Veterinarian

Veterinarians work with animals. They diagnose animals and work to treat and prevent their diseases. They also patch up animals after injuries and offer advice for preventative care to animals owners.

Duties and tasks

Advising on preventing the occurrence and spread of diseases among animals
Giving advice to animal owners on care and treatment and answering questions as needed
Inspecting animals to determine the cause of disease or injury
Performing autopsies on deceased animals
Performing surgery or other medical procedures on animals
Prescribing medications for animals diseases and administering these medications as needed
Setting animals broken bones or otherwise attending to injuries

Skills required

Active listening
Keen judgment and decision-making capabilities
Speaking and other interpersonal communication
Thorough knowledge of animal science
Use of logic, reasoning, and critical thinking

Working conditions

Veterinarians typically work in medical settings designed specifically for animals. Depending on the size of the animals they treat, these may be small clinics for household pets like dogs and cats, or larger facilities for farm animals like cows and horses. Veterinarians also often perform house calls, especially for larger animals.