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Veterinary surgeon: Job description and activities

Job description

Veterinary surgeons work to safeguard the health and welfare of animals. In general practice they are responsible for the prevention of disease and for the medical and surgical treatment of pets and animals in homes, farms, zoos and wildlife parks. Most practices specialise according to their location in either a rural or urban area.

Vets combine their knowledge of animal physiology, nutrition and medicine with practical surgical skills to diagnose illnesses, prescribe medicines, manage anaesthesia and radiography, and perform surgery.

Vets are also employed in other sectors, such as education and research, government agencies, animal charities and pharmaceutical companies.

Typical work activities

Most general practice work is undertaken either in the surgery in consultations with owners and their animals, or in animals' living environments, for example in farms, stables or owners’ homes.

Typical work activities include:

• handling, examining and treating all species of animals, including companion animals, farm livestock and horses;
• meeting and consulting with animal owners;
• carrying out diagnostic tests, such as x-rays, blood samples and ultrasound scans;
• giving advice to farmers on issues such as breeding, nutrition and herd health;
• undertaking routine visits to farms to check the health of livestock;
• immunising animals against different forms of disease;
• euthanasing old, sick or terminally ill and unwanted animals;
• performing surgery, including anaesthesia;
• caring for in-patient animals, including examining and advising on treatment;
• dealing with out-of-hours emergencies when on call;
• providing suitable paperwork for animals travelling abroad;
• inserting identification microchips into animals;
• maintaining records, raising and forwarding reports and certificates in compliance with current legislation;
• liaising with and referring to other professionals in the industry.

Vets working as practice partners have the additional responsibility of managing practice finances, promoting the surgery to potential clients, and recruiting and managing veterinary surgeons, nurses and receptionists.

Vets working for government agencies may research diseases, test and manage infection outbreaks or food safety, and complete paperwork for pet passports.

AGCAS

Written by Ruth Livermore, The University of Birmingham

Last updated:

January 2008

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