A Day in the Life of a Vet Tech

While veterinarians spend most of their time interacting with pet parents at the examination table, vet techs are the beating heart of any veterinary practice. From taking X-rays to providing emergency first aid, these accredited veterinary professionals provide essential support to veterinarians.

To celebrate National Veterinary Technician Week, we wanted to spotlight some of the "woofderful" vet techs who work with us to answer pet health questions via Wag! Vet Chat. Read on to meet Danielle Casey and Allison Galilei — 2 veterinary technicians based in Columbus, OH — and get an inside look at a day in the life of a vet tech.

Danielle Casey works as a vet tech in Columbus, OH. During her time off, she likes to spend time outdoors, dabble in photography, and enjoy  quality time with her family. Danielle — who describes herself as "Golden obsessed!" — has 3 Golden Retrievers named Sammy, Snoopy, and Morgan. 

Also located in Columbus, OH, Allison Galilei has 15 years of experience working as a vet tech in a small practice setting. When she's not working, she's caring for her 6-year-old son, working out at the gym, or hanging out with her friends. 

Allison is a true animal lover and spends some of her free time walking and providing overnight care to dogs as a Pet Caregiver on the Wag! app. She has 7 pets: 3 Corgis, 2 cats, a guinea pig, and a guppy named Spiderman 4 (thanks to her son).

Danielle says her responsibilities vary depending on the day. "I'm in surgery and do dental cleanings one day of the week, I run tech appointments another day, and the rest of the week I help with doctor appointments."

All 3 duties are pretty demanding, to put it mildly. "On days that I assist with surgery, I do everything from calculating dosages of drugs, to placing catheters, intubating patients, monitoring anesthesia, and taking dental radiographs and performing dental cleanings," says Danielle.

On the days she runs tech appointments, Danielle says she does "anything from anal gland expressions and toe nail trims to blood draws and administering [injections]."

When she's busy assisting with doctor's appointments, her duties include "taking vitals and obtaining histories, drawing blood, taking x-rays, performing cystocenteses, and everything in between."

Allison says her average workday is similar to Danielle's:

"I work three 12-hour days and I am usually doing a lot of everything (running lab work, phlebotomist, running appointments, radiographs, nail trimming, coping with families when they send their babies to the rainbow bridge, you name it). Tuesdays are my set surgery days, so I am either running anesthesia or doing dentals."

Side hustles for veterinary technicians

As a side hustle, both Danielle and Allison answer pet care questions through Wag! Vet Chat.

Allison has been working with Wag! Vet Chat since it became available in 2021 — she was already working as a walker and sitter with Wag!. Danielle started in April 2022 when one of her co-workers introduced her to the platform. 

Danielle and Allison both say one of the most common questions they receive on Wag! Vet Chat is about diarrhea. Danielle says she also gets a lot of questions about skin issues and pets eating things they shouldn't. Allison gets more questions about allergies.

Both Allison and Danielle say that being a vet tech isn't a walk in the park. "It’s hard work with long and busy hours; it’s not “puppies and kittens” all day long," explains Danielle.

The same is true for Allison, who finds it difficult to separate her work life from her home life at times. Her advice to people who want to become a vet tech? "Make sure you always have an outlet and a good support system. I just wanted to get that out there. #NOMV."

#NOMV stands for Not One More Vet, an organization that supports veterinary professionals in crisis. The veterinary field has one of the highest suicide rates of any profession. NOMV is working to raise awareness of this growing problem and provide mental health resources to veterinary professionals. You can lend a helping paw to the cause by donating, volunteering, or purchasing an item from the NOVM shop.

The mental toll of the job is just one reason why it takes a special person to show the compassion and commitment needed to be a vet tech. "We are not in it for the money," says Allison. "Vet techs are here to educate. We are here to care for your pets as if they were our own."

Overall, Allison and Danielle both felt the same way about their careers. Despite the long hours and unique challenges, Danielle says, "The work can be very rewarding. I can genuinely say that I love what I do."

Allison agrees, saying, "I am so lucky to be where I am and do what I do. And last but not least, I love it! Not a lot of people can say that. Vet techs are the backbone to vet med and we are a true blessing."

Interested in becoming a vet tech? Here are a few frequently asked questions about being a vet tech to guide you on your career path.

What's the difference between a vet tech and a vet assistant?

Many people use the terms "vet tech" and "vet assistant" interchangeably, but they're completely different jobs. A vet assistant is a less advanced role than a vet tech. Vet assistants have to do less training than vet techs. 

Typically, vet assistants help with less complicated tasks than vet techs, such as kennel work, feeding animals, and scheduling appointments. Vet techs need qualifications because they perform medical procedures, like running anesthesia. 

How long does it take to become a vet tech?

It takes around 2 years to become a vet technician. Vet technicians usually have to do a 2-year associate's degree in a veterinary technician program. In comparison, a vet assistant can become qualified in less than 9 months. 

While regulations differ from state to state, vet techs must pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards, to acquire a vet tech license.   

How much does it cost to become a vet tech?

The cost of training to be a vet tech ranges anywhere from $1,300 to $30,000. The cost varies so drastically because it depends on whether you study at an in-state or out-of-state institution. It costs $330 to take the VTNE. 

How much is a vet tech's salary?

The amount of money vet techs make depends on your location and specialty. Generally, vet techs make anywhere from $30,000 to $45,000 a year.

The median annual wage for veterinary technologists and technicians in 2021 was $36,850, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Vet technicians working in research positions tend to earn the most money annually.