Veterinary doctors, also known as vets, play a crucial role in ensuring the health and well-being of animals. A veterinary doctor provides medical and surgical care, gives vaccinations, performs check-ups, and advises owners on animal health and nutrition.
Veterinarians can work with a variety of animals, including –
a) Farm animals like- bulls, cows, buffalo, sheep, and goats
b) Pets like – Dogs, Cats,
Become a veterinary doctor with NEET
The demand for veterinary doctors is increasing daily due to rising awareness about animal health, the growth of the pet care industry, and the need for animal-based food safety. The government and private sectors are investing heavily in livestock development.
To become a veterinary doctor, students must have completed their higher secondary education (10+2) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English as compulsory subjects.
Along with this, you must pass the NEET exam and then enrol in a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) program.
In this article, you will find comprehensive and step-by-step information on how to become a veterinary doctor (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) after completing 12th grade.
Academic Eligibility Criteria
1. High School (10+2)
Complete 10+2 (science stream) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English as main subjects with a minimum of 50% marks. (45% for reserved categories). The minimum percentage required may vary from college to college.
2. NEET
You need to secure a qualifying score in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
The NEET score is the primary entrance criterion for admission to veterinary colleges in India.
Admission to most veterinary colleges in India is based on performance in the entrance exam, primarily through the NEET-UG. Therefore, strong foundational knowledge in science subjects is important.
3. Age Limit
Students must be at least 17 years old at the time of admission. Some colleges also have an upper age limit of 25 years (05 years of age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC candidates).
4. Apply for Veterinary Colleges
After clearing NEET, register for the VETERINARY COUNCIL OF INDIA (VCI) counselling or state-level veterinary counselling. for B.V.Sc. & A.H. Fill out your preferred colleges. Seats are allotted based on your rank and category.
This (B.V.Sc. & A.H.) course duration is 5.5 years, including 01 year of internship, and it covers subjects such as Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary Medicine, Animal Genetics and Breeding, and more.
Core subjects
• Veterinary Anatomy
• Veterinary Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Animal Nutrition
• Veterinary Pathology
• Veterinary Microbiology
• Veterinary Parasitology
• Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology
• Animal Genetics and Breeding
• Livestock Production and Management
Other important subjects
• Veterinary Medicine
• Veterinary Surgery
• Veterinary Gynaecology
• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Veterinary Public Health
• Livestock Product Technology (LPT)
• Veterinary Extension Education
• Biostatistics and Computer Application
• Veterinary Clinical Practice
Curriculum structure
- The B.V.Sc. & A.H. degree program is divided into 10 semesters over a 5-year course.
- Subjects are studied semester-wise or year-wise, starting with foundational sciences in the earlier years and moving to clinical and practical applications in the later years.
- The final semester usually includes an internship or clinical practice section.
Year-wise syllabus breakdown of B.V.Sc. & A.H.
Year 1: Veterinary Anatomy, Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry, Biostatistics, and Livestock Production Management.
Year 2: Veterinary Pathology, Veterinary Microbiology, Animal Genetics and Breeding, and Animal Nutrition.
Year 3: Veterinary Parasitology, Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Livestock Products Technology, and Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology.
Year 4: Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, and Veterinary Clinical Practices-II.
Year 5: A compulsory 1-year internship under the supervision of experienced faculty.
However, The semester-wise syllabus for B.V.Sc. and A.H. may vary slightly from college to college.
Semester-wise syllabus of B.V.Sc. & A.H
Semester I | Semester
II |
Osteology | Myology |
Introduction
and Importance of Statistics | Muscle
Physiology |
Scope and
Importance of Biochemistry | Sense Organs
and Receptors: Physiology of Special Senses |
Veterinary
Anatomy in General and Osteology | Demonstration
of Embalming of the Carcass and Preservation |
Introductory
Animal Husbandry | Enzymes:
Definition and Classification |
Livestock in
India | Importance of
Grasslands and Fodders in Livestock Production |
Semester
III | Semester
IV |
General
Histology | The Biting
Midges |
Introduction
and Scope of Veterinary Pathology | Introduction
and General Description of Protozoa |
Indian
Poultry Industry | Biochemical
and Genetic Determinants of Growth |
Parasites and
Parasitism | Concepts in
Veterinary and Medical Immunology |
Factors
Affecting the Digestibility of a Feed | Spermatogenic
Cycle and Wave |
– | Gross
Morphological and Topographical Study of Various Organs of the Digestive
System |
Semester V | Semester
VI |
Historical
Development Branches and Scope of Pharmacology | Veterinary
Neuropharmacology |
General
Pathology of Viral Infections | Systematic
Veterinary Virology |
Milk Hygiene
in Relation to Public Health | Aquatic
Animal Diseases, Heart Care and Management |
Layout and
Management of Rural, Urban and Modern Abattoirs | Avian
Pathology |
Milk Industry
in India | Veterinary
Epidemiology and Zoonosis |
Concept of
Sociology | Meat Science |
– | Animal
Biotechnology |
– | Livestock
Economics |
Semester
VII | Semester
VIII |
Veterinary
Chemotherapy | Veterinary
Toxicology |
Anaesthesiology
And Diagnostic Imaging | Veterinary
Obstetrics |
Veterinary Gynaecology | Regional
Veterinary Surgery |
Veterinary
Clinical Medicine – I | Veterinary
Clinical Medicine – II |
Veterinary
Preventive Medicine – I | Veterinary
Clinical Biochemistry |
Veterinary
Clinical Practice | Veterinary
Clinical Practice |
Veterinary
Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Diagnosis – I | Veterinarian
in Society |
Semester
IX | Semester X |
Veterinary Orthopaedics
and Lameness | Internship |
Animal
Welfare, Ethics & Jurisprudence | – |
Livestock
Entrepreneurship | – |
Environment
and Environmental Hygiene | – |
Veterinary
Andrology and Reproductive Techniques | – |
Pet Animal
Breeding Management, Nutrition and Health Care | – |
Zoo/Wild
Animal Breeding, Management, Nutrition and Health Care | – |
Internship
The internship takes place during the fifth year of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc.) program. It is a mandatory 01-year rotating program.
