# Tasks & work activities — alternative animal therapist

Source: O*NET 30.3, occupation 29-1131.00 (Veterinarians).

## Task statements

- **[Core]** Advise animal owners regarding sanitary measures, feeding, general care, medical conditions, or treatment options.
- **[Core]** Attend lectures, conferences, or continuing education courses.
- **[Core]** Perform administrative or business management tasks, such as scheduling appointments, accepting payments from clients, budgeting, or maintaining business records.
- **[Core]** Counsel clients about the deaths of their pets or about euthanasia decisions for their pets.
- **[Core]** Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
- **[Core]** Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
- **[Core]** Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
- **[Core]** Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
- **[Core]** Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
- **[Core]** Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
- **[Core]** Train or supervise workers who handle or care for animals.
- **[Core]** Euthanize animals.
- **[Core]** Conduct postmortem studies and analyses to determine the causes of animals' deaths.
- **[Core]** Plan or execute animal nutrition or reproduction programs.
- **[Supplemental]** Provide care to a wide range of animals or specialize in a particular species, such as horses or exotic birds.
- **[Supplemental]** Establish or conduct quarantine or testing procedures that prevent the spread of diseases to other animals or to humans and that comply with applicable government regulations.
- **[Supplemental]** Direct the overall operations of animal hospitals, clinics, or mobile services to farms.
- **[Supplemental]** Specialize in a particular type of treatment, such as dentistry, pathology, nutrition, surgery, microbiology, or internal medicine.
- **[Supplemental]** Inspect and test horses, sheep, poultry, or other animals to detect the presence of communicable diseases.
- **[Supplemental]** Research diseases to which animals could be susceptible.
- **[Supplemental]** Determine the effects of drug therapies, antibiotics, or new surgical techniques by testing them on animals.

## Detailed work activities

- Analyze medical data to determine cause of death.
- Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
- Collect biological specimens from patients.
- Communicate health and wellness information to the public.
- Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.
- Counsel family members of clients or patients.
- Determine protocols for medical procedures.
- Develop medical treatment plans.
- Examine patients to assess general physical condition.
- Immunize patients.
- Maintain medical facility records.
- Maintain medical or professional knowledge.
- Maintain professional knowledge or certifications.
- Manage healthcare operations.
- Operate diagnostic imaging equipment.
- Operate on patients to treat conditions.
- Perform clerical work in medical settings.
- Prescribe medications.
- Provide care for animals.
- Provide health and wellness advice to patients, program participants, or caregivers.
- Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
- Supervise medical support personnel.
- Train medical providers.
- Treat acute illnesses, infections, or injuries.
- Treat animal injuries or illnesses.