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Veterinary surgery technician skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Peggy Root Kustritz DVM, PhD, MMedEd,
Kimberly Ange-van Heugten Ph.D.
Veterinary surgery technician example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical veterinary surgery technician skills. We ranked the top skills for veterinary surgery technicians based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 28.4% of veterinary surgery technician resumes contained patients as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a veterinary surgery technician needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 veterinary surgery technician skills for your resume and career

1. Patients

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use patients:
  • Administered oral or topical medications to hospitalized or boarding patients as specified by veterinarian in the patients record.
  • Administered routine, post-operative and daily treatments to patients in collaboration with the veterinarian.

2. PET

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use pet:
  • Certified Pet Crematory Technician Licensed Veterinary Technician
  • General examination and treatment duties, dental prophylaxis, patient preparation and positioning for diagnostic imaging, pet owner health education.

3. Catheter

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use catheter:
  • Administer vaccinations, medications, catheter placement, surgery assisting and monitoring.
  • Place intravenous catheters, urinary catheters, administer subcutaneous medications and oral medications.

4. Radiology

Radiology means a division of medicine that concentrates on the use of radiant energy or any other radioactive material in the process of diagnosis and ailment treatments. It deals specifically with X-rays and radiations bearing high-energy, used in medicine and diagnosis.

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use radiology:
  • Regulated surgery and radiology department.
  • Developed a new radiology technique chart in order to improve xray quality.

5. IV

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use iv:
  • Administered medications oral, IV, IM and topical.
  • Maintain hospitalized patients- monitor vitals, place IV catheters, monitor fluid therapy, and administer scheduled medication/treatments.

6. Surgical Procedures

Surgical procedures include the list of tasks that are done while doing surgery. Usually, a surgical procedure involves an incision with instruments, performed to repair damage or heal the disease in a living body. Surgical procedures are performed by trained individuals such as surgeons, doctors, and nurses.

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use surgical procedures:
  • assist veterinarians with a variety of surgical procedures.
  • Performed post-operative care following advanced surgical procedures

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7. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use cpr:
  • Performed CPR and assisted in minor/major surgeries.
  • Set catheters, draw blood, x-rays, ultrasound, Reception, surgical pack maintenance, CPR and other emergency services.

8. Critical Care

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use critical care:
  • Assisted the veterinarians with surgical procedures and critical care treatments, diagnostic and preventative care and performed in-house diagnostic laboratory testing.
  • Trained & supervised initial critical care team on emergency shift in veterinary assisting practices and emergency practices.

9. Intubation

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use intubation:
  • Assist Veterinarian in multiple surgeries utilizing skills including: induction, intubation, Anesthesiology, Anesthetic monitoring and recovery.
  • Assist Veterinarian in multiple surgeries utilizing skills including: induction, intubation, Anesthesiology, Anesthetic monitoring and recovery.

10. Surgical Instruments

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use surgical instruments:
  • assist in animal diagnosis and treatment, clean surgical instruments, exam areas and cages.
  • Clean and prep surgery suite and surgical instruments pre, during, and post surgery.

11. Blood Pressure

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use blood pressure:
  • Utilized simple diagnostic tools such as blood pressure cuff, stethoscope to obtain and/or validate observations.
  • Experience in pet caring and medical Treatment, Vital monitoring, checking blood pressure with Doppler and life window.

12. Medical Procedures

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use medical procedures:
  • Responsibilities*Assisted veterinarian in medical procedures using restraint.
  • Worked as a liaison between veterinarians and clients, responsible for organizing treatment plans and effectively performing medical procedures.

13. Physical Exams

A physical examination occurs when a doctor or health care professional needs to determine or diagnose the patient's current condition. It is a method to know the patient's health's general status by assessing the physical pain symptoms and other health reasons that need to be treated right away.

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use physical exams:
  • Perform initial physical exam and evaluate them for adoption and/or rehabilitation according to their health and behavioral status.
  • Assisted the Veterinary Team in performing physical examinations, sample collections, medication administration, and preparations for surgical procedures.

14. Client Communication

Client communications are key to any successful business. Establishing a proper channel for communication that allows clients of a business to leave feedback, share demands and better referrals.

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use client communication:
  • Coordinated chemotherapy clinics - scheduled appointments, performed and assisted with diagnostics, administered chemotherapy, extensive client communication.
  • Obtained skills in venous blood draws, laboratory procedures including microscopic analysis, testing and client communications.

15. Veterinary Medicine

Veterinary medicine refers to a field of medicine focused on animals. This includes treating diseases and disorders, however veterinarians also assist in animal breeding, rearing, and nutrition. Many veterinarians also learn various animal anatomies, though some may have specialties such as wild animals. This branch of medicine also helps prevent disease transmission from animals into humans.

Here's how veterinary surgery technicians use veterinary medicine:
  • Helped to create a clinic blog for clients to update themselves on new products, procedures and advancements in veterinary medicine.
  • Acted as liaison with local early college program to have students interested in veterinary medicine intern at the hospital.
top-skills

What skills help Veterinary Surgery Technicians find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on veterinary surgery technician resumes?

Peggy Root Kustritz DVM, PhD, MMedEdPeggy Root Kustritz DVM, PhD, MMedEd LinkedIn profile

Professor, Small Animal Theriogenology Associate Dean of Education, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine

Communications! This is always the skill set that alumni report was of greatest value to them as a new veterinarian, and the need for clear communication is heightened by the provision of service through indirect forms of communication, such as talking to clients on the phone or via text or email, instead of face-to-face and providing telemedicine. Other skills that everyone badly needs right now are teamwork (especially the ability to communicate clearly within teams) and adaptability. I know that veterinary graduates like to stress the coursework they've done, but every graduate of an AVMA-COE accredited school is a great student and has to have demonstrated knowledge and specific clinical competencies to finish their training. It is the 'softer' skills that set candidates apart.

What soft skills should all veterinary surgery technicians possess?

Kimberly Ange-van Heugten Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Teaching, Animal Science, Faculty Senate Representative, North Carolina State University

My top 5 soft skills would be teamwork, stress management, problem-solving skills, communication, and time management.

What type of skills will young veterinary surgery technicians need?

Dr. Keith BelkDr. Keith Belk LinkedIn profile

Professor & Head, Colorado State University

I would list the following skills: work ethic, strong scientific, technical training, communication (verbal and written), and interpersonal skills.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about veterinary surgery technician

List of veterinary surgery technician skills to add to your resume

Veterinary surgery technician skills

The most important skills for a veterinary surgery technician resume and required skills for a veterinary surgery technician to have include:

  • Patients
  • PET
  • Catheter
  • Radiology
  • IV
  • Surgical Procedures
  • CPR
  • Critical Care
  • Intubation
  • Surgical Instruments
  • Blood Pressure
  • Medical Procedures
  • Physical Exams
  • Client Communication
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Surgical Equipment
  • Phone Calls
  • Vital Signs
  • Blood Samples
  • Animal Handling
  • Post-Operative Care
  • Log Book
  • Emergency Situations
  • Exam Rooms
  • Drawing Blood
  • IM
  • Antibiotics
  • Medication Administration
  • Laboratory Services
  • Patient Charts
  • SQ
  • Scheduling Appointments
  • Medical History
  • Dental Cleanings
  • Laboratory Tests

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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