Animal care in action: Health care of animals

The health care of animals is a crucial aspect of animal care, ensuring their well-being, preventing diseases, and promoting long, healthy lives. In various animal care settings—such as shelters, pet stores, farms, and veterinary clinics—maintaining animal health involves both routine care and addressing medical issues. Key components include:

Preventative Health Care:

Vaccinations: Regular vaccinations to protect against common diseases, tailored to species-specific needs.

• Parasite Control: Prevention and treatment for internal and external parasites (e.g., worms, fleas, ticks) through medication or topical treatments.
• Nutrition and Hydration: Ensuring animals receive a balanced diet appropriate for their species, age, and health and have constant access to clean water.
• Dental Care: Regular checks and maintenance to prevent dental issues, especially in species like dogs, cats, and horses.

Health Monitoring and Observation:

• Daily observation for signs of illness, injury, or distress, such as changes in behaviour, appetite, coat condition, or physical signs (e.g., vomiting, diarrhea, limping).
• Regular health checks, including monitoring weight, checking for lumps or injuries, and inspecting eyes, ears, and skin.
• Record-keeping of health history, treatments, and any changes in behaviour or condition.

Basic First Aid and Emergency Care:

• Being able to apply basic first aid, such as cleaning wounds, applying bandages, or stabilizing an injured animal until professional help is available.
• Knowing when and how to contact a veterinarian in case of emergencies, such as severe injuries, poisoning, or acute illness.

Medical Care:

• Administering prescribed medications, including oral, topical, or injectable treatments, under veterinary guidance.
• Post-surgical care or management of chronic conditions like diabetes or arthritis often involves regular vet visits, medication, and specific care routines.

Hygiene and Sanitation:

• Maintaining clean environments by regularly cleaning cages, bedding, food, and water containers to prevent the spread of infections and diseases.
• Using proper disposal techniques for waste and contaminated materials to ensure hygiene.

Sourcing and providing information on animal care needs involves gathering reliable, species-specific knowledge to ensure animals receive proper care. The following steps can guide you in sourcing and providing accurate information:

This is Chloe...

Chloe works for Second Chances Animal Shelter as an animal attendant. The shelter is in a large town and mainly rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes domesticated pets such as dogs, cats and birds. Occasionally, they see a more exotic pet like a snake or an injured native animal. Chloe's primary duties are observing, documenting, and reporting the health and behaviour concerns of animals in the shelter’s care, as well as supporting veterinarians when required.

What sort of health maintenance procedures does the shelter undertake?

Mainly routine procedures, such as general health checks, parasite control, medicated shampoos, cat and dog desexing, teeth cleaning and dentistry, as well as treating and dealing with cat abscesses and malnutrition. If an animal requires major surgery, such as serious injuries from a vehicle accident, we try to transfer them to the nearby emergency hospital because they are better equipped for those types of procedures.

What healthcare tasks are you responsible for?

Every animal that arrives in the shelter undergoes a general health check. I prepare the exam room, scan the animals in case they are microchipped, and restrain them while the vet conducts the examination. I then record all the vital signs and other medical observations. After the health check, I give the animal a bath and a brush. Most of them require a flea treatment and a nail clip as well. I also clean their ears and eyes and generally try to make them feel more comfortable.

Have you had to perform first aid on an animal?

Yes. A dog was confiscated from an abusive owner and was brought in with an open fracture on its hind leg. I was working in reception when the animal was brought in. I put pressure on the wound to control the bleeding as best I could. I then splinted the leg while another staff member called the animal emergency hospital. We stretchered the dog into my car, and I padded it with towels so it didn’t move too much while I drove it to the hospital.

What are your post-treatment duties?

I clean and sanitise the surgery area and sterilise all the instruments and gowns. I must be careful to follow all the hygiene procedures because infection might occur if there is a contaminated surface or a dirty piece of equipment is used.

Record keeping is also an important part of this job, and I write down all the major animal statistics and the vet's summary notes for future reference.

This is Jane…

Jane works for Doggy Days, a daycare and boarding facility for dogs, as a retail assistant and animal care attendant. Jane is responsible for providing customer service, processing retail transactions, maintaining stock, assisting with providing health care, and feeding, watering, and walking the dogs. She also regularly provides clients and team members with information about products, services and individual animals.

Is it difficult to work out what information someone needs?

Most of the questions from clients are pretty basic –what time we close, whether we sell a particular brand of food, what services we provide for long-term borders, and things like that. If a staff member is asking about an animal, they are also usually asked basic questions – how much food it needs, when its last parasite treatment was, and how long it is boarding for.

Sometimes, though, a client wants advice about the most suitable product or service for their dog, instructions for how to use an item, or has questions about safety. The more complicated the question, the harder it is sometimes to know exactly what information the client needs. I find, I usually end up asking them more questions than they ask me, just to figure out exactly what it is they want to know!

