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Bryleigh
Student
Cabot, Arkansas
11
Questions
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What does a typical day look like for a marine veterinarian, specifically marine mammal vet? #fall25
I am trying to decide if this is what I want to pursue, but before I start the long college journey, I wanted to get an idea of what I will be getting myself into. Also I would like to know the best skills and personalities that help a person succeed in this field. #fall25
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2 answers
Nirah Shomer, DVM PhD DACLAM
Senior leader in laboratory animal science, animal welfare, and regulatory compliance
76
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Nirah’s Answer
Hi, Bryleigh. I am not a marine mammal veterinarian, I am a laboratory animal veterinarian, which is a specialty that is pretty rare (about 1000 of us in the US) but not remotely as rare as marine mammal vet. It would be fair to say that there is no "typical day"- there are so few marine mammal veterinarians (one estimate I found on reddit said 3 dozen) that this would be highly individualized. There are basically only a handful of places that employ full time marine mammal veterinarians- perhaps a marine park or aquarium, or a couple of research situations, or possibly the navy. Even in those settings, I believe the majority of those vets devote only part of their time to marine mammals, and the rest of their time to other pursuits such as other aquatic animals or administrative matters (e.g. zoo or aquarium directors). There are a few more veterinarians who work in zoos and aquaria or in research settings, and there actually is a zoo vet specialty- with fewer than 300 boarded members. Compare this to the number of practicing vets in the US- about 130,000- and I hope you can appreciate that this is not really a question that anyone could answer for you. If you really want to specialize as a marine mammal vet, the likely pathway would be 4 years of undergraduate, 4 years of vet school and then a highly competitive attempt to get into a zoo vet program for another 3 years, before then trying to find a job where you would spend some of your time working with marine mammals.
I don't want to discourage you, but you said you wanted to know what you would be getting into- which would be about 11 years of post high-school education, student loan debt of 200 - 400 thousand dollars, followed by a job that would likely pay considerably less than the starting salary for companion animal vets (another reddit thread I found was able to work out that the salary was likely less than 100K per year and definitely less than 130K per year at any of the publicly-funded aquaria). I don't think you can *plan* on this as a career- even if you are very very interested in it, there are so few opportunities that you would need a great deal of luck in addition to hard work and ambition. Numerically speaking, your chances of becoming a senator are vastly greater than your chances of becoming a marine mammal veterinarian.
So... perhaps you can reflect more deeply about why you are thinking about being a marine mammal vet, and consider whether you could also be happy being a regular veterinarian. Being a marine mammal vet is likely to involve a lot less actual medicine than working with normal domestic animals. There are huge limitations in working with marine species that include their vast size (you can't exactly put a walrus in an MRI), inaccessibility due to their aquatic location, the fact that you would usually need to work with them under heavy sedation as they are all wild animals, plus huge restrictions due to their highly endangered status, not to mention a general lack of any medications that are approved or labeled for use in these species. If the reason you are considering this is that you just love marine mammals, there are other careers where you might have an opportunity to work with them that don't require being a veterinarian.
I don't want to discourage you, but you said you wanted to know what you would be getting into- which would be about 11 years of post high-school education, student loan debt of 200 - 400 thousand dollars, followed by a job that would likely pay considerably less than the starting salary for companion animal vets (another reddit thread I found was able to work out that the salary was likely less than 100K per year and definitely less than 130K per year at any of the publicly-funded aquaria). I don't think you can *plan* on this as a career- even if you are very very interested in it, there are so few opportunities that you would need a great deal of luck in addition to hard work and ambition. Numerically speaking, your chances of becoming a senator are vastly greater than your chances of becoming a marine mammal veterinarian.
So... perhaps you can reflect more deeply about why you are thinking about being a marine mammal vet, and consider whether you could also be happy being a regular veterinarian. Being a marine mammal vet is likely to involve a lot less actual medicine than working with normal domestic animals. There are huge limitations in working with marine species that include their vast size (you can't exactly put a walrus in an MRI), inaccessibility due to their aquatic location, the fact that you would usually need to work with them under heavy sedation as they are all wild animals, plus huge restrictions due to their highly endangered status, not to mention a general lack of any medications that are approved or labeled for use in these species. If the reason you are considering this is that you just love marine mammals, there are other careers where you might have an opportunity to work with them that don't require being a veterinarian.
Thanks for the advice.
Bryleigh
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1185
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Bryleigh,
It's quite wise of you to think things through before committing to such a long academic path. Marine mammal medicine is an amazing field that is challenging but also meaningful, tough, and full of moments that remind you why you picked it. You will be prepared for success rather than surprises if you have a clear picture now.
A typical day for a marine mammal veterinarian usually looks like this (bearing in mind that "typical" is changeable because nature doesn't follow a schedule):
- Morning: Health Checks & Daily Rounds
Regular wellness checks on the marine mammals under your care, dolphins, seals, sea lions, manatees, and occasionally whales, depending on the facility, often begin your day early. You'll inspect wounds or ongoing treatments, review behavior logs, evaluate food intake, and discuss anything out of the ordinary with trainers or caretakers. It combines close teamwork with medical expertise.
