anatomy of animals
The study of animal body parts, their structure and dynamic relationships, on a level as demanded by the specific occupation.
Specialised veterinarians are professionals with a comprehensive scientific education. They have the authority to carry out, in an independent, ethical and personally responsible capacity, all aspects of veterinary medicine, in the interest of the health and welfare of animals and public health in accordance with national and international legislation. In addition they need a recognized qualification and/or experience in a specific species and/or veterinary procedure.
Competences and skills
72 ESCO relationsEssential knowledge 12 competences
Occupation specific
0 competencesNo competences in this bucket.
Sector-specific
9 competencesanimal behaviour
The natural behavioural patterns of animals, i.e. how normal and abnormal behaviour might be expressed according to species, environment, human-animal interaction and occupation.
animal production science
Animal nutrition, agronomy, rural economics, animal husbandry, hygiene and bio-security, ethology, protection and herd health management.
biosecurity related to animals
Awareness of hygiene and bio-security measures when working with animals, including causes, transmission and prevention of diseases and use of policies, materials and equipment.
environmental enrichment for animals
Types, methods and use of enrichment for animals to allow the expression of natural behaviour, including the provision of environmental stimuli, feeding activities, puzzles, items for manipulation, social and training activities.
physiology of animals
The study of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical and biochemical functioning of animals, their organs and their cells.
safe work practices in a veterinary setting
Safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and working environment.
signs of animal illness
Physical, behavioural and environmental signs of health and ill health in various animals.
veterinary clinical sciences
Aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of common diseases and disorders. This includes veterinary areas such as propaedeutics, clinical and anatomic pathology, microbiology, parasitology, clinical medicine and surgery (including anaesthetics), preventive medicine, diagnostic imaging, animal reproduction and reproductive disorders, veterinary state medicine and public health, veterinary legislation and forensic medicine, and therapeutics.
Cross-sector
3 competencesanimal welfare
Universally recognized animal welfare needs as applied to species, situation and occupation. These are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
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animal welfare legislation
The legal boundaries, codes of professional conduct, national and EU regulatory frameworks and legal procedures of working with animals and living organisms, ensuring their welfare and health.
- Scope note
- National and EU legislation relevant to occupation, regulatory body and codes of conduct. This may include . , health and safety, risk assessment requirements and codes of conduct, especially in the areas of animal welfare, health and public health, food and environmental safety in relation with clients.
fundamental veterinary sciences
Veterinary anatomy, histology, embryology, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, pharmacology, pharmacy, toxicology, microbiology, immunology, epidemiology and professional ethics.
Essential skills and competences 32 competences
Occupation specific
3 competencesapply specialised veterinary knowledge
Resolve problems which are beyond the competence of a general practice veterinarian.
perform esophagoscopy
Conduct oesophagoscopy to visualise the oesophagus for either diagnostic or therapeutic benefit.
perform intra-operative neuromonitoring
Perform investigations such as electroencephalography, electromyography and evoked potentials to monitor the functional integrity of neural structures such as nerves, spinal cord and parts of the brain during surgery.
Sector-specific
26 competencesapply animal hygiene practices
Plan and use appropriate hygiene measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure an effective overall hygiene. Maintain and follow hygiene procedures and regulations when working with animals, communicate site hygiene controls and protocols to others. Manage the safe disposal of waste according to destination and local regulations.
apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting
Apply safe work practices in a veterinary setting in order to identify hazards and associated risks so as to prevent accidents or incidents. This includes injury from animals, zoonotic diseases, chemicals, equipment and work environments.
apply veterinary epidemiology
Analyse animal and zoonotic disease morbidity and mortality in a given population and relate findings to the norm. This includes collection and analysis of data and information for use in individual animals, groups or more widely as part of a network of disease surveillance. Implement intervention and control measures.
- Scope note
- The generalist veterinarian will not have the depth and bredth of knowledge, skills and competencies in this area as the official or certain specialised veterinarians .
assess animal behaviour
Observe and evaluate the behaviour of animals in order to work with them safely and recognise deviations from normal behaviour that signal compromised health and welfare.'
certify the performance of veterinary procedures
Produce descriptive certification of procedures carried out by a veterinarian.
- Scope note
- Certification including: transportation, purchase, state of health, export of animal and animal products, vaccination, identification.
collect samples from animals
Obtain specimens of an animal's body fluids, secretions, excretion or other tissues, in order to facilitate the diagnosis of health and disease.
