Dallas Zoo Management, Inc.
Licensed Veterinary Technician
JOB SUMMARY
Ensure the well-being of zoo and aquarium animals by assisting veterinarians, maintaining hospital readiness for emergencies and inspections, rotating through clinical, laboratory, pharmacy and necropsy duties.
SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist with medical and surgical procedures and administer treatments as directed.
- Set-up and clean-up after animal procedures, both in the hospital and in animal areas, including preparation of necessary pharmaceuticals and equipment
- Perform venipuncture, anesthetic induction and monitoring, injections, weighing, placement of intravenous catheters, fluid therapy and radiography.
- Act as x-ray technician, surgical nurse or circulating nurse as indicated.
- Provide safe and effective animal restraint and handling as needed.
- Maintain hospital and vehicle readiness, including cleaning, disinfection, restocking of materials, sterilization of instruments, maintaining workspace tidiness, upkeep of procedure kits and emergency boxes.
- Fill prescriptions, assist with controlled pharmaceutical record keeping and inventory.
- Assist veterinarians in monitoring efficacy, form of medication and number of prescriptions for each animal.
- Provide attentive nursing care for hospitalized patients.
- Provide animal husbandry for ICU patients.
- Provide accurate patient observations and medical record entry.
- Perform collection, processing, preparation for shipment and evaluation of clinical laboratory samples, including blood, fecal, urine and water samples; provide accurate and timely reports.
- Perform and maintain records of laboratory quality control testing.
- Send out laboratory samples as necessary.
- Maintain, clean and restock necropsy suite; assist with post-mortem exams and tissue collection, preservation and submission
- Operate onsite tissue incinerator as needed
- Develop and maintain proficiency on remote delivery (dart) system
- Serve on emergency immobilization team and maintain readiness for animal emergencies.
- Assist hospital manager with drug and equipment inventory.
- Serve as hospital keeper as needed, providing proper care and husbandry for animals housed in the hospital and quarantine buildings.
- Participate in zoo wide operant conditioning efforts.
- Supervise veterinary and technical students.
- Follow all safety protocols and understand the veterinary department’s role in emergency procedures.
- Actively and effectively communicate with other veterinary technicians serving in a back-up role.
- Provide assistance and do not hesitate to request assistance from other veterinary technicians
- Work cooperatively with zoo staff.
- Complete special projects as requested by hospital manager
- Actively participate in team meetings.
- Drive van, truck or golf cart as needed.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Eligibility to become an LVT in Texas within one year of employment.
- Must be a graduate of an accredited veterinary technician program with minimally an Associates of Applied Science degree.
- Must have a minimum of 2 years experience as a working veterinary technician.
- Must have at least three months volunteer or paid experience in a zoo, wildlife or exotic animal practice.
- Computer knowledge helpful.
- Must be flexible, self-motivated and a team player.
- Must be able to follow oral and written instructions.
- Must be able to establish and maintain an effective rapport with all levels of management, employees and zoo guests.
- Must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Must have good observational skills.
- Must be able to walk, stand, sit, kneel, stoop, crawl, twist, reach above head, pull bend, climb stairs and ladders and carry up to 50lbs.
- Must be able to work holidays and weekends.
- Must be able to actively work in inclement weather.
- Must have a valid driver’s license (to operate Zoo vehicles) and reliable transportation.
How to Apply
Click here to apply
Dallas Zoo Management, Inc.
650 S. R.L. Thornton Frwy
Dallas, TX 75203
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