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BornToBeWild

AnthonyCalifano

EnglishIIIHonors
Mrs.Kopp
February26,2014

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AnthonyCalifano
EnglishIII
Mrs.Kopp
26February2015
BornToBeWild
Azoologicalveterinarianspecializesintheconservation,wellbeing,andoverallhealth
ofwildlife.Fromexoticfreeranginganimalsandaquaticspeciestozooanimalsofallsizesheld
incaptivity,zoologicalveterinariansconductphysicals,treatwounds,andevencomposea
healthydietplanforanimals.LicensingbeyondcompletionofaDoctorofVeterinaryMedicine
representsarequirementneededandadegreeinzoologyorveterinarymedicineactsasahighly
beneficialcourseofstudy.Whetherinthewildorincaptivity,theimportanceofcaringfor
animalsremainsessentialinordertopreventdiseasesfromspreadingandtopreservethe
beautifulcreationknownaswildlife.
Agroupofpeoplein1945begantheAmericanAssociationofZooVeterinariansor
AAZV.Theirgoals,whichcontinuetoprevailtoday,weretoinformpeopleofthe
advancementsmadeinveterinarymedicine,topublishthatinformation,andtopromotetheneed
ofzooveterinarians(HistoryofAAZV).AAZVhasnowexpandedconsiderablytomorethan
1000veterinarians,keepers,curators,andcuriousstudents.Notalloftheseveterinariansworkin
zoosandsomevetsthatbelongtotheAAZVworkoutoftheUnitedStates.Inaccordancewith
theBureauofLaborStatisticsin1998,zoosandaquariumsthroughouttheUnitedStates
employedmorethan100healthprofessionals,paraprofessionals,andtechnicians(Crosby10).

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Anotherorganizationinvolvedinzoologicalveterinarymedicine,knownastheAmerican
CollegeofZoologicalMedicineorACZM,isaninternationalorganizationforthecertificationof
veterinarianswithproficiencyinzoologicalmedicinecreatedin1983(AmericanCollegeof
ZoologicalMedicine).Establishingandevaluatingtrainingrequirementsorprogramsand
certifyingzoologicalveterinariansillustratessomeoftherolesACZMtakeschargeof.
Zoologicalmedicinecomprisesthepracticeofsurgeryandmedicineinuncommon
speciesofanimals(FocusAreaforZoologicalMedicine).Thefielditselfencompassesseveral
differentareasofpracticeincludingaquaticandwildlifemedicineandexoticandzooanimal
practices.Branchingoffoftraditionalveterinarymedicine,zoologicalmedicinecontainsaspects
ofpreventativeandclinicalmedicine,pathology,andecology(FocusAreaforZoological
Medicine).Furthermore,zoologicalveterinariansworkwithawidevarietyofspeciesof
animals.Theytreatinjuries,diseases,andoftentimesprescribemedications.Inaddition,
zoologicalveterinariansaidcuratorsincreatingdietaryplansandhealthyeatinghabitsforthe
animals(Crosby10).
Azoologicalveterinarianadministersphysicalsregularlyinanefforttoassurethatall
animalshavemaintainedgoodhealthandhavenotcontractedanyillnesses.Theprocedure
beginswiththedistributionofanesthesiaandoncetheanimalfallsasleep,thephysicalmay
commence(Crosby9).Thefirstcourseofactiontakenistoexaminetheexterioroftheanimal
lookingatitsfurandskintoensurethatnounusualbumpshavetranspired.Movingontothe
upperbody,theychecktheeyes,ears,noseandthroatandalsotheabdomen.Withan
electrocardiogramorEKG,theymonitortheheartrateandmakesureeverythingfunctions

