Veterinarian
What the work is
Diagnoses, treats and prevents animal diseases, ailments and injuries.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Examines animals to diagnose diseases, ailments and injuries
- Prescribes and administers medications and treatments to animals
- Performs surgeries and other medical procedures on animals
- Provides preventive care such as vaccinations and parasite control
- Advises animal owners on proper care and nutrition for their pets
- Conducts laboratory tests and interprets the results
- Euthanises animals when necessary and supports grieving owners
- Maintains accurate and up-to-date medical records for animals
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a mixed-practice veterinary clinic in a fictional country town, with small animals in town and farm visits. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A sick animal you worried about is wagging its tail by the end of the week
- A farmer rings to say your advice improved the whole herd's health
- A nervous puppy visit that ends with a happy owner and a very happy puppy
Hard days
- An owner cannot afford the best treatment, and you must find a sensible option
- A long call-out on a cold night, miles from the clinic
- A conversation about an animal that cannot be saved, with a family that loves it
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 269531, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.