Lab Animal Veterinarian
Also known as: Laboratory Animal Veterinarian · Preclinical Veterinarian
Cares for animals used in research and safety testing and ensures ethical, compliant handling.
What you’d do
A lab animal veterinarian looks after animals used in research and drug-safety studies, and makes sure they are housed and handled under animal-welfare rules. Contract research organisations, pharma R&D centres and research institutes hire them. The work mixes animal health care, support for study procedures and detailed record-keeping.
- Monitor health of research animals
- Support study procedures and dosing
- Maintain facility and welfare records
- Follow animal ethics committee rules
How you get in
Freshers usually join a contract research organisation or pharma research facility as a veterinarian or study associate, with training in good laboratory practice (GLP) on the job.
Salary in India
Fresher salary over the years
middle of the 0–1 yr range, ₹ lakh a year
Fewer than two years of fresher data so far — the trend shows once there are two.
Skills you’ll use
From our guide · a curated list is coming
- Animal health monitoring and care
- Handling and procedure techniques
- Good laboratory practice (GLP)
- Accurate documentation
- Animal welfare and ethics rules
About this field · for freshers
Job openings by year
Is demand growing?
Not added yet.
Competition3
How many graduates enter each year?
BVSc & AH graduates in 2023-24 at institutions that reported to AISHE — everyone finishing that degree, not only those entering this role.
Who hires
IT firms, banks, government, startups?
Not added yet.
Where the jobs are
Which cities?
Not added yet.
Women in the field3
Is it diverse?
Share of women among BVSc & AH graduates in 2023-24 — the entry degree, not people already working in this role.
At a glance
- Common next roles: study director support, senior facility veterinarian, toxicology roles.
- An MVSc or a pathology/pharmacology specialisation opens senior research roles.
- The work suits those interested in science over clinical practice.
Stay safe
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