`
	James Herriot inspired many to become vets in Britain. Millions of Indians still live directly off animal husbandry. Innovative application of modern veterinary science can help improve the lives of both the animals and their owners. Want to become India’s Herriot?

Most people will have had some contact with vets — either through the family pets, or on TV in the form of James Herriot, the pen name of James Alfred Wight a British veterinary surgeon and writer.

The work they do — helping sick creatures — will tug at the heartstrings. While these guys make it look easy, becoming a vet is seriously hard work. In fact, getting into a veterinary career is harder than becoming a doctor! Until recently, vets have had to struggle against indifference to their profession in the developing world. But these days, the welfare of domestic animals is seen more positively as an essential part of rural development and an indication of a modern progressiveoutlook.

The large majority of vets will end up working in private practice — small operations, of between one and four animal doctors — where family pets will be the mainstay of these businesses. Most veterinary doctors, develop a particular area of expertise. As there are limited opportunities in areas of specialised research and breeding of animals in India, a majority of veterinarians choose to work in urban areas, where the work would mostly include the care and handling of domestic pets, or in the government's animal husbandry departments. As with a doctor handling the medical ailments of human beings, a veterinarian's work involves diagnosing the ailment of an animal, through physical and clinical examination, and the administration of appropriate medication. It also involves the timely administration of vaccines for preventing disease, and advising on matters of nutrition

1 2