For animal lovers, being a vet tech sounds like the perfect job.

 

Who wouldn’t want to be around dogs and cats all day? But experienced vet techs will tell you that it’s not all kittens and puppies. There’s a lot more to the job than cute furry creatures. So if you’re considering a career as a vet tech, here are a few things to keep in mind!

First, the good stuff:

 

Kittens and puppies.

We said it’s not all kittens and puppies. But you’ll see a lot more of them as a vet tech than if you take a job at a bank.

Pigs, snakes, birds, etc.

Of course most pets are cats and dogs. But there are so many other species of domesticated animals. And that helps keep the job interesting and fun.

Variety.

The worst part of any job is when you have to do the same thing, day in and day out. That doesn’t happen much to vet techs. They have so many different responsibilities—treating animals’ injuries and illnesses, running tests, assisting in surgical procedures, administering medications. No two days are ever exactly alike.

Helping.

In essence, the job of a vet tech is to help heal animals, which is one of the most rewarding careers you can think of. And by the way, when you help animals, you’re helping their people too. You can’t say that for too many other jobs.

Now the not-so-good stuff:

 

Animals can be unpredictable.

Domesticated animals are still animals. No matter how well trained they are, you can’t reason with them. And an unfamiliar setting like a vet’s office can be stressful for them. Which means that when handling animals, vet techs have to watch out for scratches and bites.

Zoonotic diseases.

These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. For example, Fido or Mr. Meow can pass along bacterial or parasitic infections, like toxoplasmosis, a protozoal disease that can be dangerous to pregnant women.

Helping.

It may sound weird to mention this here too. But sometimes you have to help the animals that are beyond help. Which means that sometimes animals have to be euthanized. This is painful, even when it is the right choice.

The thing to remember about the bad stuff is that a good vet tech program prepares you for all the eventualities. You learn how to handle an animal in a way that keeps both of you safe. You learn the precautions that reduce the risk of zoonotic diseases to almost nil. And while there’s nothing fun about seeing a creature in pain, that’s the whole point of a job in medicine—being part of the team that helps them feel better.

All this is why most vet techs report a high rate of job satisfaction—in other words, a lot more ups and than downs. Especially when you’ve been through the right training program.

If you love animals and you’re interested in an excellent vet tech program, contact City College to find out if our program is right for you.


RELATED ARTICLE: 

RECENT POSTS