Veterinarians :: Job Description

ExistingUsers

User Name:

Password:

Forgot your password?
Click here

NewUsers

FeaturedResources

Veterinarians

Careers / Veterinarians

Summary Description


	Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals.

Sample Job Titles

1.	Animal Anatomist

2.	Animal Chiropractor

3.	Animal Doctor

4.	Animal Pathologist

5.	Animal Physiologist

6.	Animal Surgeon

7.	Associate Veterinarian

8.	Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)

9.	Emergency Veterinarian

10.	Equine Dentist

11.	Equine Vet (Equine Veterinarian)

12.	Horse Doctor

13.	Laboratory Animal Care Veterinarian

14.	Laboratory Veterinarian

15.	Large Animal Veterinarian

16.	Mixed Animal Veterinarian

17.	Poultry Pathologist

18.	Poultry Veterinarian

19.	Public Health Veterinarian

20.	Small Animal Veterinarian

21.	Staff Veterinarian

22.	Treatment Coordinator

23.	Veterinarian (VET)

24.	Veterinarian Epidemiologist

25.	Veterinarian, Small Animal

26.	Veterinary Anatomist

27.	Veterinary Bacteriologist

28.	Veterinary Dentist

29.	Veterinary Epidemiologist

30.	Veterinary Inspector

31.	Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostician

32.	Veterinary Livestock Inspector

33.	Veterinary Meat Inspector

34.	Veterinary Medicine Doctor (DVM)

35.	Veterinary Medicine Scientist

36.	Veterinary Microbiologist

37.	Veterinary Parasitologist

38.	Veterinary Pathologist

39.	Veterinary Pharmacologist

40.	Veterinary Physiologist

41.	Veterinary Radiologist

42.	Veterinary Surgeon

43.	Veterinary Toxicologist

44.	Veterinary Virus Serum Inspector

45.	Wildlife Veterinarian

46.	Zoo Veterinarian

Job Tasks

	Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries. Examine patients to assess general physical condition.

	Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery. Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries. Operate on patients to treat conditions. Prescribe medications.

	Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis. Collect biological specimens from patients.

	Inoculate animals against various diseases such as rabies or distemper. Immunize patients.

	Counsel clients about the deaths of their pets or about euthanasia decisions for their pets.

	Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images. Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment. Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.

	Advise animal owners regarding sanitary measures, feeding, general care, medical conditions, or treatment options. Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.

	Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans. Communicate health and wellness information to the public.

	Attend lectures, conferences, or continuing education courses. Maintain medical or professional knowledge.

	Establish or conduct quarantine or testing procedures that prevent the spread of diseases to other animals or to humans and that comply with applicable government regulations. Determine protocols for medical procedures.

	Euthanize animals.

	Inspect and test horses, sheep, poultry, or other animals to detect the presence of communicable diseases. Examine patients to assess general physical condition.

	Provide care to a wide range of animals or specialize in a particular species, such as horses or exotic birds.

	Train or supervise workers who handle or care for animals. Train medical providers. Supervise medical support personnel.

	Drive mobile clinic vans to farms so that health problems can be treated or prevented.

	Direct the overall operations of animal hospitals, clinics, or mobile services to farms. Manage healthcare operations.

	Specialize in a particular type of treatment, such as dentistry, pathology, nutrition, surgery, microbiology, or internal medicine.

	Research diseases to which animals could be susceptible. Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.

	Determine the effects of drug therapies, antibiotics, or new surgical techniques by testing them on animals. Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.

	Plan or execute animal nutrition or reproduction programs. Develop medical treatment plans.

	Perform administrative or business management tasks, such as scheduling appointments, accepting payments from clients, budgeting, or maintaining business records. Schedule patient procedures or appointments. Maintain medical facility records. Perform clerical work in medical settings.

	Conduct postmortem studies and analyses to determine the causes of animals' deaths. Analyze medical data to determine cause of death.

	Inspect animal housing facilities to determine their cleanliness and adequacy.

Work Activities

Importance	Work Activity

Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.

Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.

Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.

Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.

Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Provide Consultation and Advice to Others — Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.

Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.

Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.

Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.

Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.

Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.

Monitoring and Controlling Resources — Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.

Thinking Creatively — Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.

Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Developing Objectives and Strategies — Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.

Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.

Coaching and Developing Others — Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.

Staffing Organizational Units — Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.

Nature of the Work


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Veterinarians
	Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to improve public health. They diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and other animals.

	Read More >>

Working Conditions


	(Abstract from Career Articles)

	Veterinarians
	Most veterinarians work in private clinics and hospitals. Others travel to farms, work in laboratories or classrooms, or work for the government.

	Read More >>

<< Previous Page

Next Page >>

Interesting Fact

Daniel Webster, Abraham Lincoln, John Marshall and Stephen A. Douglas are among the most famous lawyers in American history, but none went to Law School.

Did you know...

The MyPlan.com Graduate School Database provides detailed profiles on more than 1,800 different graduate schools in the U.S.