Veterinarians

Veterinarians diagnose, treat and prevent animal diseases, ailments and injuries.

**Indicative skill level:**

#### In Australia and New Zealand:

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

Registration or licensing is required.

**Tasks include:**

- 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