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properly.Concludingthephysical,theytakebloodandstoolsamplestoobserveinthe
laboratory(9).
Emergenciesexistasoneofthemostgraveandstressfuleventsaveterinariancan
experience.Theyhavetoprepareforanythingbecausetheirjobcangetextremelychaotic.A
traumaticinjury,suchasabrokenlegoranotheranimalbite,canhappenatanytime(Crosby9).
Otherconditionspersistasmoredifficulttodistinguishbecauseitisinstinctiveforwildanimals
tohidetheirpaininordertoavoidbecomingprey.Sinceknowledgeofnormalityinawild
animalcangeneratetrouble,studyingtheworkofveterinariansinotherzoosandcomparingthe
resultsofatestwithpreviousresultscanhelpimmensely(9).
Zooveterinariansalsooverseehospitalsforzoosandaquariums.Everynewanimal,
includingnewborns,prepareforhospitalizationuntiltheyseemhealthyenoughtoenterthe
exhibit.Physicalsareperformed,inwhichveterinarianstakebloodandstoolsamplesandcheck
thebodyssensesandreflexes(Crosby10).HeatherC.MillerDVM,DeputyAdministratorfor
AnimalHealthinNorthCarolinaGreenvilleZoo,statesthatonadailybasis,sheperforms
surgeryorwellnessexams.Milleralsocleansthecagesandaidsinthedesignoftheveterinary
clinicinordertomeetquarantinerequirements(Miller).
Eventhoughtheoccupationofazoologicalveterinarianoffersexcitement,challenges
suchasexposuretohealthrelatedriskseverydayprevail.Healthissuescanencounterthrough
ananimalbite,infection,subjectiontoanaestheticgasesandothermedicines,needlestick
injuriesandinseverecases,death(Kumaretal605).Continuousinteractionwiththeseanimals
formpotentialriskoftransmissionofzoonoticdiseasesfromwildanimalstohumansandvice
versa.Veterinarianscallthesediseases,transmittedfromanimalstohumankind,zoonoses.

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About1415infectiousagentscausediseasesinhumansand868occurinnature(Kumaretal
605).70percentofzoonoticdiseasesfindanimalsashosts:diseasessuchasrabies,plague,and
tuberculosis.Zoonosesinhumanscanrangefromashortlivedproblemwhichmaylastfora
fewdaystoamoreseriousdiseasethatcanlimitapersonevenaftertreatment.Veterinarians
mustbeknowledgeableofthesource,transmission,treatmentandcontrolofthesediseasesto
protectthemselvesandotherhumansandanimals(Kumaretal606).
Notonlyarezoonoticdiseasesathreattothepublic,buttheyalsojeopardizethelifeof
endangeredspeciesofwildanimalsclosetoextinction.Specificzoonoticdiseasesmayproduce
fatalitytotheirnaturalhostsandinotheraffectedanimals.Thesediseases,suchasEbolavirus,
hinderthehealthofwildanimalsanddisrupttheecologicalbalanceanddiversity(Kumaretal
606).Everydiseasecausingagentreachesandmanifestsitselfinahostthroughdifferentmodes
oftransmission.Somediseases,suchasTrichinellosis,spreadbytheingestionofinfectedmeat
whileotherdiseases,likeTularaemia,spreadbydirectcontactandtickbites.Anthropozoonotic
diseaseshavethecapabilityoftransmittingfromanimalstohumansandzooanthroponotic
diseaseshavethepotentialtospreadfromhumanstoanimals(Kumaretal606).Mostdiseases
spreadthroughdirectskincontact,ingestion,inhalation,animalbitesandneedlestickinjuries.
Awarenessofdiseasetransmissionisimportantbecausesymptomsdifferdependingmethodof
disseminationandknowledgeacquiredaboutthediseaseshelpsveterinarianstopreventand
controlthem(Kumaretal607).
Zoologicalveterinarianshaveahighlyentertainingjobbutitrequiresalotoftime,effort,
availability,andpatience.LarryMinter,SeniorveterinarianatNorthCarolinaZoologicalPark
statedtheskillsrequiredonadaytodaybasisinhisposition.Inasingledaymypatientswill

