This may include weighing the animal, taking a medical history, and gathering the proper vaccines. Technicians may hold animals during examinations, treatments, or shots. In addition they may take blood samples and wrap wounds. They perform diagnostic tests, such as blood counts, in a laboratory. Other duties include cleaning and sterilizing instruments and materials.
Technicians often maintain equipment and machines.
Depending on the office, veterinary technicians may feed, water, bathe, groom, and exercise animals. They also watch as animals recover from surgery and check whether dressings are still on correctly. They observe the animals' overall attitude and notify a doctor if anything seems out of the ordinary. All work is conducted under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Some veterinary technicians work in biological research labs, drug or feed manufacturing companies, or animal production facilities.