6 Things No One Tells You About Being a Vet Tech

If you love animals, pursuing a career as a vet tech can be very rewarding. But becoming a veterinary technician does come with some challenges. If you're thinking about making veterinary technology a part of your future, here are a few things you should consider to make sure it's the right career choice for you.

Penn Foster

Jun 06, 2022

3 min read

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1. The hours can be long

When you're a vet tech, your job can extend well beyond the “normal” 9-to-5 schedules of other types of careers. Even after your patients are gone, you may still have lab work, surgery prep or other job-related duties to perform. Depending on what type of clinic or animal hospital you work at, you may also have hours that vary and you can be asked to work 12-hour days. However, every day presents a new challenge, and helping animals regain their health or face the end of life with comfort, love ,and dignity is an extremely rewarding experience. Some days you may find yourself facing burnout or feeling worn out after a long time on your feet, but when you’re doing work you love, it’s worth it!

2. Euthanasia is part of being a vet tech

One of the hardest parts of being a veterinary technician is dealing with having to euthanize a patient. When animals are very old or suffering from disease, helping them escape pain and discomfort in a loving, compassionate environment will be one of your responsibilities. It's not easy, but it's one of the most important tasks you'll be called upon to perform.

3. It can be dirty

Like any health-related job, you may be exposed to bodily fluids, urine, or feces. And there's always the risk of scratching or biting from animals who feel scared or anxious. But at the end of the day, all of the mess can be worth it because you’re doing what you love, and you can be confident you made a difference for the patients you worked with.

4. You'll need to wear a lot of hats

As a vet tech, you'll need to be able to perform a variety of tasks to help support good animal health. Some days, you may be assisting the veterinarian with routine exams, others you may be helping out in surgery. Sometimes, if your clinic is short-staffed you’ll do that plus whatever clerical work needs to be done. While it may be challenging, it's also one of the aspects of the job that keeps it interesting, day in and day out.

5. You'll need to be patient – with people, too

Maybe you want to be a vet tech because you love working with animals – but just remember, pets have owners. You'll need to have good people skills in order to interact with owners in a positive manner, providing them with information and guidance in a way that validates them so they're more open to hearing what you have to say. On the other hand, through it all, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference in their lives and in the lives of their pets.

6. Vet tech training requires hard work

Vet tech students have a lot of studying ahead of them, but the end result can be amazingly rewarding. Throughout your training, you’ll learn about the skills and knowledge relevant to being a skilled veterinary technician, from anatomy and physiology to surgical nursing and pharmacology. You’ll also have to compete required externship hours to get hands-on training working with animals. Besides preparing you for the job ahead, studying hard in school makes it easier to pass the state licensing exam, and it can also pave the way for additional study in the future.

Being a vet tech means embracing a lot of challenges – but reaping major rewards. If you believe pursuing a career as a vet tech is the right move for you, then get started today. Learn about the vet tech program and our Veterinary Technology Bachelors Degree and start working toward a career you’re passionate about by reaching out to our Admissions Specialists at 1-888-427-6500!