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rangefromsomethingaslargeasaelephantandgiraffetosomethingassmallasafrogor
hummingbird.Iamtheanimalsprimaryphysician,theiranesthesiologist,thesurgeon,the
clinicalpathologist,thenutritionist,thecardiologistandradiologist.Isupervisetechnicalstaff
hereinthehospitalaswellasbeingateacherforveterinarystudentsandpostgraduate
veterinaryresidents(Minter).AtypicalweekforMinterconsistsof40hoursaweekMonday
throughFriday,andoncallatalltimes.Dependingonthezoo,lifestylechangessuchasfrequent
travelorlatenightbusinesscanoccur.Forexample,thechiefveterinarianatNorthCarolina
ZoologicalParktravelstoAfricaforaconservationprojectaround3monthsoutofyear
(Minter).
Ittakesanextensiveamountofhardworktopursuetheprofessionofazoological
veterinarian.Doingwellinhighschoolandmajoringinabiologicalfieldsuchasbiology,
animalscience,zoology,andwildlifebiologywhileattendingauniversityishighlybeneficial.
Inaddition,completionincoursessuchaschemistry,organicchemistry,biology,andnutrition
aremandatoryasanundergraduaterequirement(Minter).Gettingintoveterinaryschoolis
extremelydifficultduetoitscompetitivenature,therefore,itisrecommendedtoachieveaGPA
greaterthan3.5foranundergraduatedegreeandtoreceiveasmuchanimalexperienceas
possible.Thisincludessmallanimals,largeanimals,andwildlife(Minter).Aparticularly
rewardingwaytogainexperienceinvolvesworkingasaveterinaryassistantorasavolunteerat
ahumanesociety.Evenworkinginapetshoporanimalrelatedfacilitycanhelpattain
knowledgeandunderstandingofanimallife.Anyarrangementthatdemonstratesaninterestin
animalswillresultinalearningexperience(Crosby14).Anotherhelpfulplanofactionistotake

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upaninternshipprogramandtobecompetitiveenoughtoenterazoomedicineresidency
programwhichwillaidinobtainingafirsttimejobasazoologicalveterinarian(Minter).
Studentsusuallycompleteabachelorsdegreeprogramorequivalentcourseworkthat
meetstheprerequisitestoaDoctorofVeterinaryMedicine,alsoknownasDVM,beforeentering
aresidencyprograminzoologicalveterinarymedicine.EventhoughDVMrequirementsvary,a
BachelorofSciencedegreeinzoology,biology,animalbiology,orpreveterinarymedicine
normallymeetsbasicprerequisites(educationportal).Someschoolsacceptapproved
courseworkofbetween45and90semesterhoursinsteadofadegreesincecompetitionremains
highandalimitednumberofcollegesofferaDVM.Studentsareexpectedtodisplay
proficiencyincoursessuchaspathology,animalgenetics,inorganicandorganicchemistry,
cellularbiologyandenvironmentalresearch.MinimumscoresontheVeterinaryCollege
AdmissionTest(VCAT),theMedicalCollegeAdmissionTest(MCAT)ortheGraduateRecord
Examination(GRE)areexpectedofapplicantstoaDVM(educationportal).
Afteracceptanceintoveterinaryschool,theDVMdegree,whichtakesfouryearsto
complete,includesstudiesinvolvingpreventivemedicine,diagnosis,treatment,andsurgeryof
animals.Beginningintheclassroom,courseworkincludespathology,pharmacology,
microbiology,anatomyandphysiology.Astimeprogresses,studentswilladvancetotheclinical
settingandreceivehandsonexperienceinaveterinaryhospital(educationportal).
Residencyisrequiredbymostzoologicalveterinarymedicineprogramsandshouldlast
from3to5years.Toprovidethezoologicalveterinarymedicinespecialization,theAmerican
CollegeofZoologicalMedicineneedstoapprovethedesiredschoolbeforeapplying(education
portal).Althoughmostresidenciesdonotresultinadegree,theoccasionalopportunityis

