Veterinary technicians work in private practices, zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, marine institutions, laboratories, and more. They perform a variety of roles, including patient care, surgical assistance, laboratory procedures, and office management. They work with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, exotic animals, large animals, and wildlife. Veterinary technicians also work in research, education, sales, and other industries.
When thinking of different types of careers for veterinary technicians, employment at a private veterinary clinic might be what comes to mind. Most veterinary technicians work in private practices, caring for small and large animals. Veterinary technicians also work in zoos, wildlife sanctuaries, marine institutions and other facilities that house wild animals. They work in laboratories, conducting biomedical research. Veterinary technician careers can also be pursued in humane societies, animal shelters, feed and drug companies, schools, and more.
Veterinary technicians who work in private practices perform a variety of roles. They take patient histories, advise pet owners, and provide nursing care to animals. They prepare animals and equipment for surgery and act as surgical nurses for veterinarians. Veterinary technicians manage veterinary offices and train and supervise staff. They collect samples from patients and perform laboratory procedures.
Private practice veterinary technician careers can include working with a variety of animals. In small animal practices, most animals are dogs and cats, but some veterinary offices will also see what is considered exotic in the veterinary world, such as rabbits, rodents, reptiles, and birds. Some small animal veterinary practices specialize in a specific animal species, such as cats, birds, or reptiles.
Veterinary technicians working in large animal practices may visit ranches and ranches to care for cows and sheep, or they may work for veterinarians who specialize in horses, known as equine veterinarians. In large animal practices, some veterinary technicians spend most of their time in the field, while others work behind the scenes developing X-rays and working in the office lab. Some veterinary technicians work for practices that specialize in equine dentistry, or they may work for practices that specialize in caring for the teeth of dogs and cats. Another area of expertise for private veterinary clinics is emergency services.
Technicians who work in zoos and other places that house wild animals care for elephants, rhinos, felines, porpoises and a wide variety of other wildlife. Depending on where they work, duties performed by people in these veterinary technician careers could include things like collecting heart blood from a snake, testing water quality in a shark tank, or administering a tuberculosis test to a chimpanzee or other primate. Understanding quarantine protocols and recognizing diseases in quarantined animals are sometimes among the many responsibilities in this career.
Veterinary biomedical research technicians work with laboratory animals. They may work at universities, pharmaceutical companies, or other research facilities. They perform many of the same care duties as veterinary technicians in private veterinary practices and help implement research projects, ensuring humane care and handling of research animals.
Veterinary technician careers with humane organizations and animal shelters involve caring for animals and may also involve euthanizing unwanted animals. Veterinary technicians teach in veterinary technology and veterinary assistant educational programs. They work in sales and development for drug and animal product companies. Other types of veterinary technician careers are found in the military, the food safety industry, animal behavior practices, and elsewhere.
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