The Role

A veterinary surgeon looks after the welfare and health of animals. This can involve giving vaccinations and carrying out check-ups, castrating or spaying animals, taking x-rays, mending broken bones, carrying out other surgery as it is required, giving advice on the care of animals, putting old and terminally ill animals down and helping with the birth of animals. 

The Role

A veterinary nurse works as part of a veterinary team in a practice to help provide nursing care of animals. They give advice to owners about care of their pets, and can carry out tests, treatments and minor surgical operations under the direction of a vet.

Veterinary nurses can specialise in treating either horses or small animals - which includes dogs and cats, alongside other animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs and other more exotic pets.

Zoologists are scientists concerned with the study of animals and animal behaviour. They study their anatomy, physiology, evolution, ecology, and embryology. They are also involved in conservation and with studying diseases in animals.

There are many diverse jobs in this field and there are many different areas a zoologist may specialise in.

Veterinary scientists specialise in the study of disease in animals. Unlike veterinary surgeons, they rarely treat animals individually. They are concerned with the health and welfare of diverse species groups such as laboratory animals, wildlife, zoological collections, working animals and domestic animals. They also contribute to the conservation of endangered species and play an important role in helping to prevent disease spreading from animals or animal products (such as meat) to humans or any other species. They may also be employed in a teaching capacity by universities.