What personal qualities or skills do you need to be a veterinarian?

Skills of a Vet

Prospective veterinarians must have good manual dexterity. They should have an affinity for animals and the ability to get along with animal owners, especially when working with pet owners, who tend to form a strong bond with their pet. Veterinarians who intend to go into private practice should possess excellent communication and business skills because they will need to successfully manage their practice and employees and will need to promote, market, and sell their services. (From the U.S. Department of Labor handbook on careers.)

Here is more advice and input:

• If you love animals, but can still handle the reality of performing surgery on them and even putting them to sleep the job is great. You need at least 7 years of schooling. The reason schooling takes so long is because you have to diagnose what is wrong with the animal, without any communication from the animal itself- makes sense, doesn't it.

• The skills you need to get into University to become a vet are largely being good academically and to be able to show that you have experience of what the job entails. The skills needed to be a good and happy vet are different. Although you might think that its important to like animals you actually need to be able to get on with people well. Nearly all the animals you treat will be accompanied by at least one person and often a whole family- you probably end up seeing more people than a doctor would!

First answer by ID1173384132. Last edit by ID1173384132. Question popularity: 111 [recommend question]