What Would We Do Without the Veterinary Technician?

With so many pet shops now offering rare animals and pet lovers turning to so many unique and exotic breeds of animals and pets the veterinary surgeon has had to implement further studies to be able to facilitate for the caring of such new breeds. In many veterinary surgeries you have the vet followed by their assistant the veterinary technician. Due to the nature of pet care the veterinary technician is also required to be qualified in the care of animals. Also known as an animal health technician, the veterinary technician is trained to assist the practicing vet. In certain countries the vet technician can be referred to as a vet nurse. However there are certain controversies related to the use of the word “nurse” within the veterinary fraternity. The veterinary technician requires accreditations and formal training to be accepted within the demands of the profession. Amongst the formal training the technician is also required to study the technical skills required for procedures such as venipuncture, performing skin scrapings, doing radiology procedures, hematology, microbiology, urinalysis and serology to name just a few. The job role undertakes many demands and requires a variety of tasks that includes technical and clinical procedures within areas such as zoo’s animal shelters and research laboratories. However their main practice assists with the veterinarians in determining causes for illness and injury and helping to undertake physical examinations. Other tasks can include taking temperature, recording pulse movement and respiration, applying dressings to wounds, applying protective dressings such as splints and even the cleansing of animals teeth. On top of these tasks there are the administrative procedures, which can include the maintenance of treatment records, keeping inventories of all medical equipment and supplies, alongside pharmaceuticals. The veterinary technician from time to time is also required to perform minor operational procedures which could include, ear flushes, intravenous feeding, catheterizations and much more. Then when pets require surgery the technician may have to help with providing the anesthesia, passing the correct surgical equipment and making sure that all support and monitoring equipment are each in fine working order. As you can see the role a veterinary technician undertakes is extremely important. Because of this they must have the proper training and qualifications necessary for the job. Before they can become a veterinary technician they must first complete a degree in veterinary technology. Depending on the duration you wish to study this can be either performed under a two year associates degree or the four year option of the bachelor’s degree. Once the degree is obtained the aspiring veterinary technician does not finish studying. Each technician must then study and pass credentialing examinations throughout different periods. In the US the credentialing examination is administered by a specific licensing board, the state veterinary technical association or the state veterinary medical association. Although the vet technician requires the mandatory credentialing, they may also enroll and study more advanced courses to increase their skill levels and to further their careers. These additional veterinary courses are usually in diverse areas such as critical care and emergency, dentistry, anesthesiology, cardiology and much more and in most cases when completed and passed the technician becomes qualified as a VTS (veterinary technician specialist) Veterinary technology is still in its infancy with the veterinary technician being a young profession. Because of this it still remains difficult to gain recognition as a profession in many parts of the world. Although the opportunities for such careers are increasing throughout the world, it is estimated that over the next year or so the percentage of veterinary technicians will have increased by more than 36 percent.

Blackheath Vets is a specialist London vet offering pet care and health tips to residents and pet owners alike throughout London and the surrounding areas.