Veterinary Technician - ZOO

Department:  Zoo 

Job ID: 13159

Pay:  $21.76 per hour  

Work Schedule:   

Sedgwick County offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees that includes health coverages, paid leave, regular compensation reviews, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities.  For more detailed information, please visit our benefits page at SCBenefits.

Performs duties relevant to veterinary technology, including assisting veterinarians with medical procedures, animal restraint, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, collection of lab samples, analysis of lab samples and/or sending samples to outside labs, filling prescriptions and administering medications to animals, and medical record keeping using ZIMS. Cleans and sterilizes medical instruments, regularly inspects medical equipment for needed repair and maintenance. Performs duties of the quarantine zookeeper as needed. This position participates in a mandatory on-call rotation.

Animal Health

• Assist veterinarians in providing health care for all taxa, including examinations, treatment, and surgery.
• Work with the hospital zookeeper to evaluate the status of hospitalized animals on a daily basis, and communicate findings to the veterinarians.
• Administer prescribed treatments, including injections, gavage feeding, wound treatment, bandage changes, and laser therapy.
• Restrain animals, and assist veterinarians in administering anesthesia.
• Monitor animals under anesthesia using available equipment, including pulse oximetry, capnography, blood pressure cuffs, and ECG.
• Maintain continuing education requirements as required by governing authorities; including attending conferences in-person or online, participating in forums, or other online venues to review online educational materials to keep abreast of new developments in veterinary technology.

Laboratory

• Regularly review and update fecal exam schedule as needed. Work with zookeepers to ensure collection animals are checked for intestinal parasites regularly.
• At the direction of the veterinarians, collect blood, urine, swabs, and other samples from all taxa for routine and diagnostic testing.
• Perform in-house tests, including preparation and staining of slides for cytology and microbiology, manual and automated CBCs, chemistries, and complete urinalysis.
• Prepare samples for shipping to outside labs and researchers, using proper packaging and labeling.
• Bank tissue, serum, and biomaterials in the appropriate freezer or storage cabinet, and log the information into ZIMS.

Hospital Operations

• Maintain and update animal medical records using ZIMS, including prescriptions/treatments, samples, test results, and other modules as directed by the veterinarians.
• Inspect and maintain all hospital equipment including diagnostic tools, surgical equipment, anesthesia machines, and laboratory analyzers.
• Ensure anesthesia machines and microscopes are inspected and calibrated regularly, using an outside specialist.
• Become thoroughly familiar with the care and operation of new diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical equipment, and maintain familiarity with current equipment including ultrasound, radiology, electrosurgical unit, thermography, therapeutic laser and endoscopy.
• Deliver prescribed oral medications and supplements to the animal areas on a regular basis, ensuring uninterrupted completion of treatments given by zookeeper staff.

Minimum Qualifications: Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology (RVT, CVT, or LVT).  One year of full-time employment as a veterinary technician. Must have or obtain a State of Kansas Registered Veterinary Technicians License within six months. Per Sedgwick County policy, this is a driving level position that requires a valid US driver’s license without restrictions and current proof of automobile insurance.

Preferred Qualifications: Two years of full-time employment as a veterinary technician with one year in a zoological or aquarium institution. Bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Technology (RVT, CVT, or LVT). Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in the field of zoo medicine or eligibility.

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