Veterinary Technology

An Overview Of Veterinary Technology

By: Lily O'Hara

Contents

Current Status

Future Outlook

• Origin and Evolution
• Significant People, Innovations, and Inventions
• Current Status
• Future Outlook
• Questions

Pay

• Annual salary of just under $30,000.00

Work Environment

• Long hours
• Clinics, boarding kennels, animal shelters, rescue leagues, and zoos
• Occupational hazards

A Snapshot of the Veterinary Technicians/Technologists Profession: Number of Jobs, Education, and Pay

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Number of Jobs Entry Level 2010 Median Pay

2010 Education Per Year

80,200 Associates Degree $29,710 per year

$14. 28 per hour

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Note: from Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Veterinary Technicians/Technologists

• Jobs in high demand
• More job openings than qualified applicants
• 3,000 graduates expected each year - not enough to meet the demand of job openings
• Only stay in the field 7-8 years
• 52% growth projected for 2020
• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics

Education, Training, Certifications, and Licenses

• Associates degree
• AVMA checkoffs
• Veterinary Technician National Exam
• Veterinary Technician license

Graph showing the expected growth in jobs for 2020

Significant People

Origin

• Walter Collins
• "Father of Veterinary Technology"
• Gave an opportunity for technicians

• Annie Harvilicz
• Animal Wellness Center
• Studies to treat cancer
• Practices world wide

• Leonard Pearson
• TB testing
• Helped humans and animals

• 1908
• First organized effort in England
• Canine Nurses Institute
• 1967
• American Veterinarian Medical Association (AVMA)
• Established acceptable technician programs
• 1981
• Norther AVMA
• Represents all technicians

Evolution

Significant Inventions

Significant Innovations

• Veterinary medicine was a rare commodity
• Lack of antibiotics and anesthetics

Vacuum Assisted Therapy

Stem Cell Therapy "Vet Stem"

• Keeps moisture in wound
• Allows white blood cells to form
• Stimulates tissue growth

• Most evolved - surgical instruments/techniques
• Started with simple tongs, scalpels and gauze
• Developed to anesthesia, forceps, retractors, staples, clamps, scissors, and sutures

• Procedure
• Injured animals cells are collected
• Cells are isolated and shipped to the lab
• Treated and put back into animal
• Used mostly in dogs and horses
• Tendon, ligament, and joint injuries
• Low risk of rejection from animal's body

Palladia

• Treats mass cell tumors
• Calms metastasizing rate
• Targets mutated receptors in tumor pathways

Feline Thyroid Health Food

• Regulates thyroid secretions
• High levels of iodine in cat food cause thyroid problems

Synthetic Antimicrobial Canine Peptide

• Fighting harmful pathogens
• Chronic infectious disorders
• Dogs that don’t respond well to conventional medications
• Isolates “cathelicidin peptide”
• Dr. Melgarejo - founder and head researcher