Veterinary Technician

Often Vet Techs are ambitious students working their way through vet school in the hopes of becoming a veterinarian themselves. They usually work in a more technical atmosphere than the vet assistant and require a bit more training.

Often the animals that a vet tech works with are very sick, which requires compassion as well as the strength needed to support upset owners. This is a position which benefits from someone with an aptitude for science, critical thinking skills and a complete knowledge of the equine animal inside & out.

A calm demeanor, strength of body and character and the ability to think on your feet are important characteristics of a good vet tech.

Responsible for a multitude of daily tasks around the veterinarian’s office and on location, sometimes their duties are combined with that of the vet assistant and they work closely with the vet themselves.

• Handling a variety of animal temperaments
• Performing physical examinations
• Taking x-rays
• Conducting laboratory collections & tests
• Inducing & monitoring anesthesia
• Performing dental prophylaxis
• Preparing for & assisting during surgery
• Advising & educating clients

Becoming a vet tech requires more than just a love of animals and determination, it requires schooling. Many vet schools will offer certification programs for vet tech students. Often the programs are 2-years in scope, however some universities offer a 4-year accreditation leading to higher responsibility and higher salary.

A few places to start if you are interested in a career as a veterinarian technician.

If this isn’t your dream horse job, you can find more horse job descriptions on our careers page .