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Vet Techs Needed to Help Meet Increasing Pet Healthcare Demands

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vet techAccording to recent market data, U.S. pet owners spend over 50 billion dollars a year on their pets. In addition to medically necessary procedures, such as vaccines, U.S. pet lovers spend money on everything from pet clothes to canine braces. The wide range of therapeutic options for pets has also skyrocketed. With the proliferation of options like therapeutic centers to treat arthritic dogs and “doggie day spas” that provide relaxation treatments for pets, along with the rise in medical procedures, the need for trained professionals to work with pets in a variety of settings is on the rise.

As an unexpected result of the more outlandish “therapies” people are choosing for their pets, they are also creating some problems for them. Treating animals like humans can mean an increase in diseases previously less common in animals, such as diabetes and severe allergies. Keeping pets like dogs and cats in an overly sterile home environment, for instance, can mean that their immune systems do not get the workout needed to initiate proper immune system functioning. As a result, the immune system in pets begins to react to things like pollen or other environmental factors that are not generally a threat to the body at all.

Likewise, people who feed their pets too much “people food” including food with high fat, salt and sugar content can contribute to the rising levels of other pet health challenges, such as obesity and diabetes. While this trend is unfortunate, it also provides an opportunity for veterinary technicians to also assist in an educational role for pet owners. Veterinary technicians are needed across many settings to assist with the increasing number of pet illnesses related to poor decision-making on the part of pet owners.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the need for veterinary technologists and technicians is increasing at a rate of 52% and is predicted to do so throughout the decade. For students and career changers interested in this field, it is possible to enter the profession as a veterinary technician with a two-year degree. A veterinary technologist performs specialized medical tests on pets; therefore, professionals in this career track need a four-year degree and additional experience to gain licensure. While the job can be demanding, the intrinsic rewards are many.

Helping people learn how to make better decisions about the health of their pet, as well as easing the pain of animals suffering from disease or injury are two of the main reasons why animal lovers gravitate toward these careers. In addition to a wide range of clinical knowledge, a successful vet tech needs to have a patient and caring personality. The ability to communicate clearly and remain calm in emergency situations is also vital for longevity in this field.

References:

  1. http://media.americanpetproducts.org/press.php?include=143498
  2. http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2007-08-05/the-pet-economy
  3. www.nbcnews.com/id/21755451/ns/health-pet_health/t/just-people-diabetes-rising-pets/#.UXsP1Up2CSohttp://www.businessweek.com/stories/2007-08-05/the-pet-economy
  4. http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/26/pet.allergies

 


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