to the structure and function of biomolecules and cells.

In husbandry particular emphasis is given to the study of nutrition, reproduction, growth, and lactation of farm and companion animals and how these processes can be optimized. Expertise in these areas is not only important for the health of the livestock being produced, but also for their protection. Livestock owners must be aware of the quality of their pasture and what is available for the animals to forage. At certain times of the year certain plants or the nuts (seeds) from some trees can be toxic to livestock.

Nutrition is the provision of materials necessary to cells and organisms to support life. Specializing in animal nutrition can take many forms; working for animal food producers or zoos and aquariums, or animal hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.

Dr. Elizabeth White

Veterinary Science Information Technologies

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AgriBusiness

The number of career paths available to choose from in the field of veterinary science are almost too many to count. Although the first thing most people think about is a doctor of veterinary medicine (veterinarian), there are many, many other career paths open in the field of veterinary science. Agribusiness is just one other area of veterinary science and includes range and livestock management, animal husbandry and nutrition, and biosecurity practices.

Range and livestock management involves the care and feeding of food animals. Cattle, sheep, swine, and poultry all require special care and conditioning. Many livestock producers obtain degrees in veterinary sciences such as animal biology and sometimes agricultural sciences such as soil and crop management as well. The health and quality of the agricultural industry of the United States is crucial to the world marketplace. The agricultural and livestock industries are closely interconnected.

In the livestock production profession it is crucial to understand the connection between livestock, pasture condition, and livelihood. To maintain the health of livestock an owner must immunize livestock at the correct intervals, protect against environmental conditions that are conducive to parasite production, and monitor the quality of his or her pastures throughout the season. A producer must monitor the health of his or her livestock and be aware of what changing environmental conditions might cause certain symptoms in animals. Pests are more of a problem during certain seasons and infestations can lead to other unhealthy conditions.

Livestock owners maintain a delicate balance of agricultural and animal science awareness to maintain the health and safety of the animals in their care.

Dr. Elizabeth White

Veterinary Science Information Technologies

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Animal Disease Management

Recent years have seen an enormous growth in the study of animal diseases. It has become increasingly important to monitor the movement of animals across borders and to constantly re-evaluate national policies on border regulation as the world marketplace grows.

Public safety is the main concern here. Animals that are brought in from other nations must be processed according to federal regulations to ensure that animal diseases not endemic (already present) to a region are not introduced causing epidemics or pandemics such as the recent H1N1 outbreak.

As soon as officials were aware of the outbreak, State and Federal regulation offices were on daily conference calls with specialists in veterinary medicine, bacteriology, and biochemistry. School and State officials coordinated on a constant basis to maintain the outbreak and prevent the spread of disease.

This was a concerted effort conducted by a vast array of professionals and specialists. It may be hard for the general public to realize what a group effort goes on behind the scenes with our State, Federal, and academic officials but without them we would definitely all be in a much more vulnerable position when these threats present. We need only look back a few centuries to witness the global effects that disease and plagues can have on humanity and animals alike. The Mad Cow Disease outbreak in Great Britain only a few years ago resulted in the slaughter of millions of infected animals. The demand for veterinary scientists, biochemists, bacteriologists, epidemiologists, and other specialists will only continue to increase as the market expands.

Dr. Elizabeth White

Veterinary Science Information Technologies

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Elizabeth_White