Veterinary Technician Jobs

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January 27th, 2010

What kind of hours do vet techs typically work?

Vet techs typically work a 40-hour week, Monday through Friday. However, technicians in clinical situations must work until the job is done. For example, if an injured animal such as a dog that was hit by a car comes into the clinic right when it was going to close, the patient obviously cannot be turned away. Another example would be if an animal needs an emergency surgery performed at any hour of the day or night.

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Do vet techs mainly work independently or in collaboration with a team of others?

This depends on the situation. If an animal is coming to the clinic just to get his/her blood drawn or samples taken, the vet techs Veterinary Technician Jobs

may work on the animal alone or with the vet tech assistant. If an animal is crashing or in an emergency situation the veterinarian will need a vet tech assisting by getting supplies ready or intubating the animal. In these emergency situations a team effort is necessary.

What would you say are the main benefits of a career in this field?

This field is incredibly rewarding because it involves working to directly benefit and improve the lives of animals. Animals tend to have unconditional love for everyone so even when a dog is vaccinated he doesn’t hold it against the vet tech and will likely still wag his tail the next time he comes into the office.

What are the challenges of a career in this field?

The job of a vet tech is very physically demanding in having to restrain and lift animals. This can be taxing on one’s body, especially the back. It can also be very emotional to have to euthanize pets and see the owners’ sorrow. Having patients with such short life spans is challenging because vet techs often see animals from the time they are as puppies all the way through the end of their life.

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Veterinary Technician Employment

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, vet techs held approximately 71,000 jobs in 2006. Of these professionals, the vast majority worked in animal clinics and hospitals. However, there are a variety of other places vet techs may be employed, such as:

Specialty practices such as emergency clinics, surgical referral practices, and internal medicine referral practices.
Teaching opportunities are available through tech programs or veterinary schools.
Sales for veterinary equipment companies, veterinary pharmaceutical companies, and pet food companies.
Laboratory/ research companies use animals such as mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits as part of studies, which test new products or pharmaceuticals for development and safety. Vet techs are necessary to ensure results are recorded and proper care is given to these animals.
Primate centers where non-human primates (monkeys, apes, etc) are housed.
Zoos
Race tracks specializing in equine or canine performance.
Animal shelters
Boarding kennels

Vet Tech Job Responsibilities

General responsibilities

Assisting veterinarians with appointments, which includes:
- Preparing the exam room with vaccines, blood tubes, and the necessary tools and instruments
- Taking the animal’s health history.
- Performing a physical exam on the patient.
- Educating the pet owner on nutrition and supplements.
Cleaning wounds and applying bandages.
Calculating medications for an animal.
Administering medications either in pill or injection form.
Educating pet owners about nutrition, behavioral issues, home nursing care, etc.

Testing related responsibilities

Performing diagnostic tests. Vet techs draw the animal’s blood, run the tests, and deliver the results to medical records and the vet. Vet techs also run tests on urine and fecal samples.
Performing radiographs (x-rays) by setting up the table, measuring the animal, and taking the picture.
Perform an ECG to evaluate heart function.

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Ward-related responsibilities

Monitoring the patients in the “wards” which includes the animals that are recovering from surgery. This involves taking the animals’ temperature, pulse, respiration, examining their stool/urine, and assessing their overall behavior and attitude. For a vet tech to recognize if the animal is in pain or distress they observe the animal’s posture and behavior.
Feeding animals in the “wards”. This is not always as simple as it sounds since different animals require certain kinds of diets. For example, if an animal is in the ward for cardiac problems they cannot get the same diet as an animal that was admitted for a spay surgery. Providing proper nutrition for the particular case is essential because harm can be done if animals are given the wrong type of food.

Surgery related responsibilities

Admitting animals for surgery. This includes ensuring the necessary paperwork and estimates are completed. Vet techs then perform a preliminary exam and get them settled in a kennel or cage.
Preparing the room for surgery
- Ensuring equipment is working properly.
- Checking the anesthesia machine.
- Ensuring the oxygen tank is full.
- Placing surgery pack and instruments on the table for the doctor.
Preparing animals for surgery.
- Shaving the surgery site on the animal.
- Scrubbing the surgery site.
- Anesthetizing the animal if necessary. This involves placing an IV catheter in the animal prior to the anesthesia.
Monitoring the animal’s vital signs during surgery.
Assisting the doctor as an extra set of hands during the surgery.
Recovering the animal from surgical procedures.

Other responsibilities

Placing endotracheal tubes and hooking them up to anesthesia and oxygen.
Performing dental procedures such as cleanings and extractions.
Placing urinary or jugular catheters
Performing behavior modification with animals to help them get through difficult situations
Performing rehabilitation and massage post operatively to ensure joints don’t freeze up and muscle tone is regained, similar to what takes place with humans in physical therapy.