Horse Jobs – Vet Tech
Image from Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital
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 more training.
Often the animals that a vet tech works with are very sick, this 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.
Job Description
Responsible for a multitude of daily tasks around the veterinarian’s office, sometimes their duties are combined with that of the vet assistant and they work closely with the vet.
Responsibilities
- 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
Requirements
Becoming a vet tech requires more than just a love of animals and determination. Schooling, many vet schools will offer certification programs for vet tech students. Many of the programs are 2-years in scope, however some universities offer a 4-year accreditation leading to higher responsibility and higher salary.
Resources
A few places to start if you are interested in a career as a veterinarian technician.
*Links open in a new window
- American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians
- International Veterinary Nurses & Technicians Association
- National Association of Veterinary Technicians
- Veterinary School Directory
- Vet Tech Schools & Programs Online
- Equine Manual for Veterinary Technicians
The Right Job For You?
If this isn’t your dream job, there is a long list of different careers that involve horses. Each one requiring a different skill set, schooling requirement and amount of contact with the animals.
My first thought was on the picture. Poor horse. I imagine they’re trying to help it, but that looks so uncomfortably painful. I hope it’s not.
At any rate, nice article on the vet tech field.
That horse is being taken to surgery; and the method of carring him is not going to cause him any pain; it is the best way to get an animal that large onto the surgery table (which you can see is very padded through the doorway) Trying to push or pull the animal would be impossible, and lifting him under his body could injure his ribs or internal structures, the legs really are the sturdiest and safest way to move him. it looks weird I admit; but it is really safe.
what is the average pay for a vet tech please?
Your best bet would be to check out one of the links above. They’ll offer payscale info.
That is awful to do a horse that way its body weight could crush its organs and kill it
Isn’t that dangerous considering that the horses body weight could crush it’s internal organs and it could result in death of the horse if you leave it in that position for to long!