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Saturday, December 12, 2009

Veterinary Technicians

A career devoted to helping sick animals get well is not all kibbles and bits. But CVTs love their jobs and find plenty of opportunities.

By Teresa Odle
CTW Features

Julie Legred, a certified veterinary technician (CVT), has been in her job for 25 years. "I still learn new things daily," says Legred, now a special projects coordinator for LSG Health Systems, Bricelyn, Minn. "I love our profession - the animals, the medicine, the people."

Many veterinary technicians share Legred's sentiments. Vet techs (also called veterinary technologists, a distinction based largely on the type and length of professional education) perform many of the same duties for veterinarians that nurses, lab technicians and radiologic technologists perform for physicians in human medical settings. The pay and glamour may not stand up to that of other professions, but the rewards are great.

Helping Animals and Owners

Set aside warm and fuzzy visions of a life devoted to helping animals. This can be a high-stress job. "We have a lot of burnout from compassion fatigue," says Denise Mikita, a CVT and executive director of the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians in Denver. In any given day, veterinary technicians might deal with euthanasia, being unable to save some sick or injured animals and witnessing or dealing with pet owners' human emotions when their animals are die. Mikita says veterinary technicians have to take care of themselves to prevent burnout. Of course, they also enjoy being around "critters we love," she says.

Veterinary offices can be busy and technicians help with performing lab tests, exposing and developing radiographs and assisting veterinarians during procedures. Although some animals are seen because of illness and injury, many vet office visits are for healthy check-ups.

Getting Started

Most veterinary technicians enter the field with only two years of education and training. An associate degree from an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited community college program in veterinary technology includes classroom learning and clinical and laboratory classes with live animals. "About 20 accredited programs offer a four-year [bachelor's] degree," says Legred. Good math and science skills will give you an edge. "Anyone can love animals, but mixing that love with a professional attitude, scientific/medical knowledge and determination is a necessity," says Shalom Milani, a CVT with Ocean State Veterinary Specialists in East Greenwich, R.I.

Moving Up

Many veterinary technicians start out cleaning kennels and then advance, says Catherine Holly, CVT, of Atlantic Animal Hospital in Charlestown, R.I. "There are management positions and specialty areas in this field," she says. The typical veterinary office may employ from three to five technicians; specialized veterinarians may employ more, as well as technicians with special training. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) just added equine veterinary nursing, zoology and neurology subspecialties to a list of specialty academies that already included dentistry, anesthesia, internal medicine, emergency and critical care and behavior. "There also are more opportunities for teaching, lecturing and publishing for technicians than there were 10 to 20 years ago," she says.

The need for veterinary technicians is clear, as pet owners want the best care for their animal companions. "Veterinarians can't do it all themselves," says Mikita. "They're turning to trained individuals who cost less than additional veterinarians. And because of associations such as NAVTA, awareness of what trained technicians can do is increasing."

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