What is Food Animal Medicine?
Food Animal Medicine is a branch of veterinary medicine that focuses on the health and well-being of animals integral to our food production – think cows, pigs, sheep, and more. It's about safeguarding the health of these animals to ensure a safe and sustainable food supply for communities.
Why it Matters
Veterinarians use problem-solving skills and knowledge of science to diagnose, treat and prevent animal disease and work to improve public health. Veterinarians examine animals for their health, perform surgery, perform vaccinations, operate x-ray machines, prescribe medications, and much more! Many veterinarians work in private clinics and hospitals. Others travel to farms or work in laboratories or classrooms.
So, You Want to Be a Large Animal Veterinarian?
Becoming a veterinarian requires up to 8 years of college after high school. You must study hard, maintain good grades, and do well in your classes, especially science.
Your school counselor can help set your schedule in middle and high school. Your courses will also depend on the university you wish to complete your pre-vet courses.
Classes you can take now!
- 4 years of math (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, calculus);
- 4 years of laboratory sciences (biology and chemistry);
- Physics
UC Davis will accept AP credit to fulfill certain prerequisites courses (biology, chemistry, physics, and statistics). Get a head start on your college prerequisites courses in High School!
Experience
Admissions into a DVM program also requires experience. Gain experience to determine if veterinary medicine is the career for you.
- Get involved in school clubs (farm, science, pre-vet, government)
- If one does not exist, get others together and start a club!
- Volunteer
- Animal shelters, rescues, kennels, farms, local clinics, the zoo, and much more!
- Shadow a veterinarian
Participate in activities that develop your interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills.