Veterinary Technologists play an important role in the Livestock sector. 

Lois Ridgeway, the President of the Saskatchewan Association of Veterinary Technologists, says just like Veteranians there is a shortage of Veterinary Technologists in the province, especially in rural areas.

She says RVT’s provide a higher level of support for surgeries, anesthesia, radiology, therapy and medications, animal care husbandry and assist clients with case submissions and history.

“Even in the industry, they provide support in the swine industry for example in hog barns for processing animals in feedlots for providing medication and treatments again as instructed by veterinarians. There in the poultry industry, they’re in meat inspection”

Ridgeway says training to become an RVT involves a two to three-year college course.

“Probably the first place to start would be talking to an educational institution like Saskatchewan Polytechnic in Saskatoon, Lakeland College at Vermillion or Olds College in Olds, Alberta.”

She notes for anyone interested there are a number of career options from local vet clinics to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan.

Last week was Veterinary Technologists Week in the Province.