People who are interested in veterinary medicine as a career should know the variety of jobs available for veterinarians. There is a wide variety of specialties and focuses for veterinarians with different interests. Maybe you want to work with exotic animals, pets, or livestock. Read this article to discover the different types of veterinarians and what they do.

Companion Animal Veterinarians

Companion animal veterinarians are the most common type of veterinarian. They specialize in caring for small pets such as dogs, cats, and pocket pets. They are the veterinary equivalent to a family doctor. Becoming a companion animal veterinarian requires training and certification to provide all kinds of surgical and medical services, treatments, and diagnostics. These vets must often use and maintain their X-ray equipment so that they can complete these diagnoses.

Veterinary Specialists

There are over 20 recognized fields of study in veterinary medicine, including dentistry, anesthesiology, cardiology, and more. Veterinary specialists are the veterinarians who make a living out of these special areas. Veterinarians can become certified in any specialty through post-veterinary school advanced training.

Exotic Animal Veterinarians

Exotic animal veterinarians have a special interest in the treatment of animals that are far rarer than a typical companion pet. They work with birds, amphibians, reptiles, and other uncommon pocket pets. Some exotic animal veterinarians work for wildlife habitats or zoos, while others treat pets. It may require additional training to become an exotic animal specialist.

Livestock, Food, and Large Animal Veterinarians

Next on this list of the different types of veterinarians and what they do are livestock, food, and large animal veterinarians. These veterinarians care for large livestock like pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, and horses. They are specifically trained to work with farm animals. Some may be employed at large animal veterinary hospitals, while others travel in specially equipped vehicles to meet their patients at their homes.