Saxony-Anhalt: Veterinarians on the rise, but bureaucracy is a drag!

Saxony-Anhalt: Veterinarians on the rise, but bureaucracy is a drag!

Veterinary medicine in Saxony-Anhalt is experiencing a positive upswing. According to statistics from the Federal and Veterinary Association, there will be 836 veterinarians working across the country at the end of 2024. There are 321 private practices and 255 employed veterinarians, while 171 veterinarians work in public administration. These developments show that the veterinary profession is becoming increasingly popular, particularly among young graduates, many of whom prefer employment to self-employment in order to enjoy secure working hours and a stable income. This particularly affects women, as Wolfgang Gaede, President of the Saxony-Anhalt Association of Veterinarians, notes.

“A third of my working time goes into bureaucracy,” reports Pretzsch veterinarian Meumann, who is not only responsible for the health of the animals but also invests a lot of time in administrative tasks. Your statement reflects the new trend that veterinarians' everyday work is increasingly characterized by bureaucratic requirements. Nevertheless, more and more veterinarians are getting involved in special specialist areas in order to deepen their knowledge in areas such as neurology, urology and dermatology and thus become even more competent for their animal patients.

Veterinary training and qualifications

Education and ongoing training are essential for veterinarians. For example, the Saxon State Ministry for Social Affairs, Health and Social Cohesion (SMS) is starting the registration process for a specialist seminar in the administrative service of the public veterinary sector, which is taking place for the ninth time. Interested parties can apply until August 15, 2025. The aim of the seminar is to expand knowledge and skills in the public health service so that veterinarians are prepared for future challenges.

In the broader German veterinary medicine landscape, a total of 32,582 people worked in this profession in 2020, 67.9% of whom are women. The practicing veterinarians make up the largest group with 12,001 specialists. Specializing in small animals is very popular with 51.8% of practicing veterinarians. There is also a trend towards increasing the number of graduates. In 2020, 1,534 students completed their studies, the highest number since 2005.

Health challenges and precautions

Current health challenges in the animal sector should also not be neglected. An infection with foot and mouth disease (FMD) was recently detected in the Märkisch-Oderland district. The outbreak was documented on January 9, 2025, and the affected cattle were ordered to be killed just one day later. Protective zones have been set up to prevent the virus from spreading. The Saxony-Anhalt Veterinary Association and the Federal Veterinary Association also advise caution with regard to animal welfare-related issues: “Health problems in extremely short-nosed animals are a serious issue,” warn experts.

With a central emergency service platform for small and pet animals, which can be accessed at www.tieraerztliche-notdienste.de, a further safety net has been created to ensure that the right help is available quickly in an emergency.

Overall, it can be said that veterinary medicine in Germany, and especially in Saxony-Anhalt, is in an exciting and dynamic phase. While bureaucratic and health challenges persist, the opportunities for specialization and training for veterinarians are promising. It remains to be seen how these trends will develop in the coming years.