Execute the components of the zoo’s preventive health care program. Conduct regularly scheduled vaccination and preventive care programs to maintain health of animals and guard against communicable diseases. Update taxa specific recommendations based on scientific advancements.
Conduct effective quarantine procedures, protocols, examinations and appropriate testing procedures for all incoming animals, and carry out pre-shipment testing to ensure health of the zoo's and associated conservation centers' animals, monitor for and prevent spread of disease, and interface with provincial and federal government agencies and comply with government regulations.
Conduct preventive, diagnostic, therapeutic, and emergency procedures, including, but not limited to, surgery, digital imaging (e.g. radiography, CT, ultrasonography, endoscopy) with interventional procedures, dental prophylaxis and radiology, anesthesia induction, monitoring and recovery, pharmaceutical administration, and detailed record keeping, at the zoo and associated conservation facilities.
Employ sound medical, ethical, and welfare driven decision making and provide appropriate medical care to injured, sick, or infirmed animals.
Provide 24 hour/365 days a year on call duties (shared) for veterinary care of the zoo's and associated conservation center's species.
Conduct necropsies and assist with tracking and analysis of pathology program.
Maintain timely and complete medical records on all clinical and pathology cases.
Oversee the tracking and trend analysis of morbidity cases.
Serve as the veterinary liaison for an assigned area of the zoo, overseeing animal health related incoming and outgoing pre-shipment requirements, animal health protocol development and revision, and veterinary input and participation in animal welfare/wellbeing and animal management meetings as required.
Aid in the capture, re-capture, and restraint of animals as required.
Understand and apply a practical understanding of operant conditioning as it relates to veterinary procedures and partner with Animal Care staff to develop and train medical husbandry behaviours.
Assist with nutrition and reproduction programs, and foster collaboration within institution and between institutions to achieve common goals.
Assist with the training, education, and mentorship of veterinary students.
Assist with the selection, training, education, and mentorship of the zoological medicine intern.
Assist with the training of registered veterinary technologists, other Animal Care, Health and Welfare (ACHW) staff, Conservation and Science staff, and other staff as appropriate, on animal health related procedures, protocols, or topics.
Participate in staff meetings and leadership training meetings with information sharing to ACHW, or other zoo staff, as appropriate.
Ensure a safe work environment by following all safety guidelines, communicating safety concerns, and modeling safe work practices
Participate in research and conservation breeding projects in coordination with the ACHW staff, and Conservation and Science staff where appropriate.
May participate in exhibit planning and design, animal population planning, interfacing with other WICZ departments.
Assume relevant or assigned departmental responsibilities and management when senior manager and a senior veterinarian is unavailable.
May assist the Senior Manager of Animal Health with development, management, and attainment of goals of Department and ACHW branch.
Represent the zoo on internal and external committees as discussed with and assigned by Senior Manager of Animal Health and/or ACHW director.
Provide veterinary expertise when required/requested with respect to media content development and delivery.
May act as consultant and provide assistance/expert advice to veterinarians in general practice, to government, and to wildlife professionals for the appropriate treatment or handling of exotic animals and wildlife.
- Exhibits good teamwork, intra- and interdepartmental collaboration, and verbal and written communication skills.
Ensure minimum annual continuing education requirements for ABVMA are completed to maintain licensure.
May include other animal health related duties not described above. 