Job roles and responsibilities in animal care settings

Animal Health Careers: Roles and Responsibilities

Veterinary Surgeon

Veterinary Surgeons are fully qualified and highly skilled professionals responsible for diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries and disorders in animals.
They perform examinations, collect samples, perform surgery, and administer medicines and treatments.

Veterinary Nurse

Veterinary Nurses work alongside Veterinary Surgeons in caring for sick and injured animals.
Daily tasks can include: providing nursing care, administering treatments, assisting in surgeries, taking blood samples, and giving advice on animal health to owners.

Animal Care Assistant

Animal Care Assistants assist staff in animal establishments, providing care for animals.
Their roles often involve feeding and watering animals, cleaning enclosures, exercise routines, grooming, maintaining records and keeping facilities clean.

Animal Behaviour and Training Careers

Animal Behaviourist

Animal Behaviourists study and assess the behaviour of animals, often working to correct unwanted or problematic behaviours.
Tasks include: conducting behaviour assessments, creating and implementing behaviour modification plans, recording progress, and providing advice to owners or care staff.

Dog Trainer

Dog Trainers work with dogs and their owners to correct and avoid problematic behaviours.
They plan and conduct individual or group training sessions, assess progress, advise on behavioural issues, and help establish good communication between owners and their pets.

Animal Welfare Careers

RSPCA Inspector

RSPCA Inspectors work to protect animals from cruelty and promote animal welfare.
They investigate reports of animal cruelty, rescue animals in need, collect evidence of mistreatment, and educate the public about animal welfare.

Animal Welfare Officer

Animal Welfare Officers ensure that animals are cared for properly in a variety of settings, including shelters, kennels, and pet stores.
Responsibilities include: regular checks on animal welfare, ensuring legal standards are met, identifying welfare problems, advising on improvements, and sometimes dealing with enforcement issues.

Establishing the broad range of roles available in animal care can support decision-making in career planning, understanding day-to-day tasks and longer-term career progression. It’s crucial to remember that many roles require specific qualifications, and gaining work experience is beneficial for all potential career paths in animal care.