- Scope note
- This includes use of invasive techniques (eg. biopsy) which must only be carried out by the veterinarian unless otherwise permitted by national legislation.
communicate specialised veterinary information
Communicate the relevance of and the advances in the area of specialisation to general practice veterinarians and to non-veterinarians.
conduct ante-mortem veterinary health inspection
Perform clinical assessment and certification of the health status of food animals prior to slaughter.
conduct cancer screening tests
Undertake screening test at an early stage, before cancer symptoms appear, taking physical exams, laboratory tests, imaging procedures and genetic tests.
conduct veterinary consultation
Conduct structured and empathetic communication with clients in order to ascertain or provide relevant clinical information concerning health status, treatment options or other ongoing care of the veterinary patient.
evaluate information in the field of veterinary nursing
Be able to read, understand and utilise the most current research available to justify decisions based on best practice.
implant microchips in animals
Scan for existing microchips prior to implanting a new one. Inject the implant under the animal's skin.
issue certificates for animal products
Issue certificates related to animal health and welfare or to animal products, based on the necessary examination or testing, in accordance with the principles of certification agreed at European level.
maintain veterinary clinical records
Create and maintain clinical records for animals according to national regulatory requirements.
- Scope note
- Includes consultations, animal details, clinical measurements, communication with clients, prescription of pharmaceuticals, surgical and medical diagnostics and treatments, certification and monitoring of hospitalization records.
manage animal biosecurity
Plan and use appropriate biosafety measures to prevent transmission of diseases and ensure effective overall biosecurity. Maintain and follow biosecurity procedures and infection control when working with animals, including recognising potential health issues and taking appropriate action, communicating site hygiene control measures and biosecurity procedures, as well as reporting to others.
manage animal welfare
Plan, manage and evaluate the application of the five universally recognised animal welfare needs as appropriate to species, situation and own occupation.
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- Scope note
- The five welfare needs are: need for a suitable environment need for a suitable diet need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
perform euthanasia on animals
Kill painlessly an animal suffering from an incurable and painful disease.
perform gross post mortem examination on animals
Perform gross examination of an animal's corpse to diagnose the aetiology and pathophysiology of disease or death of animals and for the safety and quality of animal products entering the food chain.
- Scope note
- The veterinarian must be able to conduct post-mortem exam but may delegate or supervise this examination being done by non-veterinarians. The examination includes taking samples.
perform laboratory testing on samples of animals
Conduct and interprete simple procedures in a veterinary practice laboratory on samples of an animal intended to detect, identify, or quantify disease agents, evaluate organ functions, or determine the nature of a disease.
- Scope note
- Whereas the veterinarian must be able to conduct and interpret basic laboratory testing, they may delegate or supervise testing by non-veterinarians.
perform surgical procedures on animals
Apply operative manual and instrument specific techniques on an animal with the intention of modifying physiological status, and/or restoring normal organ or tissue function or structure.
- Scope note
- This includes castrations and dehorning.
perform veterinary diagnosis
Identify and determine the physiological status of animals and the nature and cause of diseases in animals through evaluation of patient history, clinical examination, and the selection, taking and reviewing of confirmatory imaging, laboratory and other ancillary test data.
- Scope note
- This includes other physiological monitoring of health status.
practise veterinary professional codes of conduct
Adhere to veterinary professional codes of practice and legislation.
- Scope note
- This involves relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements and codes of conduct, especially in the areas of animal welfare, health and public health, food and environmental safety in relation with clients.
prescribe animal medications
Prescribe and/or administer all kinds of medications, including fluid replacement therapy by all routes. This includes assessment of the safety and efficacy of a single medicine, and of combinations of medicines, for use in the animal, while ensuring neither compromising the owner, nor public health.
prescribe physical therapy to animals
Prescribe physical methods for therapy in animals, such as modification of exercise, massage, heat treatment, electrical and other wave based treatments.
- Scope note
- The physical therapy may be performed by non-veterinarians as prescribed by the veterinarian.
provide anaesthetics to animals
Select, administer, and monitor anaesthetics in animals in preparation for surgery.'
- Scope note
- Includes all local and general anaesthetics used for diagnosis, treatments and management procedures.
provide sedation to animals
Select, administer and monitor sedatives dispensed to animals for a medical intervention.
Cross-sector
3 competenceshandle veterinary emergencies
Handle unforeseen incidents concerning animals and circumstances which call for urgent action in an appropriate professional manner.
manage the use of vaccines
Prescribe, administer and manage the use of vaccines, immune stimulants and suppressors and anti-sera.
monitor the welfare of animals
Monitor animals’ physical condition and behaviour and report any concerns or unexpected changes, including signs of health or ill-health, appearance, condition of the animals' accommodation, intake of food and water and environmental conditions.
