What does a large animal veterinarian do?

What is a Large Animal Veterinarian?

Large animal veterinarians are specialized veterinarians dedicated to the health and welfare of large animals, primarily focusing on livestock and equine species, including cows, horses, pigs, and sheep. Responsible for a range of duties, including preventive care, disease diagnosis and treatment, reproductive services, and emergency interventions, their areas of expertise encompass surgery, herd health management, and client education.

What does a Large Animal Veterinarian do?

Duties and Responsibilities
The work of the large animal veterinarian is essential in maintaining the health of the animals that contribute to agriculture, food production, and other aspects of the livestock industry. Their responsibilities may include:

• Preventive Care – Large animal veterinarians often engage in preventive healthcare, including vaccinations, parasite control, and nutrition management to promote the overall health of the animals.
• Disease Diagnosis and Treatment – They diagnose and treat illnesses, injuries, and diseases in large animals. This may involve conducting physical examinations, taking diagnostic tests including blood work, X-rays, and ultrasounds, and prescribing medications.
• Reproductive Services – Large animal vets may provide reproductive services, such as artificial insemination and pregnancy monitoring, to improve breeding programs in livestock.
• Surgery – Some large animal veterinarians perform surgical procedures, including castrations, dehorning, and other necessary surgeries to address health issues or improve the quality of life for the animals.
• Emergency Care – In emergency situations, such as injuries or difficult births, large animal veterinarians are called upon to provide immediate care and assistance.
• Herd Health Management – For livestock operations, large animal veterinarians often work with farmers and ranchers to develop herd health management plans. This includes disease prevention strategies and biosecurity measures.
• Client Education – Large animal vets may be involved in educating large animal owners on proper animal husbandry practices, reproductive health, nutrition, and disease prevention to ensure the long-term health and productivity of the animals.
• Regulatory Compliance – These vets may also assist in ensuring that farms and livestock operations comply with local and national regulations related to animal health and welfare.
• Record Keeping – Documentation is essential in veterinary practice. Large animal veterinarians spend time updating patient records, recording treatments, and maintaining accurate client information.

Types of Large Animal Veterinarians
Now that we have a sense of the large animal veterinarian’s scope of work, let’s look at some different types of large animal vets, each with their own focus and expertise:

• General Practitioners – These veterinarians provide comprehensive care for a wide range of health issues in large animals. They handle routine check-ups, vaccinations, and common medical conditions.
• Emergency and Critical Care Veterinarians – Specializing in handling urgent and critical medical cases, these veterinarians are trained to manage trauma, toxicities, and other acute conditions in large animals.
• Equine Veterinarians – Specializing in the health and medical care of horses, these veterinarians may be involved in areas such as reproductive services, lameness evaluations, dental care, and general wellness.
• Bovine Veterinarians – Focusing on the health and management of cattle, including dairy and beef cattle, bovine vets may be involved in herd health management, reproduction, nutrition, and disease prevention.
• Swine Veterinarians – Specializing in the health and well-being of pigs, swine veterinarians may work on disease prevention, reproductive management, and overall herd health.
• Small Ruminant Veterinarians – Concentrating on the care of small ruminants like sheep and goats, these vets may address reproductive health, nutrition, and disease management in these species.
• Poultry Veterinarians – While poultry are not large animals in the traditional sense, large animal veterinarians may specialize in the health and management of chickens, turkeys, and other birds raised for meat or eggs.
• Reproductive Specialists (Theriogenologists) – Large animal veterinarians specializing in reproductive services may work across various large animal species, assisting with semen analysis, artificial insemination, pregnancy monitoring, and breeding programs.
• Veterinary Surgeons – Large animal vets can specialize in surgical procedures, addressing issues like orthopedic problems, soft tissue surgery, and emergency surgical interventions.
• Veterinary Pathologists – These veterinarians focus on the study and diagnosis of diseases in animals through the examination of tissues, organs, and bodily fluids. They identify the causes of illnesses, contributing to the understanding and management of diseases in animals.
• Veterinary Oncologists – These vets specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in large animals.
• Veterinary Cardiologists – These vets specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of heart and circulatory system disorders in large animals.
• Veterinary Neurologists – These vets specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system in large animals.
• Veterinary Ophthalmologists – These vets specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders in large animals.
• Veterinary Dermatologists – These vets specialize in skin, ear, and coat conditions in large animals.
• Dentistry Veterinarians – Specializing in oral health, these veterinarians focus on dental procedures, such as cleanings, extractions, and addressing dental diseases in large animals.

What is the workplace of a Large Animal Veterinarian like?

Large animal veterinarians can work for various entities, depending on their specific expertise and professional preferences. These are among their most common employers:

• Private Veterinary Practices – Many large animal veterinarians work in private veterinary practices that specialize in farm or large animal medicine. These practices may serve local farmers, ranchers, and other individuals with large animal care needs.
• Government Agencies – Large animal veterinarians may work for government agencies at the local, state, or national level. These agencies may be involved in areas such as agriculture, food safety and public health, or animal welfare.
• Academic Institutions – Large animal veterinarians often work in universities and research institutions, where they may be involved in teaching veterinary students, conducting research, and contributing to advancements in veterinary medicine.
• Industry Positions – Some large animal veterinarians work in the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries. They may be involved in product development, research, or regulatory affairs related to large animal health.
• Veterinary Hospitals and Clinics – Large animal veterinarians may be employed by veterinary hospitals or clinics that provide a mix of services for both large and small animals.
• Non-profit Organizations – Certain non-profit organizations focused on animal welfare, conservation, or agriculture may employ large animal veterinarians for fieldwork, research, or outreach programs.
• Diagnostic Laboratories – Veterinarians specializing in pathology or diagnostic services may work in laboratories that conduct tests and analyses on samples from large animals to diagnose diseases and other health issues.
• Emergency and Specialty Clinics – Some large animal veterinarians work in emergency or specialty clinics that handle critical cases or provide specialized services such as surgery, internal medicine, or reproductive services.
• Zoos and Wildlife Sanctuaries – Large animal veterinarians may work with exotic large animals in zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, or conservation organizations, focusing on the health and well-being of captive or endangered species.
• Consulting Roles – Large animal veterinarians may work as consultants, offering their expertise to farmers, agribusinesses, or other organizations in need of advice on large animal health, management, and welfare.

Depending on their role, large animal veterinarians may find themselves conducting fieldwork and doing clinical work on farms and ranches or in production facilities, conducting research in laboratories, managing records and other administrative tasks in home or corporate offices, or teaching in classrooms, lecture halls, or academic labs. In general, the nature of the large animal vet’s work demands the ability to adapt to different environments and a willingness to travel to where ill or injured animals are located.