- Midday: Procedures, Diagnostics & Field Calls
This is when things get hands-on:
- Performing ultrasounds or blood draws
- Treating injuries
- Monitoring anesthesia during a procedure
- Conducting necropsies when needed
- Overseeing rehabilitation plans for rescued animals
On some days, you may go into the field to assist with conservation or studies, or to respond to a stranded animal. The work becomes emotionally intense and profoundly impacting during these unpredictable, occasionally urgent moments.
- Afternoon: Documentation, Research & Collaboration
Documentation is important, even in a maritime setting. You will coordinate with other veterinarians, researchers, or conservation teams, make case notes, and update medical records, as well as participate in scientific studies. You have to continuously learn about new illnesses, environmental stresses, and diagnostic techniques in this line of work.
- Evening: Unpredictable Wrap-Ups
The day goes on if an animal refuses or if a rescue request is received late. Because not all marine mammals wait for business hours to become ill, marine mammal medicine must be adaptable. However, there are also slower-paced days devoted to study, animal welfare measures, and preventive care.
The type of person who thrives in this field
From what you’ve shared, you’re already thinking in the right direction. Here are traits that make someone a strong fit:
- Deep empathy + emotional resilience
You’ll celebrate recoveries… and experience losses. Both matter in this work.
- Strong observation skills
Animals can’t tell you what hurts; you learn to read behavior, posture, and tiny shifts in routine.
- Problem-solving mindset
Every case is a puzzle: environment + biology + behavior.
- Comfort with physical, messy, unpredictable work
You’ll be in the water, in rehab pools, and on boats, sometimes in tough weather.
- Collaborative energy
You’ll constantly work with trainers, biologists, rescue teams, and volunteers.
- Science-focused and academically committed
Biology, chemistry, veterinary school, internships, and residencies are all necessary for becoming a marine animal veterinarian. You can thrive rather than just survive when you love science.
Your passion is a powerful compass if it makes you feel good to think about helping a stranded dolphin rehabilitate or supporting conservation initiatives. However, understanding the realities, the hard hours, the emotional toll, and the intellectual extent is just as important.
Best wishes!
It's quite wise of you to think things through before committing to such a long academic path. Marine mammal medicine is an amazing field that is challenging but also meaningful, tough, and full of moments that remind you why you picked it. You will be prepared for success rather than surprises if you have a clear picture now.
A typical day for a marine mammal veterinarian usually looks like this (bearing in mind that "typical" is changeable because nature doesn't follow a schedule):
- Morning: Health Checks & Daily Rounds
Regular wellness checks on the marine mammals under your care, dolphins, seals, sea lions, manatees, and occasionally whales, depending on the facility, often begin your day early. You'll inspect wounds or ongoing treatments, review behavior logs, evaluate food intake, and discuss anything out of the ordinary with trainers or caretakers. It combines close teamwork with medical expertise.
- Midday: Procedures, Diagnostics & Field Calls
This is when things get hands-on:
- Performing ultrasounds or blood draws
- Treating injuries
- Monitoring anesthesia during a procedure
- Conducting necropsies when needed
- Overseeing rehabilitation plans for rescued animals
On some days, you may go into the field to assist with conservation or studies, or to respond to a stranded animal. The work becomes emotionally intense and profoundly impacting during these unpredictable, occasionally urgent moments.
- Afternoon: Documentation, Research & Collaboration
Documentation is important, even in a maritime setting. You will coordinate with other veterinarians, researchers, or conservation teams, make case notes, and update medical records, as well as participate in scientific studies. You have to continuously learn about new illnesses, environmental stresses, and diagnostic techniques in this line of work.
- Evening: Unpredictable Wrap-Ups
The day goes on if an animal refuses or if a rescue request is received late. Because not all marine mammals wait for business hours to become ill, marine mammal medicine must be adaptable. However, there are also slower-paced days devoted to study, animal welfare measures, and preventive care.
The type of person who thrives in this field
From what you’ve shared, you’re already thinking in the right direction. Here are traits that make someone a strong fit:
- Deep empathy + emotional resilience
You’ll celebrate recoveries… and experience losses. Both matter in this work.
- Strong observation skills
Animals can’t tell you what hurts; you learn to read behavior, posture, and tiny shifts in routine.
- Problem-solving mindset
Every case is a puzzle: environment + biology + behavior.
- Comfort with physical, messy, unpredictable work
You’ll be in the water, in rehab pools, and on boats, sometimes in tough weather.
- Collaborative energy
You’ll constantly work with trainers, biologists, rescue teams, and volunteers.
- Science-focused and academically committed
Biology, chemistry, veterinary school, internships, and residencies are all necessary for becoming a marine animal veterinarian. You can thrive rather than just survive when you love science.
Your passion is a powerful compass if it makes you feel good to think about helping a stranded dolphin rehabilitate or supporting conservation initiatives. However, understanding the realities, the hard hours, the emotional toll, and the intellectual extent is just as important.
Best wishes!