Snakes and lizards

[Juzmi]

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Hello, I thought I would post this here since you guys would have the most experience. Im thinking of switching into the Associates degree in Vet technology my school has but there are 2 things that really hold me back. Snakes and lizards. I LOVE dogs and cats and think that a vet tech would be good for me, but I have to admit I am afraid of snakes and lizards I just cant help it.

In school would I have much contact with them? My advisor said that there is SOME hands-on but not much, and also said that vet tech is dangerous since you might get bit,scratched etc. If anyone has some encouraging thoughts or help it would be appreciated!

 

[Electrophile]

Are you like "I don't want to hold it, thanks" scared or "I can't be in the same building" scared? If you are of the first, you'll probably be okay as long as you can be in the same room. Even small animal only often get an occasional exotic in, especially in small towns. I'd recommend seeing if you can find someone with a nice docile corn snake or ball python to interact with (from afar at first is okay!). We used to do a lab in the undergrad biology lab I taught while I was in grad school where we'd take a Madagascar hissing cockroach and do an assay to determine its oxygen consumption. Even the most scared of girls didn't have a problem by the end of class and they are much grosser than a snake or lizard. Actually, it was often the guys that were more scared!

An aside and this is vet school vs. vet tech school, but last year, I brought my snake in (a small, docile 2 foot long young male boa constrictor) to my behavior class in the vet school. After class, a couple of the undergrads were holding him along with the professor. Some vet students walked in while we were still hanging out and one walked straight back out the door like "OMG, I don't even want to be in the same room with it!" Get over it, girlie. 🙄 If she was the only show in town and there was no emergency herp vet and someone brought in their snake or whatever, would she just let it die without any kind of care at all? It would just take 5-10 minutes hopping online on VIN or google to see what kind of supportive care would be helpful. I'm sorry, but that's pretty pathetic. She doesn't have to love them, but you always must be prepared to help out all sorts of animals, not just the cute fluffies!

 

[WhtsThFrequency]

and also said that vet tech is dangerous since you might get bit,scratched etc. If anyone has some encouraging thoughts or help it would be appreciated!

You will definitely get bitten/scratched/pooed on/peed on if you're a tech - heck, if you're a vet as well! That's what we call a "fractious patient" 😉 and when we bring out some sedatives.

But is that 'dangerous'? Well, no, I don't know if I'd say dangerous. When I think dangerous I think policemen and firefighters. You just get vaccinated for rabies ahead of time (we vet students are required to get vaccinated for rabies before we come) as a preventative. Some poop and pee never hurt anyone, and if its ringworm, just break out the gloves.