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presentedinfewresidenciestoearnamastersdegreeoraPh.Dinzoologicalmedicineduringa
studentstraining(educationportal).
Notonlymustzoologicalveterinarianshaveasuccessfulandimpressiveacademic
background,buttheymustalsohavestrongcommunicationandteamworkskills.Asa
veterinarian,collaborationwithotheranimalexpertsoccursdaily.Theyusuallyseekassistance
fromtheircolleagueswheninneedofeitherfeedbackoradvice(ZooVeterinarianCareers).
Encounterswithnewanimalsymptomsorbehaviorsposeasanexampleforwhenoutside
expertiseisneeded.Compassionandsympathyarealsotraitsthatarebeneficialwhenbecoming
aveterinarian.Animalsoftenfeelfrightenedinthepresenceofhumansandtheyrequire
attentivecareatalltimes.Moreover,decisionmakingandproblemsolvingalsofactorinas
importantcharacteristicsofazoologicalveterinarian(ZooVeterinarianCareers).
Toadvanceinthefieldofzoologicalveterinarymedicineandbecomeamanageror
seniorlevelexecutive,itcantakeyearsorevendecadesdependingonthehigherranking
personnel(Minter).AccordingtoMiller,notonlydoestimehaveaneffectonpromotion,but
alsothesizeoftheinstitutioncanaffectadvancementintheindustry(Miller).Chancesof
advancinginrankincreaseifapersoniswillingtomovetootherzoosthathaveopenings
(Minter).
AdvancedworkersintheindustryhaveeitheraPh.D,aDVM,andsomeevenhavejusta
Bachelorsdegree.Everyzooisdifferentandrequiresdifferentdegrees(Miller).Togetstarted
atentrylevelasazooveterinarian,Mintersuggeststofollowageneralpathanundergraduate
degree(4years),veterinaryschool(4years),oneortwoyearlonginternshipprograms(1to2

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years),andazoomedicineresidency(3years).Educationalrequirementsplusyearsofclinical
experiencewillaidinupwardmobilitytowardsbecomingaseniorlevelexecutive(Minter).
Azoologicalveterinarianssalaryvariesdependingonthezootheyareemployedat.A
reasonablesalaryatasmallzoostartsat$60,000while$85,000canbeexpectedatalargerzoo
(Minter).In2011,theaveragesalaryforzoologicalveterinariansstoodatabout$83,000,
accordingtotheU.S.BureauofLaborStatistics(ZooVeterinarianCareers).Salariescan
reachupto$150,000insomelargerzoosformoreexperiencedveterinarians(Minter).
Additionally,between2010and2020,veterinariansanticipatea36%jobgrowthhigherthanthe
meanemploymentincreaseforU.S.jobs(ZooVeterinarianCareers).
Zoologicalveterinarianscanacquireemploymentinprivatepractice,government
agencies,academia,nongovernmentorganizations(NGOs)andindustry.Immediately
followingDVMtraining,somevetscanenterthefieldthroughveterinariansofferingclinical
managementforsmallerzoologicalinstitutionsorprivatelyownedzoologicalspecies(Focus
AreaForZoologicalMedicine).Specialistslookingtoworkformajorzoologicalinstitutionsor
governmentagenciesnormallyreceivepostDVMeducationeitherinaninternshiporresidency
formatorresearchtraininginPhDprograms(FocusAreaForZoologicalMedicine).
Havingtheopportunitytoworkasazoologicalveterinarianisfunandsatisfyingwith
bothrewardingresultsanddangerousdrawbacks.Oneofthemostrewardingoutcomesisthe
abilitytomakeanimpactoneveryaspectofananimalslifeandthepotentialtoformabond
withone.Veterinarianshaveconstanthandsoncontactwithanimals,socloseconnectionswith
themoccurfrequently(Crosby13).Anotherpositiveresultasaveterinariancomesfromthe
varietyofanimalstheytreatandthenumerousexoticplacestheygettoworkat.Fieldworkcan

