Become a Veterinary Technician

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[6] Other responsibilities, including recep tiontst duties, grooming, kennel maintenance, and janitorial work.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

I've been working part-time in a two-vet hospital for several years. Since we're located in the vicinity of three towns, we're kept pretty busy and have on staff (besides the two doctors) a full-time receptionist, two technicians, both of us part-time, and several part-time kennel and janitorial workers. Most of our job applicants are high school students looking for part-time work, but these youngsters are generally hired to do the kennel and maintenance chores, while the tech positions are reserved for older individuals.

What are some of the qualities a vet technician needs to have? Well, first of all, he or she must have a gentle but firm touch with animals. Just because you're an animal lover doesn't necessarily mean you're a good animal handler. I've seen co-workers who cuddle every puppy or kitten that comes through the door but cringe at the prospect of having to approach an unruly, vicious dog. By the same token, you may get along great with horses, but how do you fare with pigs or sheep? It's very important for a veterinary technician to have an intuitive knack for dealing with all animals, and if you don't possess this trait, you'd better think twice about pursuing this vocation.

Besides a feel for creatures, common sense and good judgment come in handy on this job. Every day, situations arise in which both these traits are needed-facing a teeth-baring cur or a hissing feline, for example, or scheduling your time over the course of a hectic day, or determining what constitutes an emergency (and what does not) when the vet's not around.

Something else to consider is the fact that with every patient comes an owner, and these folks can often be hysterical, irate, or overly protective. So a technician's ability to calm or contend with pet "parents" is often iust as important as his or her handling of their fourlegged "children"!

Vet helpers also need a certain amount of physical strength and-perhaps more valuable- stamina. Not all patients will be as cooperative as a ten-pound, welltrained Pomeranian. What about that massive St. Bernard who simply refuses to be caged? On the other hand, don't let this particular prerequisite worry you too much: I weigh 115 pounds and am certainly no Wonder Woman, but I manage just fine. Of course, I never hesitate to call for assistance from a co-worker when I need it.

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