The American Veterinary Medical Association has announced that it is upgrading its educational materials with an eye on attracting more young workers to careers in the industry. The AVMA publications are especially designed to appeal to middle and high school students, but provide a general overview of opportunities from veterinary technicians to veterinarians, as well as others who would work at a veterinary practice. The organization also provides information that people should know about selecting and caring for pets. This week, newsday.com reported that one emerging niche of veterinary medicine is physical therapy for animals. The report focused on one clinic in California that specializes in helping dogs, cats and other animals recover from arthritis, car accidents and other ailments. The practice is jointly run by a veterinarian and a physical therapist. Elsewhere, an article by Gatehouse News Service reported that Cornell University has recently declared that a shortage exists for veterinarians who specialize in care for large animals. For those who think the veterinary sciences may offer the perfect job opportunity, one solid option is to train to be a veterinary technician. U.S. News and World Report just named this field one of the top ten job categories for 2009, while the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects demand for this category to increase by 41 percent in the next decade, while also calling for a faster than average jump in the need for veterinary assistants.  |