VETERINARIAN

Definition

Under direction, diagnoses and treats diseases and disorders of animals; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Diagnoses and treats diseases and disorders of animals.
• Determines nature of disease or injury and treats animals surgically or medically.
• Euthanizes unclaimed animals after a specified period of time.
• Advises on the care and breeding of animals.
• May engage in general practice, treating various animal species or specialize and restrict practice to dogs, cats, and other pets or to a single species such as cattle, horses, or poultry.
• May perform autopsies on sick or injured animals to determine cause of death.
• Investigates, controls, and prevents animal diseases communicable to man through direct contact, insects, food, or contamination of environment.
• Inspects animals intended for human consumption before and after slaughtering.
• Conducts tuberculin tests and draws blood samples for brucellosis tests of livestock.
• Oversees private veterinarians who will conduct tuberculin tests and draw blood samples for brucellosis tests.
• Conducts retests of infected herds until they are considered to be tuberculosis-free and/or brucellosis-free herds.
• Visits farms where tuberculosis or brucellosis infected animals have been detected.
• Determines eligibility of infected animals for state and federal indemnity.
• Appraises and arranges disposal of infected animals.
• Instructs herd owners or managers in cleaning and disinfection of premises and inspects premises for completion of the disinfection process.
• Prepares schedules for testing livestock for tuberculosis and brucellosis in the assigned area.
• Examines livestock and poultry for contagious diseases.
• Visits livestock auction markets to observe animals for symptoms of contagious and infectious diseases.
• Initiates appropriate action when disease is present and enforces applicable laws and regulations concerning livestock auction markets.
• Speaks about animal disease control at meetings of agricultural and other interested groups.
• Acts as a witness in prosecutions of alleged violations of the law.
• Reviews reports submitted by private veterinary practitioners.
• Drafts correspondence in connection with agency programs.
• Prepares reports of veterinary activities containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Maintains records and files.
• Trains and makes assignments for field inspection personnel.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office,

License

Possession of a current, valid license as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine issued by the New Jersey State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of veterinary medicine practice.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws relating to the detection, control, and eradication of contagious animal disease.
• Knowledge of symptoms of animal diseases and of procedures used in collecting, analyzing, and interpreting disease data.
• Knowledge of corrective measures to be taken when animal diseases are found.
• Knowledge of problems involved in making veterinary inspections of livestock and poultry populations.
• Ability to analyze veterinary problems, prescribe proper treatment, and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to comprehend, analyze, and interpret basic law and regulations.
• Ability to examine and test animals to determine whether diseases are present and to bring about necessary corrective measures.
• Ability to prepare clear, scientifically sound, accurate, and informative reports of animal disease control matters containing findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Ability to maintain essential records and files.
• Ability to secure voluntary cooperation of owners of livestock and poultry to implement disease control programs and to comply with New Jersey laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to control of contagious diseases of livestock and poultry.
• Ability to train and supervise field inspection personnel.
• Ability to examine and test livestock and poultry imported from other states to determine whether contagious diseases are present and to bring about necessary corrective measures.
• Ability to act as a witness in court and to present testimony under oath in cases of violations of the law.
• Ability to prepare technical correspondence in connection with the veterinary program of the agency.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.