Diagnoses, treats and prevents animal diseases, ailments and injuries.
Tasks Include:
treats animals medically and surgically, administering and prescribing drugs, analgesics, general or local anaesthetics
determines the presence and nature of abnormal conditions by physical examination and by using diagnostic techniques including laboratory tests and X-ray examinations
performs surgery, dresses wounds and sets broken bones
renders obstetric services to animals
participates in programs designed to prevent the occurrence and spread of animal diseases
inoculates animals against, and tests for, infectious diseases and notifies authorities of outbreaks of infectious animal diseases
performs autopsies to determine cause of death
advises clients on hygiene, feeding, breeding and care of animals
may provide professional services to commercial firms producing biological or pharmaceutical products
may specialise with a particular animal group or in a particular specialty area