Job Purpose:
The Shelter Veterinary Technician assists in the medical care of shelter animals being treated at HSSA. This includes: facilitating assessment and treatment of animals in shelter by the veterinarian, administering medications, observing all shelter animals daily, stocking and maintaining Shelter Pharmacy, administering vaccine boosters, maintaining lab and medical equipment, assisting the veterinary staff throughout the day with case updates, transporting of animals offsite for veterinary care as directed, responding to medical emergencies at the shelter, and overseeing the implementation of medical treatment protocols at the shelter.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Administer daily medications, patient care, and other necessary treatments to shelter animals, animals in the Feline and Canine Second Chance Units, foster animals on site, or in other areas of the shelter as needed
- Exhibits exemplary knowledge of biosecurity and mitigating disease risk
- Accurately fill and label medications and treatment sheets. Document treatments for shelter animals accurately and label prescriptions correctly
- Assist with or perform euthanasia when necessary
- Assist the veterinarians with assessment and treatment of shelter and foster pets daily
- Check the IDEXX website daily for laboratory results on pending cases. File results and present cases to attending DVM
- Keep veterinarians apprised of any case updates or new pending cases in the shelter or SCU
- Be available during the day to help restrain animals, update records, change prescriptions, or perform other tasks as requested by the veterinarian or supervisor
- Assist in maintaining the cleanliness and stocking of the treatment room, shelter pharmacy, and SCU Units at all times
- Order all medications and supplies needed for the Shelter Medical Team and maintain accounts with medical vendors
- Maintain and organize shelter records for animals receiving medical care
- May assist in coordinating and transporting animals to off-site veterinary appointments as necessary
- Triage and assess emergencies at the shelter when the vet is not physically available. Assist with contacting the on call veterinarian for coordinating treatment and/or transport
- Obtain samples (blood, urine, feces, swabs, hair) and submit for reference lab testing or perform in house testing on IDEXX suite, microscopy (fecals, fungal cultures)
- Maintain recheck and suture removal schedule for shelter animals and oversee appropriate monitoring and discontinuation of E collars
- Daily walk-through of shelter and monitoring for disease and/or post-operative incision problems, assist in managing vet boards and emergencies
- Provide guidance and time management to the Veterinarians regarding pets awaiting assessment and care. Facilitate the adequate flow of pets needing to be seen daily
- Comfortable and knowledgeable in communicating information and relaying instructions to fosters and volunteers working with animals requiring veterinary care
- Apply protocol treatment to more common shelter conditions such as CIRD, diarrhea, dermatophytosis
- Advise Veterinarians/Senior Shelter Manager of problems or areas of improvement for shelter medical protocols
- May drive company vehicle in performance of company duties
- Perform other duties as assigned
- Perform digital radiography unassisted and be familiar with correct positioning, exposure settings, and operation of the processing machine
- Facilitate the handling and administration of prescription diets
- Perform Physical Therapy routines on orthopedic patients
- Assist in data collection and photography of animal abuse and neglect cases
- Assist in onsite recovery of animal abuse, neglect or hoarding cases
- Assist in onsite assessment of medical case transfers from other facilities
- Perform injectable anesthesia protocols, intubation, and anesthetic monitoring. Successfully recover anesthetic patients and recognize when patient needs assistance
- Perform injectable sedation protocols and monitoring. Successfully recover sedated patients and recognize when patient needs assistance
- Maintain controlled log books
- Assist in quarterly administrative audits of controlled log books
- Assist with intake or other departments of the shelter or clinic when required
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