Official veterinarian

About this career

Official veterinarians are professionals with a comprehensive scientific education. They have the authority to carry out, in an independent, ethical and personally responsible capacity all veterinary activities with particular focus on the health and welfare of animals and public health in accordance with national and international legislation. They are responsible for national animal disease eradication programmes, the protection of public health and food or animal inspection, animal movements, and import and export of live animals and their products.

Essential skills

advise on animal welfare advise on livestock disease control apply animal hygiene practices apply veterinary epidemiology assess animal's condition certify the performance of veterinary procedures comply with veterinary inspection standards conduct ante-mortem veterinary health inspection deal with challenging people develop media strategy develop zoonotic disease control policies evaluate information in the field of veterinary nursing follow environmentally sustainable work practices in the veterinary sector handle veterinary emergencies issue certificates for animal products maintain veterinary clinical records make decisions regarding the animal's welfare manage animal biosecurity monitor the welfare of animals perform inspection analysis perform inspections of food-processing plants perform laboratory testing on samples of animals perform veterinary diagnosis regulate animal health standards

Required knowledge

anatomy of animals animal behaviour animal production science animal welfare animal welfare legislation biosecurity related to animals fundamental veterinary sciences physiology of animals safe work practices in a veterinary setting signs of animal illness veterinary clinical sciences

Additional skills

apply numeracy skills apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting calculate rates per hours collaborate with animal related professionals cope with challenging circumstances in the veterinary sector develop an animal handling strategy implement veterinary clinical governance interview animal owners on animals' conditions maintain administrative records in the veterinary office maintain relationships with animal welfare establishments manage infection control in the facility provide animal training provide mentorship take advantage of learning opportunities in veterinary science understand the animal's situation use different communication channels environmental enrichment for animals

Also known as

state vet government vet official vet veterinary inspector public health veterinarian government veterinary officer