The final goal of the studies is the veterinarian who is legally qualified to practice. One obligation for a veterinarian is to prevent, ease and heal animal diseases. In addition, veterinarians also sustain and develop a highly productive life stock and help to protect our society from dangers and damages from animal diseases as well as food and products made from animals.

Examples for typical activities in a small animal practice

Therapy and health prevention for dogs, cats, pet animals, reptiles and birds. Consultancy for the pet owner in terms of feeding, keeping and breeding, animal welfare, prevention of disease transmission to human beings and other animals. When working in own practice close relation to clients (pet owners), treatment of patients usually inside the practice with fixed consultation hours. Academic activities with either a theoretical or an applied clinical approach, conception of research projects, publication of research outcome, contacting national and international research institutions, education of students, treatment of patients in clinics.

Examples for typical activities in a large animal practice

Maintenance of healthy and productive life stocks, assistance in the production of healthy food, depending on agricultural structures: in countries with mainly small farms (such as Bavaria and Hesse) attendance of a wide range of farm animals (such as cows, pigs, sheep and goats). The old school veterinarian with a broad knowledge of different animals and disciplines is required more than one with special knowledge; occasional meat inspection. 

In countries with a highly specialized agriculture (such as Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, North-Rhine Westfalia, Mecklenburg Western-Pomerania) the management of whole life stocks on the basis of a contracted agreement is getting more important. 

Veterinarians working in public services

Food inspection, duties from public order offices in animal welfare, livestock epidemics control and consultancy, medical assessment of life stock, hygiene consultancy concerning the production of food made from animals. Product management of pharmaceuticals. Establish target group surveys, market analysis and consumer information (veterinarians and/or their target group), occasional field research. Further activities in animal feed and food industry, development and supervision of food and animal feed production. Restructuring and reorganisation of health services, consultancy of public authority in terms of public veterinary services, co-creation of veterinary education, consultancy in   livestock epidemics control, consultancy for setting up an economic life stock farming company, adapting to standards (EU standards).

Research and Teaching

Academic activities with either a theoretical or an applied clinical approach, conception of research projects, publication of research outcome, contacting national and international research institutions, education of students, self-qualification, treatment of patients in clinics. 

Private Enterprises

Mainly product management of pharmaceuticals, establishing target group surveys, market analysis and consumer information (veterinarians and/or their target group), occasional field research. Further activities in animal feed and food industry, development and supervision of food and animal feed production. Restructuring and reorganization of health services, consultancy of public authority in terms of public veterinary services, co-creation of veterinary education, consultancy in   livestock epidemics control, consultancy for setting up an economic life stock farming company, adapting to standards (EU standards).

Working abroad

Restructuring and reorganization of health services, consultancy of public authority in terms of public veterinary services, co-creation of veterinary education, consultancy in   livestock epidemics control, consultancy for setting up an economic life stock farming company, adapting to standards (EU standards).