A lot of Australian's deeply love their animals, and that is reflected in the wide support network there is for pet healthcare. There are hundreds of vets and support staff across the country who can deal with virtually any medical crisis your pet may be encountering. If you are considering a position in a veterinary surgery, then you are in luck because there has never been a more exciting time to get involved. No longer are veterinary surgeries a catch-all for any medical issue, now there are a lot of different specialties that you can focus on depending on what interests or inspires you. 

Oncology

Cancer is just as much a problem for animals as it can be for humans, and they suffer many of the same variants. Learning how to properly treat a dog, cat or some other common household animal for cancer is challenging because of the lack of communication. By specialising in this field as a veterinary surgeon, you will be constantly saving lives in a very tangible sense and can drastically improve the quality of life for so many of your patients. While challenging, it is certainly very rewarding for those who pursue it at one of the many vet clinics that have oncological departments. 

Cardiology

Treating the heart requires a lot of finesse and patience and can require long surgical procedures that are life-or-death situations for the animal in your care. From repairing congenital defects to the insertion of special, animal-sized pacemakers, there are a lot of procedures that revolve around the heart. Often owners have no idea their pet has any cardiac issues at all until they go to a vet and can be amazed at how much better their beloved animal is doing after proper treatment for cardio-related conditions. 

Ophthalmology

Cataracts are very common in a lot of different pets, especially as they grow older due to the great care their owners provide. Luckily, just as in humans, cataracts can also be removed from animal eyes and replaced with an artificial lens that will work just as well. This is a different kind of veterinary surgery in that it is quite quick and less dangerous than other ones listed but can still have a marked improvement in the life of the pet. Quite often a veterinary surgeon will have multiple fields where they might be comfortable operating in, such as general medical health and then a specialisation like any of the above listed. If you want to become one, there are so many avenues to choose from that it can be hard to narrow it down!