Veterinary Technician: Duties and Responsibilities
 Nowadays, more and more pet owners are gearing towards quality veterinary
care. In our present time, most animals owned by families are no longer
considered pets – they are now part of the family. For this reason, the need
for veterinary services is now much more needed than ever. In order to cater
to this need, veterinarians, along with veterinary technicians, work hand in
hand in order to give the utmost care possible for animals of all shapes and
sizes. Just like a nurse assists a physician in caring for people, a
veterinary technician works under the supervision of a veterinarian in
caring for animals. A veterinary technician is an important part of the
veterinary health care crew. And although their job scope can be broad
depending on their level of expertise and place of employment, they do not
actually replace a veterinarian in performing his primary tasks such as
diagnosing medical conditions, prescription of drugs and performing
surgeries. In a veterinary clinic or hospital setting, they are usually
involved in many tasks such as recording of patient case histories,
collecting blood and urine samples, performing laboratory procedures,
capturing and processing radiographs, and venipuncture as well. An
individual aspiring to become a veterinary technician needs to be proficient
in general science, including biology and math, and needs to have good
communication skills as well. In receiving education and training for this
field, you can choose to take a two-year Associate’s degree program for
veterinary technicians or a four-year Bachelor’s degree program for a
veterinary technologist. The two-year Associate’s degree program is usually
sufficient to work in entry-level jobs, and can be taken in many veterinary
schools or colleges accredited by the American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA).
Veterinary technicians get fulfillment whenever they
interact and care for animals, although numerous challenges can also be
expected on a daily basis. Physical stress is quite common – they usually
run the risk of getting injuries in the form of bites or scratches when
handling animals and their working environment is not always the pleasant of
places as things can sometimes get dirty and noisy. They are also
susceptible to emotional stress – such as when an animal needs to be
euthanized because of old age or very serious injuries. These are just some
of the things a veterinary technician endures every day. With the number
of pet owners increasing each year, the employment for veterinary
technicians is also forecasted to increase significantly. Employment
opportunities can be found not only on private veterinary clinics or
hospitals, but also in biomedical facilities, pharmaceutical companies,
diagnostic laboratories and animal shelters as well. Unlike other fields,
veterinary technician employment is somewhat more stable even in times of
economic recession and layoffs are least likely to happen because there will
always be a need for animal care and treatment. Salary figures are also
known to be very favorable in this career, although this can easily vary
depending on many factors such as geographical location, place of employment
and level of experience.
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