Animal Technician Career Works

Animal Technician Career Works

As an animal technician, you must be genuinely interested and motivated towards the well being of animals. Your innate love for animals needs to be combined with a scientific aptitude for you to do your jb well. Patience is a key prerequisite.

You must feel confident and at ease with handling various types of animals from pet dogs and cats to animals in the wild. Knowledge of basic animal husbandry, of different species of animals and their individual needs is a plus. Good communication skills are high in demand, as they allow you to deal more effectively deal with pet owners and participate in advanced treatment of pets.

Since you will need to care for, feed and monitor animals to keep them safe and healthy, you have to be someone who genuinely loves animals.

Job profile

Animal care technicians work under the supervision of a veterinary and typically perform the following tasks:

• Note down behavioural patterns
• Monitor reactions to certain stimuli
• Conduct various medical tests on the animals
• Analyze the lab results
• Draw blood and other samples from the animals’ bodies
• Maintain and clean the habitat and
• Keep laboratories and clinics contamination-free.

Usually animal technicians have to work in shifts comprising a stretch between 37 hours a week to as long as employers require. They may be required to wear protective gear such as face masks, caps and shoes, depending on the kind of work.

In addition, they are generally on the lookout for potential risks and health concerns of animals in their care.

Career prospects

As an animal caretaker working in the medical, pharmacy and agricultural fields you will be in charge of research animals, such as rats, mice and primates, under the supervision of a scientist.

As an animal technician in a veterinary facility, you are likely to be more involved with domestic animals and pets, such as birds, dogs, cats, and cows.

As you progress in this field you are likely to become involved in scientific procedures that relate to the continued well being of animals. With experience you can expect to move to a supervisory or management role as shift supervisors and recovery area managers. Larger research facilities may even offer management positions where animal technicians schedule, train and oversee the animal section of the facility.

Top recruiters

As an animal care technician, you are likely to get absorbed in one of these fields:

• Veterinary clinics,
• Zoos,
• Fisheries,
• Animal breeding farms
• Research labs.

The biggest recruiters are veterinarian services and clinics.