Agricultural Careers

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Agricultural Careers
Avian Veterinarian
By Dr. Frank Flanders and Jennie Simpson Georgia
Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia
Department of Education June 2005
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What Is an Avian Veterinarian?

• Avian Veterinarians work primarily with either
  ornamental (pet) birds or poultry.
• A certified avian veterinarian is one who has
  obtained certification from the American Board of
  Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) to practice
  exclusively on the species of birds.
• Diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of
  diseases are major concerns for avian
  veterinarians.
• A pet bird practice can involve large aviaries,
  but most pet bird work is performed for
  individuals who own one bird or a small
  collection of ornamental birds.

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Duties of an Avian Veterinarian

• Perform surgery, dress wounds, and set broken
  bones.
• Diagnose and vaccinate avian diseases.
• Advise animal owners about the care and breeding
  of birds.
• Inspect animals intended for consumption, both
  before and after they are slaughtered.
• Teaching or conducting research on animal and
  human diseases.

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Becoming an Avian Veterinarian

• An avian veterinarian must enjoys working with
  birds and be able to deal with pets and their
  owners.
• One must be patient and perceptive with sound
  business skills.
• Some work will be done with groups of people
  while some will be done individually so the
  ability to work in either environment is needed.
• One must also be able to work quickly and
  efficiently.

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Education

• Prospective veterinarians must graduate from a
  4-year program at an accredited college of
  veterinary medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary
  Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree and obtain a
  license to practice.
• Applicants to vet school must pass the Veterinary
  College Admissions Test, the Medical College
  Admission Test, or the Graduate Record
  Examination.
• Subscribe to journals of veterinary medicine to
  increase general knowledge.
• Participate in clubs such as 4-H where you can
  participate in Poultry judging and other avian
  projects.
• Work a summer or part-time job as an assistant to
  an avian veterinarian.

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Employment

• Median annual earnings of veterinarians were
  63,090 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned
  between 49,050 and 85,770. The lowest 10
  percent earned less than 38,000, and the highest
  10 percent earned more than 123,370.
• The average annual salary for veterinarians in
  the Federal Government in non-supervisory,
  supervisory, and managerial positions was 72,208
  in 2003.
• Employment of veterinarians is expected to
  increase faster than the average for all
  occupations through the year 2012.
• As pets are increasingly viewed as a member of
  the family, pet owners will be more willing to
  spend increasing amounts on advanced veterinary
  medical care, creating more demand for
  veterinarians.

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Related Careers

• Animal Nutritionist
• Animal Scientist
• Poultry Scientist
• Veterinarian
• Veterinary Assistant
• Zoologist

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Career Resources
American Board of Veterinary Practitioners 530
Church Street, Suite 700 Nashville, TN,
37219 Internet http//www.abvp.com
American Veterinary Medical Association 1931
North Meacham Road, Suite 100 Schaumburg,
Illinois 60173-4360 Internet http//www.avma.org