Becoming a VTS (Vet Tech Specialist)
Medicine, generally speaking, has seen increased specialization the past few decades. Specifically, veterinary medicine has seen a great increase in specialized practices creating more focused career paths for veterinary technicians. Although a great place to work is in a small animal practice, there are many more ways to put your skills to greater use that will gain you both financial and personal rewards. Therefore, consider additional education leading you to gain the designation of a veterinary technician specialist.
Critical Care Technicians
Critical care, also known as emergency care, is a rapid paced medical environment where a vet tech becomes a vital member of the team. This is the type of immediate care that requires skilled technicians who can not only think quickly on their feet but also react to the scene that is presented in front of them. There are number of different tasks before him during an emergency procedure that include the following:
• Set up intravenous flow delivery systems
• Administer general anesthesia during surgical procedures
• Take blood specimens
• Take radiographs
• Assist the doctors with both diagnosis and treatment
• Monitor vital signs
Internal medicine
Internal medicine offers the vet tech a great opportunity to become involved in animal disease research. Wellness and preventive medicine research our primary focus is involved in this veterinary technician specialty. Participants become involved in research concerning chronic diseases, anatomy, physiology, and many nonsurgical pathology issues pertaining to both small and large animals. A veterinary technician involved in the study of internal medicine can also help research cardiology and oncology areas of interest. There is great personal as well as financial reward for veterinary technicians involved in the discovery of new and more effective ways to treat animal diseases.
Working at the Zoo
One of the most desirable positions that a veterinary technician can seek is working at a zoo. However, this is a highly competitive field requiring specific education and the development of exceptional animal care skills. A vet tech working at a zoo, animal park or worrying is involved in maintaining the health and welfare of captive exotic animals. Participants in this field of veterinary medicine can get involving areas of conservation, research, public education as well as recreation. Daily activities may include care issues such as cleaning and reading as well as specific medical issues when working in the zoo hospital. There are many areas of daily medical concern that include species cross-contamination as well as maintaining different climate environments that are particular to the captive animal in order to promote better health. Some of these daily duties may include the following:
• Helping doctors with clinical procedures
• The following prescribed treatments for a variety of different species
• Helping to mobilize large and small animals
• Assisting in surgical procedures
• Maintaining animal specific medical records
• Conducting necessary lab work
• Maintaining healthy environments for individual animals
More Vet Tech Specialties Allow Greater Career Flexibility
Today’s need for specialization is created a great deal of Boston’s and opportunities for veterinary technician. The prospect for working solely in a small animal veterinary practice has given way to a vast variety of technically specialized skill requirements in many focused areas of veterinary medicine including:
• Clinical supervision
• Dentistry
• Biomedical research
• Exotic animals
• Avian (bird)
• Reptile
• Mobile surgery
• Big animal and small animal medical practices
Working with animals is a joy to many people, so specializing in the specific area of veterinary medicine is a great opportunity for anyone seeking a veterinary technician career.