I'm considering becoming a veterinary technician after high school. Can anyone give me a rundown of what a typical day might look like and the kind of tasks they're responsible for? Trying to figure out if it's the right fit for me.
As a veterinary technician, your role would be similar to a nurse in human medicine, but for animals. Your responsibilities would largely depend on where you're practicing, but generally, they may include assisting with physical examinations, performing diagnostic tests, administering medications, and even assisting in surgeries.
A typical day might start with morning rounds, where you check on the in-patients, record their vitals, and administer any morning medications.
Next, you might help with patient intake for any new arrivals, which could include obtaining patient histories, vital signs and weight, and preparing patients for examinations. Your role in the examination would often involve restraining the animal and assisting the vet with procedures such as collecting blood samples, performing ultrasound scans, or distributing vaccinations.
Throughout the day, you may also perform laboratory tests, such as blood counts, urine analysis, or parasitology tests. Veterinary technicians may also be involved in imaging diagnostics like radiographs (x-rays) or dental cleanings, which means you would prep the animal, position it for the image, and operate the radiology equipment.
Veterinary technicians also play a crucial role in surgeries where you may prepare the animal, surgical suite, and equipment, administer and monitor anesthesia, hand tools to the vet during surgery, and ensure the patient is comfortable and safe in recovery.
Lastly, you may also interact with the pet owners, explain post-visit care instructions, and field any questions they may have.
This role is physically demanding and sometimes emotionally challenging, as you would be dealing with sick and injured animals. But if you're passionate about animal care, it could be a rewarding career path.
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