Career as a Named Vet

Starting a career as a Named Veterinary Surgeon

Despite being born in a large city, I grew up around animals, had wanted to be a vet since I can remember, and feel very fortunate to have shared my life with both companion and farm animals. My involvement with lab animals began when I joined the Technical Support team of a global animal health company after 4 years in general practice; the animals and work intrigued me immediately and I became a lab animal vet full time! Instead of working with pets, my daily work now involves taking care of mice and zebrafish, as these are the species most commonly found in research.

Named Vets are also employed in some Universities and pharmaceutical companies but many are freelance and work for independent companies, like OWL Vets, providing services to those who need us.

Animal health & welfare

Being a lab animal vet has similarities with both companion and farm animal practice, in that we help to manage relatively large groups of animals (for example fish and mouse colonies) while also caring for individuals too. We are also closely involved in the legal aspects of managing this work to achieve best practice, including Ethical review of Licences, as well as with other animal-related legislation, such as exports.)

Humane use of animals

Much of what vets do promotes the “Refinement” area of the 3Rs [Replacement, Reduction & Refinement of animal use], in that we reduce the potential impact of any procedure on the animal.

For example, we advise on optimal management of breeding colonies, modern anaesthetic methods, how to administer a substance orally rather than by injection, and ensuring that the housing allows the animal to meets its behavioural and physical needs. Training and education is an integral part of my job (and I never stop learning too).