Veterinary Technician Duties in an Equine Practice

The equine veterinary technician plays a critical role in the running of a successful veterinary business. The tech can be the veterinarian's right hand, and serves as an extra set of hands, a professional consultant, and a surgical and treatment teammate. Knowing what is expected from a vet tech can help potential students make informed decisions.

  1. Handle the Horse

    • The main function of a vet tech in an equine practice is to safely handle the horse while the vet is performing examinations and treatment. This often means immobilizing the horse with a twitch--an instrument which fits over the horse's nose and essentially "freezes" it--or by helping to administer drugs and other medications. The tech must be able to handle and clean feet; jog a horse out for lameness checks; check for dehydration, pulse, and respiration; and check temperature, teeth, and ears. A vet tech in an equine practice must have the knowledge, physical ability, and willingness to do what it takes with a horse to help the veterinarian perform the necessary job.

    Assist the Veterinarian

    • Whether in surgery or on the client's farm, the vet tech must be ready at all times to assist the veterinarian. This includes the preparation of equipment and medication and being used as a "gopher" for whatever errands the vet might need to send her on. Duties can include fetching surgical and medical equipment; running errands; preparing a mobile clinic and necessary vaccines; assistance in providing anesthesia; cleaning and disinfecting; x-rays and other diagnostic procedures and nearly anything else the veterinarian might need. In essence, the vet tech's role in an equine practice is as an "extension" of the vet himself, making the tech position important in the role of a successful practice.

    Educate

    • A key role in the vet tech practice is the education of clients. Informing clients of the proper care of their horses is part of the role of the vet tech. This can include a wide variety of information such as procedures to aid in the horse's recovery from an illness or surgery, the necessary diet for a horse recovering from colic, or how to prevent a recurrence of founder. These topics and others are part of the information that the vet tech passes on under the supervision of the vet in practice. It is imperative to make sure this information is correct, as it can mean life or death for the animal. Being able to answer questions and give correct information is vital.