How to Become a Large Animal Veterinary Technician

 -Here are somethings that will be necessary to become a Vet Tech.  It takes A LOT of school and participating in different agriculture and animal related things.



Range of Work
As a large animal veterinary tech, you will be expected to:   

1. Assess the vital signs.
2. Remove test samples from large animals. 
3. Carry out lab tests on samples received. 
4. Give injections.
5. Offer prescribed medications.
6. Know how to use medical instruments such as catheters and speculum. 
7. Know how to get a large animal ready to have surgery. Prepare surgical instruments for surgery.  
8. Be an assistant during surgery.
9. Be an assistant during work on large animal’s dental work.
10. Get information from owners of animals regarding medical history. 
11. Go along with veterinarian during ranch and farm visits. 

Education Required

1. Get a high school diploma or GED. To prepare for a career in veterinary technology with large animals, take biology, math and science classes in high school. During high school, volunteer or intern in a similar capacity to gain the experience of working on large animals. By doing so, you will be able to decide whether you want to pursue veterinary jobs or not. Get as much information about how these large animals behave by reading different materials about their anatomy or physiology to make sure a veterinary career is something you’ll enjoy.
2. Sign up for a program that teaches veterinary technology and make sure you complete a two year or four year degree.  You can get an associate degree at your local community college or a bachelor’s degree at a local university. There are many schools in the United States that offer programs for veterinary technician and the technology. Be sure to find veterinarian technician schools that are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and that the program includes practical work and course work.   
3. Acquire your credentials in the state that you plan to work by taking and passing the state-specific exam. The Veterinary Medical Board will have more details. However, the exams are administered by the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) board. Once you receive your certification, you involuntarily assume membership in the National Association of Veterinary Technicians of America (NAVTA). As a member, you will be offered opportunities for continuing your education. Therefore, be sure to take advantage of this. Veterinary technicians are expected to understand the specifics of production medicine, which involves the treatment of large animal groups and not only one animal at a time. Knowledge of work done with ropes and knots are essential to working on large animals. You can find a job as a large animal veterinary technician in the agricultural industry. You will work with a certified veterinarian to provide healthy solutions to large animals on ranches, farms and stables. 

Cited:  http://www.innerbody.com/careers-in-health/how-to-become-a-large-animal-veterinary-technician.html

Livin' life, day to day.

What IS like for a Vet? Well, it depends from day to day. They might have to come in early, if they get a call asking them to come in a little bit early. OR they might have to stay late if an emergency came in right as they were closing down. Anything is possible. Vets have to make a lot of sacrifices, they have to always be ready to drop everything they are doing to go make a “call” they can’t take a lot of vacations or go too far from home. They have to prepare for the unexpected.  A vet will come to work and will start cleaning up things again and getting ready for the appointments that have already been made. Like setting out tools and setting up room, getting machines turned on and making sure they have everything needed for that day.  Sometimes an animal will get hurt and will have to come in on an “emergency” call. Usually the person would call so that the Vet has a little bit of time to finish up and try to squeeze that person in.  They may even push back some appointments and put themselves behind and will have to stay late.  At other times a farmer may call the Vet and tell him that something is wrong with the animal or that it’s starting to have it’s baby. The Vet will have to have trust in their Vet Tech. because the Vet will have to literally drop everything and go out on the call. The Vet will have to gather all needed supplies and head out to the farm. Where things could go really wrong and end up costing the Vet a long night.  The Vet Tech would have to take over and possibly close the clinic up by him/herself that night.  Being a Vet is a very difficult job and not many people can do it.  It requires a lot of time and patience.  If something goes wrong they have got to know how to react in an emergency situation. They need to stay calm and think through everything very carefully.  Vet Techs will also need to be trained in staying calm in emergency situations, so when the Vet leaves they will know what to do. Being a Vet is like being a Doctor in many ways, yet so different. Vets have to work on multiple animals a day while doctors only have humans to work on.  A lot of training is required and takes time. You can’t just pick up right away becoming a vet takes time...

Next week, I’ll be talking about the education that people will need to become a Vet and how much schooling there is to it. being a vet isn’t something that is very easy, there are many things that they need to learn and do to become a vet. Many people that want to be vets end up becoming doctors in the end. Wanna know why? Wait until next weeks post to find out!

Let's Make a Plan..

I plan to take agricultural classes in school and continue to take part in  the National FFA Organization where I'm currently an Officer.  I also plan do an internship with a Vet just so I can see what it's like to be a vet. If I do the internship I will determine rather I want to be a Vet Tech. Large Animal or Agriculture Teacher. It will be an amazing opportunity for me to have.  Once I complete high-school I plan to attend a community college for at least two years. While taking classes at a community college I'll be applying to Iowa State University where I will major in Veterinary Medicine and Biology. When I complete the programs, which will take about 5-7 years, I’ll try to get a job with a Vet. When I feel i have enough money and time I’ll open up own clinic and work on my own. I’ll mainly be doing “ farm-calls” and will sometimes be in the office. So, I’ll have to hire a Vet Tech to work for me. Or, I’ll be the Vet Tech working for a Vet, where I’ll be certified to give animals shots, and take care of them to the best of my ability until the Vet can get there.

Why am I Interested?

For a while I had been telling myself that I was going to become a doctor. That I was going to over come my fear of blood, and help others in need.  But one day I found out that I couldn't handle human blood at all. I had lost it.

We were waiting for my grandpa to wake up in the ICU, and I was telling the doctor how I wanted to become a doctor, when I was told I could come back and watch things when my grandpa was awake.   He finally had woken up and we were aloud to see him. When I went in they were taking blood from him and putting new IV's in him.  The sight of the blood made me cringe. My stomach twisted and turned. I turned tight into my dad and told him I couldn't do.  My dad and I were hunting one day when I realized I wanted and could be a Vet.  I had just shot my deer and asked my dad if I could try to gut myself this time.  He told me he would walk me through it, but he was going to help until I got used to the blood and guts.  He did the cuts and I did all the work.  I still to this day, do not understand how I can handle one and not the other.   Also, I love animals. They are the best things you could ever have. I love all kinds of animals.  I think helping animals is so fun. I have chickens, pheasants, quail, chucker, dogs, and cats at home, and I absolutely love helping them when they get sick. We had a pheasant that couldn’t walk. I helped straighten out his feet a little bit every day. Even though that little baby never made it I still felt like I helped in some way.  I also had a chicken that had gotten it’s foot stuck in the coop door, and was bleeding. All the other chickens pecked at it and caused it to bleed even more. So I washed up the wounds and put the little guy in a separate cage until he got better.  Everyday I go out and feed and water all the animals and talk to them and make sure they are doing okay, I check for eggs and attempt to make some of them a little bit more friendly.

         There are many types of Veterinarians.  The one I’d like to be is a Large Animal Vet or Vet Technician.  I’d rather be a Large Animal Vet, but I would be happy with becoming a Vet Tech.  Becoming a Vet is basically my dream. I want to attend Iowa State and follow in my Uncles footsteps in attending that college.  It seems crazy that I already know what I want to exactly be when I grow up, even though I’m still young.  I feel that this job will suit me well with my personality. I’m sure that if I apply myself I can be a very successful Veterinarian.