Veterinary Technician Duties

In these past years, veterinary medicine became even more and more complex and sophisticated. Pet owners expect a five star performance in terms of taking care of their pets. Well trained professionals called veterinary technicians give pet owners the best service, today’s veterinary clinics, research facilities and other institutions caring for animals.

A career as a vet technician is a job suited for you if you like animals, are good with working with people and their pets, and can handle responsibilities involved in the care of animals.

Veterinary technicians serve a lot of functions in a veterinary practice, and are sometimes even expected to do basic housekeeping and receptionist duties, when needed. Veterinary technicians are different from veterinary assistants because of the level of knowledge and medical care that they can provide. Veterinary technicians are licensed professionals, while an assistant does not necessarily have to be licensed. Vet techs can also do certain tasks without the supervision of a veterinary doctor.

Veterinary technicians are trained and educated to handle animals with proper care and safety, the vital principles of the normality and abnormality of animal life process, and in many clinical and laboratory steps and procedures. All veterinary technicians work under great supervision by a certified and licensed veterinary doctor. A vet technician can perform many tasks, but he cannot diagnose, perform surgery, prescribe medication, or do any activity that is prohibited by veterinary practice acts by a certain state.

Veterinary technicians should be willing to work in an environment that exposes them to zoonoses, which are air pollutants that may trigger the development of disorders and abnormalities and any other health hazards.

Veterinary technicians working in a hospital or clinic does the same chores and responsibilities that professionals and nurses carry out for physicians. They’re very well trained to do these things:

• Help in diagnostic, surgical and medical procedures.
• Give state-of-the-art nursing care.
• Train and supervise practice personnel.
• Prepare tools and equipments for surgery.
• Record and get the patient’s case histories
• Give advice and knowledge to pet owners.
• Collect specimens and do laboratory procedures.
• Set up laboratories for research.
• Learn to evaluate disease conditions and give proper treatment.

Just to add to the tasks mentioned, veterinary technicians in a biochemical research laboratory are also expected to carry out other duties, such as assisting in the implementation of projects and supervising the care of the research animals under a close eye of a licensed veterinarian, scientist or a biochemical research worker.

Registered veterinary technicians can perform a range of nursing, anesthesia, dental hygiene, and diagnostic laboratory procedures in a clinical setting. They also perform a variety of animal health care duties to help the veterinarians.

In the Veterinary Technician oath, one says “I solemnly dedicate myself to aiding animals and society by providing excellent care and services for animals, by alleviating animal suffering, and promoting public health. I accept my obligations to practice my profession conscientiously and with sensitivity, adhering to the professions Code of Ethics, and furthering my knowledge and competence through a commitment to lifelong learning.” Vet techs are professionals who make sure that the pets and pet owners will get satisfaction in terms of pet care and performance.