Veterinary Technicians 101

In cooperation with:

The Emma Barnsley Foundation

The PEER Program atTexas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences

http://peer.tamu.edu/

A Career Worth Barking About

Veterinary technicians work under the

supervision of a licensed veterinarian to treat or to help veterinarians diagnose the illnesses and injuries of animals.

Who We Are

What We Do

Obtain and record patient case histories

Collect specimens and perform laboratory procedures

Provide specialized nursing care Prepare animals, instruments, and

equipment for surgery Assist in diagnostic, medical, and

surgical procedures Expose and develop x-rays Supervise and train practice

personnel Stock and maintain medicines and

supplies

2 –year associate’s degree in veterinary

technology 191 veterinary technology programs

accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association

Veterinary Technician National Exam Licensed Veterinary Technician

Texas State Regulatory Examination Registered Veterinary Technician

Education Requirements

Employment expected to grow

52% by the end of the decade In the top 10 of “growing

occupations” in the country Increased demand to

support public health, food & animal safety, national disease control programs, and biomedical research

Career Outlook

The Career Field

Small and large animal clinicsExotic and zoo animalsResearch and laboratory

settingsEducational settingAnimal shelters or rescue

organizations

Disaster and emergency response

Food Safety

Anesthesia Surgical Internal medicine Dental Emergency and critical care Behavior Zoo Equine Clinical practice Nutrition

Specialization

Hollye Callis Bachelor’s in diagnostic

imaging emphasis in magnetic

resonance imaging Registered veterinary

technician Registered technician in

magnetic resonance imaging 1 – 2 year accredited

radiology program National registry exam

A Day In The Life of a Veterinary Radiology

Technician II

Place orders for nuclear medicine cases

Perform CT, MRI, and radiography exams

Set up machine protocol Position patient Post processing of images Instruct senior veterinary

students on obtaining quality radiographs

A Day In The Life of a Veterinary Radiology

Technician II

Nuclear Medicine A radioactive isotope (radiopharmaceutical) is

administered to the patient and delivered to specific parts of the body

Radiation emitted by the radiopharmaceutical is detected by a gamma camera

Patient gives off radiation not camera Therapeutic applications

Animals anesthetized or heavily sedated “Mouse trap” for critical

patients CT: series of sequential

images obtained with x-rays MRI: series of images

obtained by magnetic resonance Non-ionizing radiation

MRI and CT

Patients are generally awake and restrained by someone

Single image obtained using x-rays

Radiographs

Horse CT

Horse CT

Horse CT

Horse CT

Horse CT

Lauren Minner Associate of Applied Science Degree in

Veterinary Technology Registered veterinary technician

A Day In The Life of a General Surgery Technician

Spay (ovariohysterectomy) & Neuters

(orchiectomy) Cesarean sections Gastropexys Declaws (onychectomy) Mass removals Amputations Elective procedures Assist 4th year students

Client Procedures

Animal Shelter

Partner with animal shelters Spay and neuter

Assist students with pre-

operative exams Assist with pre-

medicating patients Prep for surgery Induce patients

Place them under anesthesia

Responsibilities

Diagnostic sample

collection Monitoring anesthesia Assist in post operative

recovery

Responsibilities

Juan Torres Bachelors of Science in

Biomedical Science Registered veterinary

technician

A Day In The Life of a Neurology Technician

Floater

Proprioception testing Awareness of where

paws are while standing Reflexes

Front & hind limbs Withdrawal: tests for

deep pain Palpate spine and neck to

check for pain.   Passive range of motion

Neurology

Blood draw Icing incisions Ultrasounds of bladder

Expressing Instructing clients on

procedure Cyctocentesis – urine

samples Administering medications Assist/instruct 4th year

students

Neurology

Orthopedic Soft Tissue General Surgery Rehabilitation

Floater Technician

Questions

Be sure to visit the PEER Program website for videos and lessons!

http://peer.tamu.edu/

Brought to you by:

The Emma Barnsley Foundation

The PEER Program at

Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine &

Biomedical Sciences

Thank you!