6 Top Traits of a Veterinarian

Veterinarians help to care for the health of pets, livestock and zoo animals by diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries that the animals suffer from.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job prospects in this field are great. This is largely a result of the fact that there are only 28 accredited schools of veterinary medicine in the United States, which limits the number of graduates; only about 2,500 students graduate each year.

For those aspiring to one day become a veterinarian, as well as current vets desiring to improve their practice, here are six of the most important traits for veterinarians:

1)      Be committed to continuing education. "Medicine and surgery are constantly evolving," said Jeffrey Moll, a veterinarian in Wilmette, Ill. "New medications, diagnostic modalities, and surgical procedures are constantly being developed. The only constant in veterinary medicine, like life, is change. Being adaptable, willing to learn, and thinking outside the box is essential to the delivery of the best medical and surgical care."

2)      Be gentle. "In my opinion, the most important trait for a veterinarian to possess is a kind and gentle nature," said Angela Martin, a veterinarian in Long Island, N.Y.  "Patients and clients are calmed and comforted by a compassionate vet."

3)      Have a sense of diagnosis. "The top trait a veterinarian needs is a great sense of diagnosis," said Sharon Sakson, a dog breeder from Trenton, N.J. "The best vet is not the one with the most updated machinery and equipment. It is the one who can listen to the owner's description of the problem, examine the dog, and be able to determine the issue at hand."

4)      Be honest. "You don't have to know everything or be perfect all the time," said Dr. Jules Benson, a veterinarian in Philadelphia, Penn. "If you have the integrity to admit you do not have all the answers or that you made a misstep, the result is usually an increase in trust rather than the opposite."

5)      Be a great listener. "No one knows their pet better than the owners, and I believe it is imperative that a veterinarian make the time to listen to the client," said Dr. Carmen Colitz, and veterinary ophthalmologist in Columbus, Ohio. "Sometimes it is difficult to understand what the client is trying to convey, so listening and asking appropriate questions help in getting to the problems that the pet may be having."

6)      Be able to get creative. "It can be helpful if a vet is able to use analogies to the patient's own experiences when describing a pet's problem, or able to draw a picture to show how medication will help," said Mark T. Reilly, a veterinarian in Plympton, Mass. "As veterinarians, many of us get caught up in the facts and numbers, where I find most clients want to see the problem or feel the problem. By drawing pictures and explaining the problem with analogies, one can accomplish better communication."