Veterinarian

Overview

Diagnoses, treats and prevents animal diseases, ailments and injuries. Registration or licensing is required.

Skills

Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a bachelor degree or higher qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Tasks

• treating animals medically and surgically, and administering and prescribing drugs, analgesics, and general and local anaesthetics
• determining the presence and nature of abnormal conditions by physical examination, laboratory testing and through diagnostic imaging techniques including radiography and ultrasound
• performing surgery, dressing wounds and setting broken bones
• rendering obstetric services to animals
• participating in programs designed to prevent the occurrence and spread of animal diseases
• inoculating animals against, and testing for, infectious diseases and notifying authorities of outbreaks of infectious animal diseases
• performing autopsies to determine cause of death
• advising clients on health, nutrition and feeding, hygiene, breeding and care of animals
• may provide professional services to commercial firms producing biological and pharmaceutical products
• may specialise in the treatment of a particular animal group or in a particular specialty area such as cardiology, chiropractic, dermatology or critical care

Alternative Titles

• Veterinary Surgeon

Specialisations

• Veterinary Parasitologist
• Veterinary Pathologist