Changing path, need advice (PT/vet tech advice very welcome)

[Phronetic]

So I'm new here and I've searched the forums for my topic and found a little info, but thought I should post a new thread since my situation is personalized like everyone else. So forgive me if this seems to be a repeat thread. Also forgive me because this is gonna be a long one.

So I'm a junior in undergrad on the Pre Vet track with a Music major. I live in NYC. Since high school I planned on becoming a vet, and this past summer I attended the Vetward Bound program at Michigan State's CVM. I enjoyed it immensely and it assured me that I want a career with animals.

However, in the program I was given a taste of the life of both the veterinarian and the veterinary student. I finally determined that following the path of becoming a DVM is not for me for several reasons. Since then, I have been researching other careers involving animals that I might take up. I am still passionate about animal care and I still have an interest in medicine. At the same time, I have a great passion for music and would like a career with animals that will still leave me with time to pursue that passion.

I thought about being a vet-tech. I've spoken with some and I've seen some in action at MSU's vet hospital. My doubts for this path mainly include the money situation. I live in NYC with my girlfriend and living cost is high, but neither of us have had any desire of having children in the future. Moving outside of NYC is a possibility if needed. If I were to become a vet tech, I would like to become qualified to work in a zoo (if anyone knows details of how to do this, please share) as I am primarily interested in wildlife. From what I've researched, zoo vet techs have a slightly higher salary than vet techs in small animal practice. However, I am still concerned about financial security in the future. I am also concerned about growth opportunities. From what I've heard on SDN and elsewhere, some techs get burnt out from repetitive work and the way they are treated by clients and sometimes vets. Finally, I understand that vet techs can sometimes work as much as the vets do. Will I have enough free time to do music on the side?

My other main consideration is becoming a canine rehabilitation specialist. Everything about this job appeals to me. I visited an Animal Therapy Center in Pennsylvania and it was everything that I wanted to do and more. In addition, the hours will leave me free time for music, and from what I've researched, the salary could be almost double the salary of a vet tech. Plus, my area has a few canine rehab centers where I could apply after schooling. My problem, though, is how do I pursue this? Should I go to PT school and then get certified for animals afterwards some place like here (I have zero intention of being a PT for humans): http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/ or here?: http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/rehab/programs.php Or should I become a vet tech first and then get certified for PT?

If neither of these options work out, I'm not sure where else to turn. If anyone else has ideas please let me know. Thanks.

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[pinkpuppy9]

So I'm new here and I've searched the forums for my topic and found a little info, but thought I should post a new thread since my situation is personalized like everyone else. So forgive me if this seems to be a repeat thread. Also forgive me because this is gonna be a long one.

So I'm a junior in undergrad on the Pre Vet track with a Music major. I live in NYC. Since high school I planned on becoming a vet, and this past summer I attended the Vetward Bound program at Michigan State's CVM. I enjoyed it immensely and it assured me that I want a career with animals.

However, in the program I was given a taste of the life of both the veterinarian and the veterinary student. I finally determined that following the path of becoming a DVM is not for me for several reasons. Since then, I have been researching other careers involving animals that I might take up. I am still passionate about animal care and I still have an interest in medicine. At the same time, I have a great passion for music and would like a career with animals that will still leave me with time to pursue that passion.

I thought about being a vet-tech. I've spoken with some and I've seen some in action at MSU's vet hospital. My doubts for this path mainly include the money situation. I live in NYC with my girlfriend and living cost is high, but neither of us have had any desire of having children in the future. Moving outside of NYC is a possibility if needed. If I were to become a vet tech, I would like to become qualified to work in a zoo (if anyone knows details of how to do this, please share) as I am primarily interested in wildlife. From what I've researched, zoo vet techs have a slightly higher salary than vet techs in small animal practice. However, I am still concerned about financial security in the future. I am also concerned about growth opportunities. From what I've heard on SDN and elsewhere, some techs get burnt out from repetitive work and the way they are treated by clients and sometimes vets. Finally, I understand that vet techs can sometimes work as much as the vets do. Will I have enough free time to do music on the side?

My other main consideration is becoming a canine rehabilitation specialist. Everything about this job appeals to me. I visited an Animal Therapy Center in Pennsylvania and it was everything that I wanted to do and more. In addition, the hours will leave me free time for music, and from what I've researched, the salary could be almost double the salary of a vet tech. Plus, my area has a few canine rehab centers where I could apply after schooling. My problem, though, is how do I pursue this? Should I go to PT school and then get certified for animals afterwards some place like here (I have zero intention of being a PT for humans): http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/ or here?: http://www.vet.utk.edu/clinical/rehab/programs.php Or should I become a vet tech first and then get certified for PT?

If neither of these options work out, I'm not sure where else to turn. If anyone else has ideas please let me know. Thanks.

HI! I can give you some insight into the path to becoming a zoo vet tech. All of the zoo techs I know are members of AZVT, although it probably isn't necessary by any means. Might be a good source of information. All of the zoo techs I know also did not begin working with zoo animals until they had 10+ years in other areas (small, emergency, avian/reptile pets, etc.). Every zoo operates differently, but the techs I work with do almost everything but surgery and prescribing/diagnosing. They do get to work with wildlife at this particular location, but I don't think most zoos serve the local wildlife. The techs do get frustrated and stressed, but I suspect you'll find that in all zoos. Zoo medicine is a different world from small animal. You don't often find yourself trying to restrain a 400 pound sea turtle who woke up on you during a procedure anywhere else, lol. The demands of the job are completely different and you encounter problems that you will never see in small animal clinics.