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takeplaceoccasionallyandallowveterinarianstotravelintothewildtoconductresearchortend
toawildanimalsneeds(Crosby14).Seeingexoticanimalsinthewildremainsbreathtakingin
itself,buthavingthechancetoworkwiththemleavesagreaterimpactonveterinarians.
Althoughworkingwithanimalsentailsexcitement,italsobringsaboutrisk.Working
withlargeanddangerousanimalscreatesthepossibilityofinjuryorevendeath.Despitethefact
thatzooanimalsareincaptivity,theystillcontinuetoexistaswildanimals.Zooveterinarians
alsodealwithunsanitaryconditionswhentakingstoolsamplesorcleaningenclosuresand
exhibits(Crosby14).Sinceuncleanlinessoccursregularly,tolerancemustexistasapartofa
veterinarianscharacteristics.Mostprocedurestakeplaceoutsidewheretheanimalsdwelland
prospersoveterinariansworkinanyandallformsofweather.Likewise,inconvenienthours
maypresentanissue.Animalsrequireattentioneveryday,thereforeweekendsandholidays
generatealikelyjobrequirement(14).
Zoologicalveterinarianscanalsoworkinthefieldwithotherveterinariansandbiologists.
Normally,vetsworkwithoneanimalatatime,butoutinthewildernesstheyoverseethehealth
ofthepopulationasawholeinordertopreventanyhealthcrises(Thomas25).Theirjobs
includeprovidingandregulatinganestheticandtocheckforillnessesorinjuries.When
performingaphysicalonthefield,theresearchersplacetheanimalonaweighingscaleinasling
attachedtoatree.Then,theydistributevaccinationsandtakebloodsamplesforfurthertesting
andkeepthemonfileforfutureresearch(25).Treatmentforsmallwoundscanoccuronsite
whilelargescaleinjuriesmayresultintransportationoftheanimalbacktothezooforadditional
treatment.Likewise,theymonitorthebehaviorsofanimalssotheycanindicatehowtheanimals

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arecopingwiththestressesofhabitatlossandotherenvironmentalissues.Thisprovides
awarenesstohowwelltheirconservationeffortsbenefitanimalhabitats(25).
Zoologicalveterinariansusemanytoolsandformsoftechnologytohelpthemwiththeir
researchandcareforanimals.Inthewild,fieldvetsoftenaccompanybiologistswhothen
carefullycaptureananimalandattacharadiocollararounditsneck.Thiswillenablethe
veterinariansandbiologiststoseethepreciselocationoftheanimalaswellashelpthem
understandhowtheanimallives(Thomas25).Tranquilizersstandasanadditionaltechnological
pieceofequipmentusedbyvets.Thesetoolssafelyprovidethemedicineanddrugslargerwild
animalsneedsoresearcherscanbeginthephysicalorattacharadiocollar.Moreover,theskin
biopsydart,createdbyveterinarians,persistsasausefulinventionformulatedtoperform
difficultmedicalprocedureswhileaimingtoavoidcomplicationswithanestheticsandputting
theanimalunderstress(25).Biopsiesallowavettoexamineatissuesamplefromananimaland
determineifsignsofdiseaseappear.Thebiopsydartconsistsofasmallhookorbarbthatwhen
shot,attachestotheanimalandaverysmallpieceofskintissuestickstothedart.Whenthedart
fallsoff,researchersnowpossesatissuesampleandmaystarttheexaminationprocess(25).
Theopportunitytoworkasazoologicalveterinarianprovidesmanyrewardsbutalsoa
fewdrawbacks.Ittakesanextensiveamountofstudyingtopursuethiscareerandsacrifices
poseasalikelyjobrequirement.Skillssuchasproblemsolvingandworkingwellwithothers
actasapositivecharacteristictohavewhileemployedasazoologicalveterinarian.Zoovets
careforanimalsbyperformingphysicalsandsurgeriestomaintainthehealthoftheirlives.
Whetherinthewildorincaptivity,theimportancetocareforanimalsremainsessentialinorder
topreventdiseasesfromspreadingandtopreservethebeautifulcreationknownaswildlife.

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