Skills & competences

Description

Veterinarians diagnose, prevent and treat diseases, injuries and dysfunctions of animals. They may provide care to a wide range of animals or specialize in the treatment of a particular animal group or in a particular speciality area, or provide professional services to commercial firms producing biological and pharmaceutical products.
Tasks include -
(a) determining the presence and nature of abnormal conditions by physical examination, laboratory testing and through diagnostic imaging techniques including radiography and ultrasound;
(b) treating animals medically and surgically, and administering and prescribing drugs, analgesics, and general and local anaesthetics;
(c) performing surgery, dressing wounds and setting broken bones;
(d) rendering obstetric and dental services to animals;
(e) participating in programmes designed to prevent the occurrence and spread of animal diseases;
(f) inoculating animals against, and testing for, infectious diseases and notifying authorities of outbreaks of infectious animal diseases;
(g) performing autopsies to determine cause of death;
(h) advising clients on health, nutrition and feeding, hygiene, breeding and care of animals;
(i) providing euthanasia services for animals.
Examples of the occupations classified here:
- Animal pathologist
- Veterinarian
- Veterinary epidemiologist
- Veterinary intern
- Veterinary surgeon