I usually end up asking about their dog, the breed, how old it is, what sort of house or outdoor space they have, etc., to make sure whatever product or service they are asking about is suitable for their animal. I will also politely ask how much money they are willing to spend because there can be a big difference in quality between the more expensive and cheaper items.

If you don’t already know the answer, how do you find the information?

We have a lot of products for sale and offer quite a large range of services. I often don’t know the answer off the top of my head. But we have an excellent database for all our products with prices, different sizes that are available, targeted breeds or sizes of dogs and so on. If I can’t find the information there, I tend to look it up online. I try to use the manufacturer’s website for instructions or use or safety information.

If my supervisor or another experienced staff member is available, I will ask them. They will either know the information or know where I should go to look for it. The staff here are really helpful.

What are the key things to remember when providing information to clients and team members?

To provide it as quickly as possible and accurately. It doesn’t matter if I’m providing information to a client or a staff member; quicker is always better.

If a staff member asks about an individual animal, it is usually easy enough to stop what I’m doing and look up the record on the computer straight away if I can’t answer them off the top of my head. But it is important not to rush! At one point, we had three chocolate Cavoodles named Ollie in boarding at the same time! It was really easy to mix them up, so I got into the habit of scanning their microchips before doing anything with them.

Clients also appreciate me giving them the information they want straight away. If I have to look something up and it takes me a little while, I offer to call or email them the information later so they don’t have to stand around waiting. If I do that, I always make sure to contact the client before the end of that shift. Most clients like me to email or SMS them Internet links so that they can look at them properly in their own time.

How do you record what information you have provided?

I usually only make a record when I provide information to clients. In most cases, I make a brief note in their file about what was discussed and the date and add the hyperlink or the name of the pamphlet I referred to.

It makes it easier when the client comes back. I can ask them whether the information I provided was useful and check if they have any other questions. I can also leave notes for other staff if I am not available the next time the client comes in.

Sarah works at a large wildlife park as a reptile keeper, where she looks after a range of reptiles, including snakes, lizards, and turtles. Her daily duties include maintaining enclosures, monitoring the reptiles’ health, assisting in their veterinary care, and educating park visitors about reptile care and conservation. As part of her job, she is responsible for assisting in the health care of the reptiles and sourcing and providing information on their care needs.

How do you assist in the health care of reptiles at the park?

 “My role in reptile health care involves both routine care and assisting the vet when needed. I perform daily health checks, where I observe the reptiles for any signs of illness or distress. For example, I look for issues with shedding, changes in appetite, or abnormal behaviour, such as lethargy or aggression. If I notice anything unusual, I report it to the vet and prepare the reptile for examination.

I also assist in administering medications under the vet's supervision, whether it’s giving oral treatments, applying topical ointments, or injections. For turtles and some lizards, I also monitor their shells and scales for signs of infections or injuries. Regularly cleaning and maintaining the enclosures, including checking the temperature and humidity levels, is another essential part of keeping them healthy.”

Can you describe a situation where you identified a health issue in one of the reptiles?

"Last month, I noticed that one of our pythons, Luna, wasn’t eating as she usually did and seemed a bit lethargic. Her eyes were also cloudy, which is often a sign of shedding, but it seemed prolonged, and her skin was very dry in patches. I alerted our veterinarian, and after a full check-up, we discovered she was having trouble with her shedding due to a drop in the humidity levels in her enclosure. The vet prescribed a solution to help with her hydration, and I was tasked with adjusting her enclosure’s humidity and applying a reptile-safe moisturising treatment to assist with the shedding process. After a week of close monitoring and care, Luna shed her skin fully and returned to her normal feeding routine."

Where do you source the information needed to care for the reptiles at the park?

 “Reptile care requires detailed knowledge, so I rely on several trusted sources. First, our park’s vet team is an invaluable resource, providing medical advice and up-to-date care protocols. I also frequently refer to reptile care manuals and scientific journals for specific species, particularly when we introduce new reptiles into the park.

In addition, I attend workshops and seminars hosted by reptile care experts and conservation organisations, which keep me updated on the latest developments in reptile health and welfare. Online platforms like the Australian Herpetological Society’s resources are also helpful in understanding the latest care techniques, especially for native species.

I also regularly collaborate with other reptile keepers and trainers, exchanging information on health, feeding, and enrichment practices. This network helps us provide the best possible care and anticipate any common issues across different species.”

How do you provide information on reptile care to your colleagues or the public?

Sarah’s Answer: “I play a key role in educating both my team and the public. For the team, I often lead training sessions, particularly for newer staff, on how to properly handle the reptiles and what signs to look for in terms of health. I’ve created care sheets for each species we house, detailing their dietary needs, environmental requirements, and common health issues. These are great quick-reference guides for everyone to use.

For the public, I conduct daily talks and demonstrations, focusing on how we care for the reptiles at the park and what people can do to support reptile welfare. For example, I explain the importance of maintaining proper habitat conditions in home enclosures and how to recognise signs of stress or illness. I always encourage visitors to seek professional advice from a vet if they are unsure about their pet reptile’s health.”