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 Owners
of pets and other animals today expect state-of-the-art veterinary care.
To provide this service, veterinarians use the skills of veterinary
technologists and technicians, who perform many of the same duties for a
veterinarian that a nurse would for a physician, including routine
laboratory and clinical procedures. Although specific job duties vary by
employer, there often is little difference between the tasks carried out
by technicians and by technologists, despite some differences in formal
education and training. As a result, most workers in this occupation are
called technicians.
 Veterinary technologists and technicians typically conduct clinical work
in a private practice under the supervision of a veterinarian -- often
performing various medical tests along with treating and diagnosing
medical conditions and diseases in animals. For example, they may
perform laboratory tests such as urinalysis and blood counts, assist
with dental prophylaxis, prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, or
assist veterinarians in a variety of tests and analyses in which they
often utilize various items of medical equipment, such as test tubes and
diagnostic equipment.
 While
most of these duties are performed in a laboratory setting,
many are not. For example, some veterinary technicians obtain and record
patients' case histories, expose and develop x-rays, and provide
specialized nursing care. In addition, experienced veterinary
technicians may discuss a pet's condition with its owners and train new
clinic personnel. Veterinary technologists and technicians assisting
small-animal practitioners usually care for companion animals, such as
cats and dogs, but can perform a variety of duties with mice, rats,
sheep, pigs, cattle, monkeys, birds, fish, and frogs. Very few
veterinary technologists work in mixed animal practices where they care
for both small companion animals and larger, nondomestic animals.
Besides working in private clinics and animal hospitals, veterinary
technologists and technicians may work in research facilities, where
they may administer medications orally or topically, prepare samples for
laboratory examinations, and record information on an animal's
genealogy, diet, weight, medications, food intake, and clinical signs of
pain and distress. Some may be required to sterilize laboratory and
surgical equipment and provide routine postoperative care. At research
facilities, veterinary technologists typically work under the guidance
of veterinarians, physicians, and other laboratory technicians. Some
veterinary technologists vaccinate newly admitted animals and
occasionally are required to euthanize seriously
ill, severely injured, or unwanted animals.
 While
the goal of most veterinary technologists and technicians is to promote
animal health, some contribute to human health as well. Veterinary
technologists occasionally assist veterinarians as they work with other
scientists in medical-related fields such as gene therapy and cloning.
Some find opportunities in biomedical research, wildlife medicine, the
military, livestock management, or pharmaceutical sales.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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