Veterinarian

DESCRIPTION

The Idaho Falls Zoo is an AZA accredited institution dedicated to wildlife conservation and is seeking applicants for the position of zoo Veterinarian to help care for the magnificent animals at the zoo. This position is a contracted position for three days a week as the primary zoo Veterinarian that works closely and collaborates with a veterinary technician, the General Curator and Animal Care team, which are all committed to excellence in animal welfare.

This involves, but is not limited to, maintaining and updating a preventive medical program, providing acute care for sick or injured animals, providing convalescent care for animals recovering from illness or injury, performing post‑mortem examinations, and giving recommendations regarding protocols for managing the animal collection (collection planning, exhibit design, nutrition and environmental enrichment, etc.). The Veterinarian practices empathy and compassion with our animals and staff.

• Provide comprehensive medical care to the animal collection. This includes being familiar with the biology, husbandry, and medical requirements for species in the animal collection.
• Applying appropriate diagnostic testing/techniques to allow for the timely identification of disease processes.
• Provide medical treatment for all health abnormalities. Treatment may encompass, but is not limited to, the generation and analysis of health history, physical and/or chemical restraint, physical examination, surgery, laboratory testing of appropriate biological samples, radiography, ultrasound and radiographic interpretation, as well as prescribing and delivering medications.
• Develop and maintain a preventive medicine program which includes but is not limited to class and/or order‑specific protocols for all animals; schedule, develop and maintain a parasite monitoring and control program; update, modify, and implement vaccination protocols, and disease and diagnostic testing. The program must meet AZA, AAZV, AVMA, and USDA standards.
• Perform and supervise clinical, diagnostic, and laboratory procedures skillfully; analyze and interpret findings.
• Clinical pathology: interpret results of testing in the following areas: hematology, clinical chemistry, parasitology, microbiology, cytology, urinalysis, and serology.
• Evaluate new procedures and techniques for incorporation into clinical pathology routine.
• Pathology: ensures all IFZ animals receive a complete post‑mortem examination to include a complete necropsy and histopathology examination where appropriate. Ensures all approved samples for research and/or education are distributed appropriately. Ensures accurate necropsy records are maintained.
• Train on and be familiar with all chemical immobilization equipment in the IFZ hospital.
• Participate in training of other IFZ staff in emergency chemical immobilization procedures.
• Consult with staff on the design or modification of animal facilities related to animal health.
• Manage quarantine and disease testing for incoming and outgoing animal acquisitions and dispositions.
• Perform weekly rounds and evaluate the health and welfare of all animals in the Zoo.
• Develop, coordinate and implement preventive health surveillance, analysis and nutrition programs. Review diets and make recommendations for changes based on recent available research.
• Champion animal wellness and serve on the animal well‑being committee.

• Coordinate services of consulting and back‑up veterinarians.
• Participate in the training/on‑the‑job education of technician(s), interns, volunteers, students, and other staff members assigned tasks related to animal health care including but not limited to the animal hospital, medications, treatments, animal handling and restraint, anesthesia, zoonotic diseases, husbandry and emergency preparedness.
• Effectively communicate with staff of other institutions and related regulatory agencies.
• Act as liaison to the USDA, DEA, SD Animal Industry board and other appropriate state and federal agencies.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations as related to the animal collection and veterinary…