JOB TITLE:         Veterinary Technician

Summary

Under the direction of Contract Management and the Facility Veterinarian, the Veterinary Technician shall primarily be responsible for daily rounds, preliminary health exams of sick animals prior to reporting to the Facility Veterinarian, examination of all incoming animals for overt signs of illness and rejection of those noted, and assistance with the animal surveillance program.  This person must be knowledgeable of Veterinary Medical terminology, trained in animal treatment and nursing; In addition this person will also be responsible for assisting investigators with technical procedures including bleeding animals, identification of animals, breeding of transgenic animals, weaning, sexing, and keeping appropriate records. 

Requirements

Employee must have a high school diploma and be certified LAT or hold an Associate Arts Degree in Veterinary Technology or Experience working with animals in biomedical research preferable) or companion animal practice and be eligible to take the LAT certification.

Duties:

• Communicate with the Attending Veterinarian and Researchers to better care for animals and provide services to the customers.

• Coordinate work schedules with Researchers and the Project Manager.
• Seek specialized training or cross training to maximize delivery of services.
• Provide care to research animals, performing health observations, and providing veterinary care as directed, reporting problems or abnormalities to the Attending Veterinarian.
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• Interface with NIH researchers/staff.
• Ensure that proper veterinary care and treatment for NIH/DVR animals is maintained.
• Administer drugs or treatments to animals, as directed, including the calculation of dosage, and recording of drug use in Controlled Drug logs or animal clinical records.

• Assist researchers or their staff by restraining and positioning animals for examination or treatment.
• Assure that procedures and practices involving the program of animal care are appropriate for the continued maintenance of AAALAC accreditation of the NIH animal facility.

• Assist, when requested, in experimental planning and logistics/scheduling requirements.
• Ensure all safety requirements are met.
• Assist the Sr. Veterinary Technician in anticipating and planning for changing workloads and schedules.
• Identify and report potential problem areas related to animal use, care, or health, or problems with facilities or equipment which might be hazard to animals or personnel.

• Monitoring and executing the sentinel animal program.
• Ensure that records, logbook, and other clinical and project records are appropriately and contemporaneously maintained.

• Compliance with the QA/QC program.
• Maintain a current knowledge of existing and proposed laws, regulations, and guidelines affecting the care and use of animals at the NIH.

• Maintain a broad general knowledge and competence in lab animal science husbandry, technical procedures, and facility management.

• Assist and perform blood collection or other technical/veterinary procedures.
• Perform routine animal husbandry and cage wash functions as needed during emergencies.

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE:

1. Handling and manipulating animals
2. Literate in written and spoken English
3. Experience in an animal facility or previous skills working in a Veterinary Clinic.
4. Knowledgeable in PC applications including word documents and spreadsheets