Animal health specialist

An animal health specialist is responsible for ensuring proper care and treatment of animals and management of all tasks related to maintenance of sanitary conditions for the animals. Ideally, it is better that only those people who genuinely have a liking for the animals should think of taking up this career. Animals require lot of care and attention and all the dedication comes from within. Hence, before getting into this profession it is better to evaluate what you are expecting from the job what all of the positive and negative aspects and how they can affect you. At the entry level the health specialist works under the supervision of a veterinary doctor. The roles and responsibilities of the job include:

• Ensure daily care routine is provided to animals in veterinary treatment.
• Ensure daily care routine is provided to animals in research and development labs.
• Maintain the medical history of animals, interact with owners or animal trainers to record any vital information related to the animal.
• Conducting physical tests to detect any abnormality.
• Ensure that the medications are given as per the directions given by the veterinarian.
• Ensure that sanitary conditions are maintained for the entire veterinary department whether it is the operating room or the research lab, each area should be well taken care of.
• Assisting veterinarian in surgical procedures, this includes collection of specimens for various tests and help in all kinds of first aid.
• Perform diagnostic tests in the laboratory as per schedule.
• Record all laboratory test results.
• Maintenance of animal heath record.
• Conduct all the necessary administrative duties related to the job.
• Maintenance of all animal immunization files.
• Maintenance of all animal registration files.
• Maintenance of all cases like animal bite case reports.
  

Depending upon the qualifications and past experience, jobs of higher responsibilities can also be handed over to the specialist. This includes:

• Providing technical guidance to the entry level professionals and other juniors.
• In case of emergency, the specialist should be able to perform advanced medical procedures.
• Should know how to operate various instruments like respirators, monitors various apparatus.
• Conduct research, preparing budgets.
• Supervise the functions to team reporting to specialist.
• Review, consolidation and preparation of all reports, should interact with the medical authorities for smooth functioning of all tasks.
• Monitoring laboratory animal procurement procedures.
  
  
  

Prerequisites for the job of animal health specialist are:

• Knowledge of poultry, pets and other animals, knowledge of various animal related diseases.
• Understanding of basic sanitation and husbandry practices.
• Ability to handle cattle, pets and other animals.
• Clear understanding of how to conduct basic tests and procedures on animals.
• Should have a good understanding of how to prepare and maintain various records.
  

Preferred educational qualification for the job is - Bachelor’s degree in any biological science animal or veterinary science. Depending on the past experience educational experiences the roles and responsibilities are decided for the deserving candidates.