- Owners of pets and other animals today expect superior veterinary care.
- To provide this service, veterinarians use the skills of veterinary technologists and technicians, who perform many of the same duties for a veterinarian that a nurse would for a physician.
- Although specific job duties vary by employer, there is often little difference between the tasks carried out by technicians and technologists, despite differences in formal education and training.
- However, most technicians work in private clinical practice while many technologists have the option to work in more advanced research-related jobs.
- Veterinary technologists and technicians typically conduct clinical work in a private practice under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
- Veterinary technologists and technicians often perform various medical tests and treat and diagnose medical conditions and diseases in animals.
- For example, they may perform laboratory tests such as urinalysis and blood counts, assist with dental care, prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and assist veterinarians in a variety of other diagnostic tests.
- While most of these duties are performed in a laboratory setting, many are not. For example, some veterinary technicians record patients' case histories, expose and develop x rays and radiographs, and provide specialized nursing care.
- In addition, experienced veterinary technicians may discuss a pet's condition with its owners and train new clinic personnel.
- Veterinary technologists and technicians assisting small-animal practitioners usually care for small pets, such as cats and dogs, but can perform a variety of duties with mice, rats, sheep, pigs, cattle, monkeys, birds, fish, and frogs.
- Very few veterinary technologists work in mixed animal practices where they care for both small pets and large, nondomestic animals.
- Besides working in private clinics and animal hospitals, some veterinary technologists and technicians work in research facilities under the guidance of veterinarians or physicians.
- In this role, they may administer medications; prepare samples for laboratory examinations, or record information on an animal's genealogy, diet, weight, medications, food intake, and clinical signs of pain and distress.
- Some may sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment and provide routine postoperative care.
- Occasionally, veterinary technologists vaccinate newly admitted animals and may have to euthanize seriously ill, severely injured, or unwanted animals.
- While the goal of most veterinary technologists and technicians is to promote animal health, some contribute to human health, as well.
- Veterinary technologists occasionally assist veterinarians in implementing research projects as they work with other scientists in medical-related fields such as gene therapy and cloning.
- Some find opportunities in biomedical research, wildlife medicine, livestock management, pharmaceutical sales, and increasingly, in bio-security and disaster preparedness.
- Pet owners are becoming more affluent and more willing to pay for advanced veterinary care because many of them consider their pet to be part of the family.
- This growing affluence and view of pets will continue to increase the demand for veterinary care.
- The vast majority of veterinary technicians work at private clinical practices under veterinarians.
- As the number of veterinarians grows to meet the demand for veterinary care, so will the number of veterinary technicians needed to assist them.
- The number of pet owners who take advantage of veterinary services for their pets is expected to grow over the projection period, increasing employment opportunities.
- The availability of advanced veterinary services, such as preventive dental care and surgical procedures, also will provide opportunities for workers specializing in those areas as they will be needed to assist licensed veterinarians.
- The growing number of cats kept as companion pets is expected to boost the demand for feline medicine and services.
- Further demand for these workers will stem from the desire to replace veterinary assistants with more highly skilled technicians in animal clinics and hospitals, shelters, boarding kennels, animal control facilities, and humane societies.
- Continued support for public health, food and animal safety, and national disease control programs, as well as biomedical research on human health problems, also will contribute to the demand for veterinary technologists, although the number of positions in these areas is fewer than in private practice.
- Veterinary technologists also will enjoy excellent job opportunities due to the relatively few graduates from 4
- year programs.
- However, unlike veterinary technicians who usually work in private clinical practice, veterinary technologists will have better opportunities for research jobs in a variety of settings, including biomedical facilities, diagnostic laboratories, wildlife facilities, drug and food manufacturing companies, and food safety inspection facilities.
- Despite the relatively few number of graduates each year, keen competition is expected for veterinary technician jobs in zoos and aquariums, due to expected slow growth in facility capacity, low turnover among workers, the limited number of positions, and the fact that the work in zoos and aquariums attracts many candidates.
- Employment of veterinary technicians and technologists is relatively stable during periods of economic recession.
- Layoffs are less likely to occur among veterinary technologists and technicians than in some other occupations because animals will continue to require medical care.
Others who work extensively with animals include Animal care and service workers; Veterinarians; Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers.
- 2-year Associate Degree program for veterinary technicians
- 4-year Bachelor’s Degree program for veterinary technologists
This career information is drawn from data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.