What is Veterinary Science
If you’re a holozoic and care about all the fury, non-furry buddies and the charismatic creature out there, and you’re interested in science, particularly in biology, well then the universe created a special branch called veterinary science for you. Veterinary science is a branch that deals with the study of animal immunology. It also monitors the prevention of widespread disease. This includes breeding livestock management, genetics, meat products technology, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology and surgery.
It deals with the wellness and health of all the animals and humans (by preventing the spread of fatal viruses). Much like human medical care, veterinary science is competitive and demanding. It rewards you with status, employability, and of course, the satisfaction of contributing towards the environment at the end of the day. Because most people are very fond of pets these days, veterinary science provides high employment opportunities in both the private and public sector.
Eligibility Criteria (UG & PG) of Veterinary Science
In order to be eligible for a veterinary science course, candidates must have cleared class 12 with an aggregate score of 50%. Also, candidates must have Physics, Chemistry, Biology as a subject in class 12 along with English as a compulsory subject. As per the age criteria, the minimum age to take admission in the B.VSc program is 18 years, while maximum is 25 years as on 31st December of the admission year.
Veterinary Science Entrance Exams
National Entrance Exam Test (NEET):NEET is a national level entrance exam that offers admission to all the medical courses. As per The Veterinary Council of India, candidates seeking admission in BVSc & AH courses must appear for NEET examination. It usually takes place between December- February.
Assam Agricultural University Veterinary Entrance Test (AAU VET):It is a university level entrance examination for admission to the Assam Agricultural University in Veterinary Science (BVSc) and Animal (AH). The entrance exam is held in offline mode. This exam usually happens in August – September.
Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT):It is a university level entrance exam, organised by Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology every year for undergraduate admissions. It usually happens in February- June.
Rajasthan Pre-Veterinary Test (RPVT)–It is conducted by the Rajasthan University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences for admission to B.V.Sc and A.H degree courses. It is conducted in offline mode. Unlike other entrance tests, RPVT’s eligibility criteria also require you to be a domicile of Rajasthan. It usually occurs in May- July.
UP Veterinary Entrance Exam (UP VET):DUVASU, Mathura conducts the UP Veterinary Entrance Exam for various UG, PG, Ph. D and Diploma in BVSc. It is usually conducted in Feb- March.
Scope of Veterinary Science in India and Abroad
Veterinarians have a very bright future in both rural and urban areas. They diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and work to improve public health. Veterinarians are not just health workers, but they’re also involved in research work. Rapid growth in the poultry and animal products technology sector has resulted in increased demand for veterinarians. Aviaries, wildlife sanctuaries and zoological parks also need veterinary specialists.
Course Subjects
Although the syllabus isn’t the same for every college here’s an overview of Veterinary Science syllabus.
- Veterinary osteology
- Scope and importance of Biochemistry
- Animal Histology
- Veterinary myology
- Animal Husbandry
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Abnormalities in Domestic Animals
- Anaesthesiology
- Scope of Pharmacology
- Spermatogenesis in animals
- Drug response by ANS
- Veterinary Immunology
- Introduction to aquatic animals
- Ethics and Animal Welfare
- Animal, Birds and Aquatic animal diseases
- Animal Healthcare Management
- Veterinary Epidemiology
- Animal Nutrition
- Animal Genetics
- Viral diseases
- Livestock breeding
- Quality meat production Techniques
- Veterinary Hygiene
- Veterinary Gynaecology
- Veterinary Reproduction
- Diagnostics
- Surgery
- Pet Animal management and healthcare
- Poultry breeding
Required Skillset for Veterinary Science
Your skills are the assurance that your employer has for you is the perfect candidate for any job, and therefore it is quite important to acquire all the required skills in your field which is Bachelor of veterinary science (B.VSc) in this case:
Empathy and Patience – All the medical practitioners must be empathetic towards their patient, especially veterinarians because animals can’t understand your language, but they understand emotion.
Technical and Scientific ability – It is very important to be the master of your field. Especially in Veterinary Science to avoid unfortunate accidents.
Manual dexterity– Manual dexterity is important for veterinarians because they have to be precise when treating injuries and performing surgery.
Communication Skills – Communication is a very important skill for every field of work, and thus it is also important for students of veterinary science. One has to deal with various people to help the pet owners with the disease their pet might be having.
Academic Competencies– All veterinarians need outstanding understanding in math, science, language and research and a lifelong commitment to work. They need to be well aware of new scientific developments. They must be willing to take continuing education classes and attend conferences in their areas of specialisation.
They must be aware of new drugs and techniques, and should keep in touch with representatives who provide new types of medical equipment and supplies for the clinic.
Course Curriculum for Veterinary Science
Bachelor of veterinary science (B.VSc) is a 5 years course. The B.VSc students will acquire knowledge and skills related to small animals such as dogs and cats to comparatively larger mammals such as equine and crocodiles.
To prepare for veterinary science, students must enhance their academic knowledge and skills. The curriculum is designed to guide them for better career opportunities, and polish them to cater to the industry expectations. To be successful, students are provided with opportunities to understand and transfer knowledge and skills in their work. The course structure may vary from college to college, but the basic knowledge can never be replaced.