Many of the same ethics and procedures that apply to the medical care of humans also apply to the care of animals, including providing safe, secure medical treatment. Giving animals anesthesia during medical procedures or surgery prevents them from feeling pain and makes it possible for the veterinarian to work effectively. In some cases, animals that are frightened or aggressive may need to be anesthetized before the vet can examine them.
Administering anesthetic drugs to animals and monitoring them during and after surgery requires specialized training. Veterinary anesthesiologists must know the correct drug to use, the appropriate dose based on the species of animal and its size and the best method of administering the anesthesia. All dogs and cats undergoing standard neutering procedures receive anesthesia, but veterinary anesthesiologists may also work with small animals like birds or hamsters or large animals like cows and horses. Some are called in when exotic animals need medical care or surgery.
There are two routes to becoming a veterinary anesthesia specialist. Licensed veterinarians (vets) are trained to administer anesthesia; those who want to specialize in anesthesia get additional education, training and certification. Many veterinarian technicians (vet techs) also help with anesthesia procedures, usually under the supervision of a veterinarian. Vet techs who want to position themselves as anesthesia specialists can also find training programs.
Veterinary medicine is a good field to get into right now. Scientific and medical advances in this field have given vets and vet techs bigger roles in animal care, from domestic pets to livestock and wildlife. Veterinary anesthesia specialists who have expertise in safely giving pain-blocking drugs to different species of animals should be able to find jobs in an animal hospital, veterinary clinic or university animal research lab. The following tips can help you prepare for a career as a veterinary anesthesia specialist.
- Make sure you want to work with animals. The day-to-day responsibilities involved in caring for animals in a veterinary practice go far beyond playing with or grooming a pet. Animals with injuries, illness or disease require skilled, compassionate care. If possible, volunteer at a local rescue or animal shelter to get experience working with animals that have been abandoned or abused, or at a stable to get experience being around horses.
- Become a licensed vet tech anesthesiologist. Academic requirements to be a veterinary technician can be a two-year veterinary technician associate’s degree or four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) publishes a list of accredited programs on their Web site, including two-year and distance programs and four-year programs. This education will give you the fundamentals of veterinary science, including anatomy and pharmacology, and routine animal care, including basic anesthesia procedures. In addition to coursework, expect a clinical practicum that involves working in a veterinary clinic. Once you complete your program, you can apply to be licensed or certified by your state. The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) oversees all the different licensing boards; see their website for information on taking the veterinary technician national exam.
- Get certified as a VTS. As a vet tech, you will be able to perform a range of tasks to support the services of a licensed vet. If your goal is to specialize in anesthesia, you should further your training in order to get a veterinary technician specialist (anesthesia) (VTS) credential. This specialized certification is awarded to vet techs who meet the rigorous requirements of the Academy of Veterinary Technologist Anesthesiologists. Applicants must be licensed vet techs with a minimum of three years of work experience administering anesthesia in a clinical setting, advanced skills, and 40 hours of continuing education credits.
- Specialize as a veterinary anesthesiologist. Veterinarians spend at least four years in a veterinary college to get their doctor of veterinary medicine (DMV or VMD) after completing a four-year undergraduate degree in biology or animal science. Getting accepted to these graduate-level programs is highly competitive. Aspiring vets take advanced biology, pharmacy, animal pathology and veterinary medicine courses, and gain hands-on clinical experience in diagnosing and examining animals, animal surgery, dentistry, and other medical procedures, including anesthesiology. All DMVs and VMDs must pass a national exam administered by the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (NBVME), in addition to other requirements of the state where they wish to practice.
- Find a residency in veterinary anesthesiology. DMVs and VMDs who want to specialize in anesthesiology can continue their training through a focused residency program after they have completed a year of clinical practice. The American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists offers a three-year program that gives applicants advanced knowledge and experience managing many different species of animals in a variety of contexts. After completion of the residency, participants must publish the results of an original research project.
- Salaries for animal anesthesiologist specialists. While veterinary technicians make an average annual salary of $33,000, a VTS makes $48,000. A vet with a DMV/VMD makes an average salary of $82,000, though there is a wide range, from $50,000 to $145,000, depending on the type of animal being managed (domestic pets or large farm animals) or industry (private clinic or federal health and safety). As highly trained specialists, veterinary anesthesiology specialists should expect a higher than average income.
Animal medicine has gotten more complex and sophisticated, including organ transplants and cancer surgery. An animal anesthesiologist is involved in all of these surgeries, along with many other more routine treatments. If you are willing to put in the extra time and commitment to get specialized training after completing your vet tech or DMV education, you will find many job opportunities in the field of veterinary anesthesiology to make animal management and care the best it can be.