Those eyes that stare up at you and silently ask for help and who give unconditional love are what draw many people into the field of animal health care. From soft, fluffy puppies through to cranky old cats, animals bring so much into the lives of those who love them, and when they’re not well, our hearts break.

If you have a genuine love for animals, there are several career paths you can take to make animal health care part of your life. Here are just two:

Veterinarian Medicine

A doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degree is earned through veterinary colleges across the country. Veterinarians examine and diagnose various animal illnesses and prescribe treatment. Surgery, dentistry, vaccinations, and other procedures are also carried out. While most veterinarians deal with cats and dogs, many work with zoo animals, livestock, horses, in laboratories, and in research facilities.

Many work at large clinics, while others prefer a smaller, private practice. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Medical Veterinary Association, more than 70 % of vets in those small practices treat small animals. These would include dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ferrets and the like.

Veterinarians are trained in the use of standard medical equipment, instruments and diagnostic machinery such as ultrasounds.

Earning a DVM, or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, is a four year process. In the United States there are 28 accredited colleges of veterinary medicine in 26 states. In 2006 there wee 62,000 veterinarians in the United States.

Animal Care and Service Worker

Animal care and service workers include animal caretakers and animal trainers. They typically are involved in the training, feeding, watering, grooming, bathing and exercise, as well as the general wellbeing of animals. Many find employment in zoos and animal shelters, as well as veterinary hospitals and clinics, and even in pet salons. They provide companionship to the animals, make sure they are well cared for, and are generally happy.

Yet another type is the kennel attendant, who takes care of people’s pets while they are away. They will feed the pets, exercise them, and make sure they are well taken care of. Some even participate in the ongoing obedience training or pets, while others work in the field of rehabilitating rescued animals. Many attendants advance to work in zoos as animal attendants or, as they often care called, keepers. They will work to prepare the specialized diets of the animals, monitor their growth and behavior, and at times may interact with the public to answer questions about the animals.

To become an animal care and service worker most people will need to earn certification. Some positions, like zoo keepers, do require a bachelor’s degree in biology, animal science or other fields related to animal welfare. Pet groomers usually need to have a pet grooming license.

In 2006 there were over 200,000 animal caretaker and service workers in the United States.

There are a lot of different degree and certificate programs in the animal health care field. Consulting the program listings of colleges and universities across the country is the best way to see what is available. Most colleges will have a program coordinator who would be happy to contact you with more information about what each course includes and what you need to qualify with to become a student.

So whether you simply want to feed the birds or if you want to be the one who comes to the rescue of a wounded grizzly bear, there is a career in the animal health care field waiting for you at your local college or university.