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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 502
Location: United States | For those of you that work in the field or have worked in this position could you please educate me on the pros and cons of assiting an equine vet in the field? Do you have any advice to offer for my field interview, and do you have some suggestions of critical questions I should ask. Thank you, I appreciate you responses. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
 
Location: Lost in the swamps | It can be dangerious! Good horse knowledge is a must! Not just basic, if you have only been around very few, well mannered horses then no. I have been around horses all my liife, I have worked as a vet tech who worked on a lot of race horses. I have been cow kicked in the hip(while standing at the horses Shoulder, he was a very flexible s.o.b.!!!),bit in the face,stomped, have had toes smashed. it definitely teaches you expect the unexpected and stay on your toes!! All while being by the shoulder "safe zone" of a horse. And have a few friends who do. And they have gotten hurt a time or two. they can blow up real easy, some horses you will have to deal with are crazy, ones that are unhandled, even the ones who are normally handled and well mannered can strike and blow up at simply a needle comming at them. And I have always been taught your first priority is keeping the vet safe.lol it definitely takes a certain kind of individual.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 502
Location: United States | Thank you for stressing safety! I am experienced and competent in this area. Always important to remember safety first. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 477
Location: Lost in the swamps | Well your off to a Better start than some! Good luck!
It can be a rewarding occupation, espically with them
Babies!! |
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 Veteran
Posts: 253
Location: EDGE OF INSANITY | Not to be a negative nancy, but the pay normally stinks, and the hours can be loooong |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| I'm a vet tech at an equine clinic.
Express that you have knowledge but are willing to learn and follow THEIR way of doing things. Horse people...lol
Write everything down unless you have elephant memory. I walk around with pen and paper.
I work insane hours. We are also an emergency clinic so someone in here 24/7. I make okay money. Pay increases with time obviously.
Sterile at an equine vet is huge!! Wear gloves all the time and always have extras.
Do not love all over the babies. It stylites them and makes them mucho harder to deal with if they are bouncing around excited.
It is an extremely physically demanding job. We are big on repro so the barn is literally full of babies that have never been handled or that were born here and handled only by people that poke and prod at them so you'll be restraining 100-400# toddlers....
Label ALL of your meds. Dates, initials, what stall the meds go to ect
I can't think of anything else at the moment. |
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Expert
Posts: 1815
| High pressure, highly physically demanding, highly draining, low pay.......sorry, but I've never been as frazzled and worn out as when I did this, and I was experienced too |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Florida | I have worked in the Veterinary field for 15 years, 10 as a CVT (certified Tech, Undergrad animal science) and before that as an asst.
Long, long hours! On your feet, or in a truck all the time. You are at the vet's disposal 24/7 at most clinics. When they are having a bad day you are the punching bag most of the time. There are really good days and there are really bad days. I opted to become practice manager when the position became available. It is very physical I have been hurt pretty bad. Like another poster said you need to let them know you are copetent and can keep the vet safe and follow directions. I have worked with 20 plus vets over the years they all want you to open your ears and close your mouth. It's not for everyone. Also from personal experience seeing new girls come along, you spend alot of one one one time with your Vet/boss. They may treat you friendly but never loose sight they are not your friend they are your boss. This gets alot of girls in trouble and out of a job quicly.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 502
Location: United States | Well thank you all for your insight! I appreciate every single comment and suggestion, positive or not. Thank you! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 502
Location: United States | I was thinking about this post last night. I have a field interview tomorrow. I have known this Doctor for 6 years and used him for a year. It was a mutual reach out about employment opportunity from both of us, funny how the conversation went. Him and his wife are pretty special people and reputable to say the least.They do not have a hospital and works primarily on hunter/jumpers/dressage horses/performance horses. This is a heavy money community and heavily populated with show horses. Also, I committed to 3 FULL days a week and also made myself open to flexibility if they have a busy week or a situation come up that they may need me more. They respect my schedule and also believe in a balanced lifestyle. With all this being said, what are some positives? Also, can anyone suggest some questions I could ask them? I TRULY value everyone's advice, Thanks again! |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| for me, positives: I learned A LOT, I'm in incredible shape, its not a boring job- theres always something different going on, at the end of the day you have helped someone, your not cooped up in an office, you get a ton of people, places and horse experience on top of all of the medical experience.
*you have to LOVE horses to do it or believe me you won't stick it out. Its HARD work. I put 50+ hours on the clock doing it every week wrestling 100#-400# horses that think they are fighting for their life when all I want to do is check their temp and listen to their heart rate. To me, its worth it. I am a ton more comfortable with my horses being sick/ hurt and good gosh I am in SHAPE. I do hurt all the time lol but I usually do that anyways. AND! I get all of my horse stuff cheap through work. Just got a gallon of Sore No More for $60 :)
questions to ask.... personally when I started I asked if they re-used syringes (its very risky), what my pay was and if there was shift- diff, will someone be willing to explain what they are doing, to me so I could learn instead of just be the "holder" or the "go fetch it girl." How much in advance do they need to know if I need a day off? How much in advance are the schedules made?
I cant remember anything else at the moment. If you have any questions feel free to message me. |
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