Duties

Large animal veterinarians treat farm livestock as well as companion horses.  Unlike small animal vets, they usually travel to their patients and live in rural areas.  Their work is physically demanding, with unpredictable hours.  Prevention of problems is a focus, but some work primarily for farms raising animals for consumption.

Education and Background

Experience with large animals is essential to understanding the physical difficulty and dangers of this work.  In Veterinary School, students take additional courses in large animal medicine, learning to deliver calves,  calm frightened horses, and  prevent illnesses from spreading throughout a barn.