Animal psychologists diagnose and treat animal disorders, work with zoos and homeowners to solve animal problems, and examine the effects of external factors on animals. They may also work as animal behaviorists to solve common pet problems. Educational requirements vary, but most jobs require a master’s or doctoral degree.
An animal psychologist is well versed in the mental life and behavior of animals. He or she can help diagnose animal disorders or point out strange behavior. In many cases, animal psychologists help resolve or at least alleviate the symptoms of certain animal disorders or health issues. Animal psychologists are often employed by zoos and homeowners to solve frustrating animal problems or assess animals’ life situations in determining possible problems and stresses. Educational requirements vary greatly depending on the job, but some higher education is usually required.
Government agencies and companies sometimes employ animal psychologists to examine the effects an outside factor has on an animal’s natural behaviors. For example, an organization researching a drug and interested in the effects the drug has on an animal might hire an animal psychologist. In this case, the animal psychologist is tasked with determining how the external factor affects the normal equation. The external factors of concern are not limited to medications and illnesses, however. Organizations are often interested in keeping an eye on certain animal populations to ensure that their behaviors are not outside the norm.
An animal psychologist can work as an animal behaviorist to solve common pet problems. Shy or potentially aggressive dogs, cats with obsessive chewing problems, and similar animal problems are evaluated and resolved by an animal psychologist. This is generally one of the least lucrative jobs that animal psychologists can pursue, unless their efforts land them on a television show or working on a movie set. The educational background needed to get a job like this varies.
Sometimes an animal psychologist works with a zoo or other institution that houses animals to ensure they have healthy environments. For example, pet psychologists are well-versed in which environments are safe and stress-free for certain types of animals. Additionally, animal psychologists are often tasked with making animal environments more stimulating and healthier for the animals that live in them. Sometimes this involves knowing an animal’s natural feeding habits to make the animal’s feeding more natural within the artificial environment.
Educational requirements for becoming an animal psychologist often vary based on the specific job a person wants to do. Sometimes an undergraduate degree is enough to land an animal psychologist job. Most of the time, however, jobs in animal psychology require a master’s or doctoral degree. Many areas of animal psychology are studied in the field, including several sciences. Comparative psychology, sociology and zoology are some of the main areas that future animal psychologists focus on in school.
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