【澳洲獸醫】獸醫全攻略 2024
隨著社會制度的健全和個人收入的增長,飼養寵物的人群越來越多。而被視為動物健康守護者的獸醫,近年開始備受大眾的關注和推崇。由於香港現時只有一間大學提供獸醫學課程,而且只提供少量學額,所以不少香港學生選擇其他國家修讀獸醫學,今天要為大家講解澳洲獸醫學課程。
澳洲是一個以農牧業為主的國家,養殖業十分蓬勃。其中澳洲約有150萬隻羊,是世界生產羊毛和羊製品最多的國家之一。另外,澳洲擁有多種不同品種的動物,例如樹熊、袋鼠、笑翠鳥、鴨嘴獸、袋熊等,而這些動物亦是澳洲特有的,在其他國家找不到的。
由此可見,不論其獸醫課程內容,還是獸醫醫療技術及器材也是備受世界肯定。意味著學生於修讀獸醫學過程中,有很多機會接觸不同種類的動物。澳洲設有多間動物診所,能給予學生很多實踐動物經驗。再且澳洲獸醫行業缺乏人才,畢業生就業前景明朗,因而所以每年吸引了數以萬計的海外學生遠赴澳洲讀獸醫學課程。
澳洲獸醫
什麼是獸醫學 Veterinary Sciences
獸醫學 (Veterinary Sciences) 是以分子生物學為基礎,來研究動物(包括家畜、家養寵物、野生動物等)疾病發展的規律,並在此基礎上進行疾病的診斷和預防,是一個能確保動物身心健康的綜合科目。
時至今日,獸醫學的研究範圍已不再侷限於養殖業,獸醫從事領域相當廣泛,從大、小動物臨床,到基礎研究,及公共衛生領域均有獸醫是參與監測疾病,從動物園著手舒緩有關風險,防範對動物、人類或兩者均有威脅的疾病(如禽流感及瘋牛症等)。
此外,除了研究一般醫學問題,獸醫學還會關注動物的個體行為,接受獸學培訓,以及如何治療動物的人員生稱為獸醫。
獸醫詳細的工作職責
- 用醫學和外科方法治療動物,並管理和開藥物、止痛劑、全身和局部麻醉藥;
- 通過體檢、實驗室檢查和診斷成像技術(包括射線照相和超聲檢查)確定異常狀況的存在和性質;
- 進行手術,包紮傷口並固定骨折的骨頭;
- 提供動物分娩服務;
- 參與旨在防止動物疾病的發生和傳播的政府計劃;
- 為動物接種疫苗,檢測傳染病,並向當局通報傳染病的爆發;
- 進行動物屍檢以確定死因;
- 就動物的健康、營養和餵養、衛生、飼養和照料向客戶提供諮詢;
- 為生產生物和製藥產品的商業公司提供專業服務;
- 為專門治療特定的動物群體,或在特定的專業領域提供治療,如心臟病學、脊椎指壓學、皮膚科或危重症護理等。
如何註冊成為澳洲獸醫
如要在澳洲成為註冊獸醫,學生必須要完成澳洲獸醫委員會(AVBC)認可課程,並考獲雅思全部7分的英語成績,然後便可於所屬省份的獸醫局註冊成為合資格獸醫。
澳洲一般的獸醫學課程為 5-6年,昆士蘭大學 The University of Queensland、梅鐸大學 Murdoch University 及詹姆士庫大學 James Cook University 均是5年制課程。而悉尼大學 The University of Sydney、查爾斯史都華大學 Charles Sturt University 及阿德萊德大學 The University of Adelaide 均是6年制課程;另外墨爾本大學 University of Melbourne 亦提供4年制的獸醫學博士課程。
報讀獸醫必要的「動物經驗」是什麼?
學生如打算修讀澳洲獸醫,須清楚知道澳洲大學收生要求,以便可以及早準備。澳洲的獸醫系十分看重學生有否足夠的照顧動物經驗。很多學生因為家裡有養小動物,如貓、狗、兔等,便立志想成為獸醫,亦覺得自己亦有足夠的照顧動物經驗,但這是遠遠不足夠的!
獸醫不單單只是為貓、狗看症,獸醫所接觸的動物種類繁多,所以澳洲大學一般要求學生至少擁有1個月或以上的照顧動物經驗,而且照顧的動物種類不能只限於常見的貓和狗。
以悉尼大學 The University of Sydney 為例,學生需要填寫「承諾聲明」,列出自己過往曾照顧的動物經驗,當中包括,馬、羊、牛、豬、家禽等動物,並詳細說出如何照顧該動物,以及有何體驗。例如,學生須講述如何從籠子裡取出一隻鳥、如何召集羊群回羊棚、如何捕捉及固定豬隻等動物經驗。
故此,學生如有意修讀澳洲獸醫課程,可先參與動物義工活動、到農場照顧動物或到獸醫診所參與「影子訓練」,以增加照顧動物經驗。由於獸醫是一份具挑戰性及愛心的職業,學生必須要有心理準備,在讀書過程中以及就業生涯裡,學生除了需要忍受動物排泄物所帶來的臭味,還要不懼怕血。
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