In the internship period, students apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting.
Throughout this 12-month internship, interns work under the guidance of a senior veterinary doctor to apply their theoretical knowledge in the field, including veterinary medicine, veterinary surgery, pathology, preventive medicine, and radiology.
Salary during the internship period of the BVSc & AH course
B.V.Sc. and A.H. internship typically pays between Rs. 16,000 (sixteen thousand rupees) and Rs. 22,000 (twenty-two thousand rupees) per month, though this varies by university and location.
West Bengal and Punjab have raised the allowance to Rs. 20,000 and Rs. 15,000, respectively.
Compared to government colleges, private colleges often offer low stipends, sometimes as low as ₹2,000 a month or none at all. These numbers could differ between colleges and universities in different states and are subject to change.
Career Prospects
After completing the BVSc & AH course, graduates can work in government animal husbandry departments, veterinary hospitals, research institutions, zoological parks, and wildlife sanctuaries.
Veterinarians can also treat farm animals, pets, and livestock at private veterinary clinics and hospitals.
BVSc & AH Graduates can specialize in areas such as Veterinary Surgery, Veterinary medicine, pathology, radiology, or animal reproduction through postgraduate courses and further research.
Higher Education Opportunities
Postgraduate programs such as the Master of Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc.) or the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) offer a variety of specializations for students who want to further specialize in veterinary science.
Graduates of these advanced courses can become experts in their chosen fields by gaining in-depth knowledge and research opportunities in particular veterinary science areas.
Postgraduate Programs After Completing B.V.Sc. & AH
Master of Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc)
The two-year (M.V.Sc.) The Master of Veterinary Science program offers specialisation in particular veterinary science fields through advanced coursework, research, and practical training.
specializations include:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Animal Nutrition
- Veterinary Surgery & Radiology
- Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology, & Virology
- Animal Genetics and Breeding
Institutions Offering BVSc & AH Course in India
Several institutions in India offer the BVSc & AH course. Several well-known universities are as follows
- Bombay Veterinary College, Mumbai (Maharashtra)
- Nagpur Veterinary College, Nagpur (Maharashtra)
- Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar (Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh)
- College of Veterinary Sciences, Hisar (Haryana)
- Madras Veterinary College, Chennai (Tamil Nadu)
- Kamdhenu Vishwavidyalaya, Chhattisgarh
- College of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat)
Government veterinary doctor’s salary
As you are aware, in India, veterinary doctors are recruited for various posts, including veterinary officers, veterinary assistant surgeons, and positions/ranks in the Army’s Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC).
The salary of a veterinary officer or veterinary assistant surgeon depends on the state in which they are working, which may range from ₹40,000 to ₹ 80,000 per month, depending on the state.
Now, after completing the Master of Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc.) the salary depends on your specialisation, your work experience and many other factors. So, it can range from rupees 50,000 to 80,000 per month after completing your M.V.Sc.
Factors affecting salary
Pay scales: (State and central government): Pay scales differ between states and the central government.
Years of experience: Salary increases with work experience, as shown by the annual salary estimates for 3, 4, 5, and 7 years of experience.
Type of Job: The specific job title, such as Veterinary Officer or Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, can get more pay.
In the private veterinary sector, the starting salary of a veterinary doctor ranges from rupees 30,000 to 45,000 per month.
Conclusion
As you are aware, India is an agricultural country, and domesticated animals play a fundamental role in agriculture.
Recently, awareness about farm animal health, nutrition, and breeding has increased; that’s why pursuing a career in veterinary science is more desirable than ever before.
In India, the BVSc & AH program offers an advanced education in veterinary science and animal husbandry. After BVSc, many courses can be pursued, like Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, MD in Veterinary Science.
