Job description Animal Care Technician in the West Coast–Northern Peninsula–Labrador Region

Find out what work is like for an animal care technician in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104).

Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians

Description

Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians provide technical support to veterinarians by caring for animals and assisting in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health disorders. They are employed in veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, animal shelters, humane societies, zoos, animal research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies and government. Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians who are supervisors are included in this unit group.

Work week duration

Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Provide nursing care and rehabilitation therapy for animals
  • Handle, restrain and care for animals undergoing treatment and surgery
  • Produce radiographs, collect and analyse samples and perform other laboratory tests to assist in diagnosis of animal health problems
  • Assist veterinarian with animals before, during and following surgery by preparing surgical equipment, administering and monitoring anaesthetics and cleaning up after surgery
  • Prepare and administer medications and vaccines under direction of a veterinarian
  • Administer treatments as prescribed by a veterinarian
  • Provide wound and bandage care
  • Conduct specialized procedures such as animal identification and hoof trimming
  • Educate and advise clients on animal health care including nutrition and home care
  • Assist in laboratory research
  • Perform routine animal dental procedures and assist veterinarians with animal dentistry
  • May perform a variety of office management and clerical duties.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Standing
  • Handling material manually
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Walking and running

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Animal hospitals
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Animal research laboratories
  • Governments
  • Zoos
  • Animal shelters
  • Humane societies
  • Veterinary clinics

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Radiation
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Biological agents
  • Skin injury
  • Standard safety equipment
  • Specialized safety equipment
  • Hazardous conditions
  • Sound and noise

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Physically touching or very close

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 32104), and a list of similar occupations:

  • animal health technician
  • animal health technologist
  • laboratory animal technician
  • registered veterinary technician (RVT)
  • veterinarian assistant
  • veterinary technician
  • veterinary technologist

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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