Surgery Veterinary Tech - DC

Duties & responsibilities

Shelter Medicine & Procedures

• Monitor the health of shelter animals.
• Triage cases according to medical need.
• Administer vaccines and other preventative medical treatments as outlined by Medical.
• Prepare patients for spay/neuter surgery, assist in surgery, and monitor anesthesia under the direction of the veterinarian.
• Perform medical intake physical examinations.
• Perform and interpret basic diagnostic tests such as, but not limited to, fecal floatation, skin scrapes, heartworm test, FeLV/FIV tests, etc.
• Interpret treatment sheets and administer treatment to patients (PO, topically, otic, ocular) under the direction of a veterinarian.
• Follow veterinary care protocols for animals in the BVSPCA - including medical, behavior and general care protocols for the health and well-being of the animals; individually and as a herd.
• Perform intramuscular and subcutaneous injections.
• Assist doctors and other technicians in performing medical procedures.
• Administer medications to animals as directed by staff veterinarians.
• Perform venipuncture, laboratory tests, IV catheter placement, and drug and fluid calculations as ordered by the veterinary staff.
• Clean and pack surgical instruments.
• Operate an autoclave.
• Comply with all laws pertaining to controlled substances.
• Understand standard veterinary terminology, medical math, procedures, and animal health issues.
• Participate in medical rounds as directed by the management.
• Keep up to date in veterinary medicine with regular continuing education.
• Facilitate good working relationships through teamwork and collaboration.

Administrative Duties

• Maintain and create patient records by accurately recording treatments, examinations and test results on PetPoint software.
• Assist with keeping inventory and ordering supplies.

Client and Community Service

• Admit and release animals from BVSPCA in a responsive, courteous and tactful manner to both internal and external clients.
• Inform clients of any pertinent medical information regarding animal care; communicate release instructions.
• Practice and encourage the humane treatment of animals.
• Provide quality customer service to clients, volunteers, and staff while actively promoting our mission, services, programs, and events.
• Promote donation and giving opportunities as appropriate.

Diversity and Inclusiveness

• Work effectively with individuals and colleagues from diverse communities and cultures.

Safety

• Ensure a safe work environment; following all safety guidelines and modeling safe work practice.
• Take immediate action to address any safety concerns that could put a staff member, volunteer, client, animal, or the organization at risk.
• Maintain a clean, healthy, and sanitary work area; follow all pest and rodent control protocols.

Qualifications

• Veterinary Technician Licensure preferred.
• Commitment to the mission, values, goals, and success of the BVSPCA.
• Experience with humane animal handling and restraint techniques of healthy, ill and feral animals.
• Experience in caring for and handling animals in a safe, effective and humane manner, especially larger and possibly untrained pets.
• Comfortable working in the shelter environment and willing to accommodate animals in the work place.
• Computer literate and able to master veterinary software as applicable to clinic operations.
• Knowledge of basic dog and cat physiology, anatomy and behavior as it relates to understanding the general health of animals.
• Ability to understand and communicate pertinent medical information with colleagues and clients.
• Self-motivated and able to initiate and complete tasks.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in a shelter/animal hospital setting.
• Frequent bending, reaching, kneeling, and climbing stairs while seeing patients.
• Regular sitting at a computer workstation 2-4 hours per day to input patient data.
• Exposure to disinfectant solutions when in kennel & treatment areas.
• Subject to animal bites and scratches while handling animals.
• Repeated lifting and carrying of animals weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Consistent exposure to animals and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.