Veterinary Technician

Pueblo Zoo; Pueblo (CO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The Pueblo Zoo is seeking a Veterinary Technician to support the zoo veterinarian and manage the veterinary hospital. This full-time role consists of 40 hours per week, with days when the veterinarian is off-site, requiring coordination with animal care staff on medical concerns and decisions about contacting the on-call veterinarian.

You will assist in daily medical care, quarantine animal care, restraint for examinations, in-house diagnostics, prescription handling, and veterinary facility

Qualifications

• Graduate of an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program with an active license.
• A minimum of 2 years as a technician in a zoo, wildlife, or exotic animal position.
• Desirable: familiarity with AZA, USDA, and Colorado State standards and regulations; experience with ZIMS and dart gun.

Responsibilities

• Assist in daily medical care of the animal collection, including medications and care of hospitalized patients.
• Provide daily care for quarantined animals, basic husbandry and medical care.
• Assist in capturing and restraining animals for examinations and treatment.
• Assist veterinarian during examinations, anesthesia, surgeries, and necropsies.
• Provide medical triage and guidance when the veterinarian is off-site.

Skills

Veterinary knowledge

Exotic animal handling

Diagnostic skills

Radiography equipment use

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Flexibility

Independent work

Education

AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program

Colorado veterinary technician license

Tools

ZIMS (Species360)

Dart gun

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The zoo’s veterinary technician is responsible for supporting the zoo veterinarian and managing the veterinary hospital. The position is full time at 40 hours per week. The zoo veterinary technician’s schedule will include work days without the zoo veterinarian, during which they are responsible for discussing any medical concerns with animal care staff and deciding if the on-call zoo veterinarian needs to be contacted.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist in the daily medical care of the animal collection including the administration of medications andcare of hospitalized patients.
• Provide daily care for quarantined animals, including basic animal husbandry and medical care.
• Assist in safely capturing and restraining animals of all taxa for examination and treatment.
• Assist the veterinarian during animal examinations, anesthetic procedures, surgeries, and necropsies.
• Provide accurate medical triage of collection animals when the veterinarian is off-site and determine theneed to contact the on-call veterinarian. Provide guidance for Animal Care Staff in non-emergent cases.
• Collaborate with Animal Care Staff on voluntary training of collection animals for various veterinaryprocedures (scale training, blood collection, vaccine/injection administration, etc.)
• Perform basic in-house veterinary diagnostics such as fecal analysis, hematology, cytology, urinalysis,dental and traditional radiography. Prepare and ship samples to outside laboratories when needed.
• Fill, order, and/or prepare prescriptions for medications timely and accurately.
• Assist in the upkeep and maintenance of all veterinary facilities and associated equipment. Thisincludes: ordering and maintaining adequate stocks of hospital supplies and medications, cleaning andhygiene of all areas of the veterinary facility and quarantine spaces, and disinfection and sterilization of
  medical equipment.
• Perform excellent medical record keeping in ZIMS - Species360 software.
• Transportation of animals to airports or between facilities, which may include driving long distances, overnight trips, and associated administrative tasks.
• Transport animal remains to the local crematorium.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent knowledge of veterinary sciences, medical procedures, and medical terminology.
• Excellent knowledge of exotic animal natural history, husbandry, behavior, and anatomy to proficientlyidentify and triage abnormal behavior or health problems.
• Proficiency in handling a wide variety of animal species, including small and large carnivores, primates,birds, reptiles, amphibians, and hoofstock.
• Working knowledge of sample collection, anesthesia, and surgical techniques and ability to performassociated technical skills on a wide variety of animal species.
• Working knowledge on how to operate veterinary equipment including radiology, laboratory, anesthesia,and dentistry equipment (dental radiography and portable dental unit).
• Working knowledge of basic epidemiology, infectious disease control, biosecurity, and personalprotective equipment.
• Flexibility to work after hours, on weekends, and on holidays when needed.
• Ability to work independently - ability to triage medical cases, communicate effectively with AnimalCare Staff, and maintain veterinary facilities/equipment/supply stocks without direct supervision ordirection from the veterinarian.
• Ability to carry out complex oral and written instructions.
• Ability to maintain a high level of professionalism, work well within a team, and prioritize excellentcommunication and collaboration skills.
• Must be highly motivated, organized, and demonstrate a willingness to adapt positively to change.
• Additional essential qualifications include the following: ability to monitor and communicate viatwo-way radio, ability to operate a motor vehicle

Experience & Qualifications:

• Graduate of an American Veterinary Medical Association Accredited Veterinary Technology Programwith an active veterinary technician license. Currently holding or ability to obtain a Colorado veterinarytechnician license within thirty (30) days of employment.
• A minimum of 2 years as a technician in a zoo, wildlife, or exotic animal position.
• Previous experience and proficiency in ZIMS use, dart gun use, and familiarity with AZA, USDA, andColorado State standards and regulations is desirable.

Physical and Environmental:

• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors, with several hours spent standing, at a desk, driving, or ininclement weather.
• Must possess physical strength and stamina, including lifting up to 50 lbs, traversing the zoo on foot,and the ability to safely capture and restrain a variety of animal species.
• Understand the occupational hazards and health-related risks inherent to working with zoo and wildanimals. Provide proof of or obtain tuberculin skin test (PPD) and Rabies vaccination.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform theessential functions.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general job responsibilities and is not inclusive of everyduty the employee is expected to perform.