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Optional knowledge 1 competence
Occupation specific
0 competencesNo competences in this bucket.
Sector-specific
1 competencezoonotic diseases
Zoonoses are infectious diseases of animals that can naturally be transmitted to humans. They consist of a wide range of diseases and range from endemic zoonoses such as brucellosis, anthrax, bovine tuberculosis, parasitic diseases (hydatid disease, echinococcosis, trichinellosis) and rabies to emerging zoonoses, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, Nipah/Hendra disease and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy.
Cross-sector
0 competencesNo competences in this bucket.
Optional skills and competences 27 competences
Occupation specific
1 competenceperform endoscopy
Carry out endoscopy using an endoscope to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of a patient.
Sector-specific
20 competencesadvise on animal welfare
Prepare and provide information to individuals or groups of people on how to promote the health and well-being of animals, and how risks to animal health and welfare may be reduced. Provide recommendations for corrective actions.
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advise on livestock disease control
Advise livestock owners of economic aspects of disease eradication. Advise consumers of public health implications of diseases transmissible from animals to humans.
assess animal nutrition
Assess the nutrition status of animals, diagnose dietary imbalances and prescribe correction.
calculate rates per hours
Make simple calculations regarding the money that should be earned in relation to the number of hours worked.
check the health of livestock
Perform routine visits to farms in order to check the health of livestock.'
collaborate with animal related professionals
Collaborate with veterinary and other animal related professionals through communication of animal details, case records and summary reports orally or via written or electronic transfer.
control animal movement
Direct, control or restrain some or part of an animal's, or a group of animals', movement.
- Scope note
- "Restrain" includes physical and mechanical means, and/or the use of chemical means under veterinary direction.
cope with challenging circumstances in the veterinary sector
Maintain a positive attitude during challenging situations such as a misbehaving animal. Work under pressure and adapt to the circumstances in a positive manner.'
develop an animal handling strategy
Develop plans and strategies to deal with the animal in order to achieve established goals and optimal results.'
implement veterinary clinical governance
Conduct self audit and peer group review processes in relation to professional standards in veterinary clinics.
interact safely with animals
Ensure a safe and humane interaction with the animal avoiding factors that will negatively affect their behaviours. This includes the use of humane training aids/equipment, as well as explaining their use to owners/keepers, to ensure they are used appropriately and the welfare of the animal is protected.
interview animal owners on animals' conditions
Ask questions appropriate to the setting and purpose, with the aim to elicit accurate information on the animal's health condition, in order to facilitate a correct diagnosis.
maintain administrative records in the veterinary office
Create and maintain administrative records for activities such as appointments and sales in the veterinary office.'
maintain relationships with animal welfare establishments
Ensure good relations with other animal welfare establishments and agencies.
make decisions regarding the animal's welfare
Make a choice from several alternative possibilities that promote the animal's well-being.
manage a small-to-medium business
Manage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.
provide animal training
Provide training in basic handling, habituation, and obedience to enable the completion of day-to-day tasks while minimising the risks to the animal, the handler, and others.
provide first aid to animals
Administer emergency treatment to prevent deterioration of the condition, suffering and pain until veterinary assistance can be sought. Basic emergency treatment needs to be done by non-veterinarians prior to first-aid provided by a veterinarian. Non-veterinarians providing emergency treatment are expected to seek treatment by a veterinarian as soon as possible.
- Scope note
- Administer emergency treatment to prevent deterioration of the condition, suffering and pain until veterinary assistance can be sought.
take advantage of learning opportunities in veterinary science
Use different channels and learning styles such as journals, courses, and conferences to obtain new information, knowledge, skills, and know-how in relation to working with animals.
understand the animal's situation
Categorise and verify information about the environment and its impact on the animal. Analyse the situation, such as what the animal may want or need.
Cross-sector
6 competencesadminister appointments
Accept, schedule and cancel appointments.
apply numeracy skills
Practise reasoning and apply simple or complex numerical concepts and calculations.
communicate with customers
Respond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.
deal with challenging people
Work safely and communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people who are in challenging circumstances. This would include recognition of signs of aggression, distress, threatening and how to address them to promote personal safety and that of others.
follow work schedule
Manage the sequence of activities in order to deliver completed work on agreed deadlines by following a work schedule.
plan schedule
Develop the schedule including procedures, appointments and working hours.