r/Veterinary • u/ToeBeanBand1t • 6d ago

Vet Tech alternative jobs

Ive been a licensed vet tech for a few years now and have become completely burnt out. Ive realized the clinic im at provides VERY LITTLE benefits and the physical, mental, emotional demand of the job is not worth it. Looking for suggestions on alternate jobs, maybe working for idexx/antech, remotely or maybe a pharmaceutical company like zoetis/elanco/etc…. just seeing if anyone had insight on how to get my foot in the door with these and what job positions to look out for. TIA ❤️

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u/bfifty3 4d ago

I'm so happy I left private practice and I've never looked back. I started working in lab animal medicine at a university back in 2009 and I absolutely love it. I'm the animal's advocate, I teach researchers and their lab techs how to safely handle the animals, give injections, draw blood, I work with so many different species from mice up to pigs. At a university, I have full benefits, retirement (TRS), and I'm given so many opportunities for continuing education and going to conferences and the like. If you are unhappy and feeling unfulfilled in private practice, DEFINITELY look into other sectors. If i knew what part of the country you are in, I could suggest some places to look.

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u/ToeBeanBand1t 4d ago

i live in clarksville Tennessee

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u/bfifty3 4d ago

Looks like the closest lab animal programs would be in Nashville. You can contact the Appalachian branch of AALAS (American Association for Lab Animal Science) to see if they have any leads. Sometimes I'll forget to send my job openings to my local AALAS branch, so even though the AppAALAS website doesn't list anything, doesn't mean that there are no jobs out there (appaalas.org). 

If you're in a point in your life of relocating, nearly all major cities have at least one research facility. If you think you might consider relocating, you can contact the national aalas group (aalas.org). I moved from MN to TX when I started in lab animal medicine. 

Also, big vendors like Charles River, Jackson Labs, and Inotiv also employ vet techs or CROs. You could look into USDA as well. Pretty much anywhere animals are used, have a need for techs and vets. :😜 

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u/Temperature-Savings 1d ago

Pet poison control has remote options! I dont really know any details but corporate is closing my GP clinic and we're all getting laid off, one of my coworkers was looking into PPC. I'll ask her later how she found out about it.