As for wildlife, I have never worked in a wildlife rehab center that has employed any vet techs, and I have been in quite a few. This doesn't mean that they don't exist, but most rehab centers do not have the funding to employ more than 1 veterinarian. The rest are typically volunteers. I have never worked for a big-name facility like Audubon, so places like that might have a spot for techs.

For the rehab idea, if you truly love it, go for it. However, my initial thought is that your job prospects might be low. Someone might be able to weigh in on that better than I can. I think becoming a tech and then becoming certified in rehab sounds like a good idea....you could bring a clinic a new service that way.

 

[derwent2052]

Not sure if you came across the recent vet technologist thread in your searches, so I'll rehash some of what I mentioned there in terms of potential growth as a tech. There's always a possibility of working for 30-odd years doing one role as a tech and getting burnt out, but it's definitely not a certainty by any means. As with most things in life, really, it can be what you make of it and what opportunities you go for. There's definitely room for growth, and there are opportunities out there if you want to do something a bit different but don't want to change your whole career. Though also, if you're happy with a certain role you can also stick with that, especially if it gives you the extra time you say you'd like for pursuing music.

I'm more familiar with small animal technicians, and I know techs which have done things like progress up to management roles in practices (supervisors, practice managers, etc). There are various opportunities to specialise as a technician in things like anaesthesia, internal medicine, emergency medicine, etc (https://www.navta.net/specialties/specialties lists them all). I also met company reps from pharmaceutical and food companies that were former technicians as well, so there are opportunities for roles in those sorts of jobs too (which will very likely pay well!).
For zoo there's also AVZMT http://www.avzmt.org/ which looks like an additional one to the one Pinkpuppy mentioned, it looks like this one is involved in becoming a zoo specialist tech. Both seem like good places for you to get in touch with for perhaps some guidance/advice as you set out. http://www.azvt.org/ is the association link.

I used to live in NYC as well so can definitely appreciate the high cost of living >_< salaries will likely vary depending on where you go, though at least in small animal good licensed techs did seem to be in high demand. Most of the techs/assistants I worked with in NYC lived in the boroughs, though, as cost was too high in manhattan. For how much you work, it can really depend on the job... shifts at the place I worked at tended to be about 10 hours, but working only 4 days a week, so long hours but an extra day off. The supervisors worked M-F but only did 8 hrs a day. I have no idea what zoos and wildlife centre hours might be like, though.

For possible rehabilitation, I'd recommend getting licensed as a tech to pursue that. It looks like those courses require you be either a vet, tech, or PT to do them, and it would be much more relevant to be a vet tech than a PT if you only want to work with canines. As a tech you'll learn specifics about animal physiology, medicine, etc, all of which will only enhance your skills and understanding for working in canine rehab. As pinkpuppy mentioned too, it could be a great additional service that you could bring with you to new clinics if/when you change jobs, move, etc. You might be able to get jobs in places like AMC and Blue Pearl in the city with their orthopaedics/surgery patients doing follow up/rehab care with their patients, as one idea.

If you haven't looked already, CUNY has a good tech programme at LaGuardia. You might be able to transfer in some credits to meet the preclinical requirements, but if you do that, ONLY transfer in As, as the clinical part is very competitive (you essentially have to apply w/in the programme to qualify for the clinical part).

 

[PppermintTwist]

As a tech I've worked overnights at small animal emergency clinics. I did 3 twelve hour shifts. I made 16/hr base plus 20% after 7 pm

It was exhausting and frustrating at times, but rewarding. I found I was able to use more skills as an ER tech verses GP. We had more responsibility and the vets relied on us to take initiative and really advocate for our patients.

It was VERY high stress though. The vets didnt all handle the stress well and would take it out on the techs. You have to learn to not take things personally and just let some things slide off your back or admit a mistake and learn from it.

I did emergency for 4-5 years. Now I work in GP and do relief shifts for my old ER. I get paid 16.48/hr with 8 years as an LVT. I do 3 tens so I have extra time to be with my daughter and persue my hobby of goat showing. ( although I'm mostly just with my daughter leaving little time for other things. )I took a huge paycut... But I have extra time.

We live paycheck to paycheck, but we are comfortable.

It's been pretty easy finding jobs.

I think it's hard to get into zoo medicine.

 

[k80rigs]

The vets didnt all handle the stress well and would take it out on the techs. You have to learn to not take things personally and just let some things slide off your back or admit a mistake and learn from it.

I cannot stress this enough. It's very common to hear my coworkers complain about "vets do this and vets never respect us .." yada yada. And I've worked at 3 veterinary hospitals. (GP). And then they look at me and say "DONT DO THIS when you become a vet.." So there is a very serious dividing line to where vets think they "have a stick up their ass" to quote one of my favorite coworkers, and do not respect opinions of those who have worked in the field for 30+ years.
But I feel if you can find a vet that is respectful and knowledgeable, I think the job can be very rewarding. There is certainly more hands-on work with animals in terms of diagnostic work.

 

[Phronetic]

Thanks for all the feedback. It's helping me think things over a bit more. Although does anyone have any more input on the rehab idea?

Also, right now I'm in a bit of an issue concerning my organic chem class. Since I thought I would be going to vet school, I took the class. Right now I'm probably at a B-. The final is tomorrow and to be honest I haven't studied because of the whole re-thinking my future thing. I will probably fail the test, which is 30% of my grade. Should I show up and at least try to take the test? Or should I contact my dean and manage to get a WF? Neither PT or vet tech programs where I am require this class anyway. But I suppose a WF will trash my GPA.

 

[Skimble]

I would still take the final and try to cram some between now and then. No need to kill your GPA! Plus, who knows, maybe you will change your mind again and you'll need that class for something else.

 

[pinkpuppy9]

You paid for the class.....doesn't make much sense to blow it off at this point.