If you're an animal lover and thinking about turning that love into a career, you might find what you're looking for in veterinary clinics and hospitals. Many veterinary hospitals, veterinary clinics and free pet clinics are looking for well-trained, dedicated staff to help them provide care to their patients.

There are a few routes you can take for veterinary clinics and hospitals education and training. From formal degrees in veterinary technology to volunteering at animal hospitals or a veterinary clinic, you can receive the training and education you need to work in a vet clinic, vet hospitals or even a 24-hour animal hospital.

1. Attend an accredited college or university and get a formal degree to start a career in veterinary clinics and hospitals.
2. Get certified as a veterinary technician to help you land a job at veterinary clinics and hospitals.
   
3. Realize the invaluable hands-on education and training you can get when volunteering at animal hospitals and vet clinics.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Pursue a formal degree as a first step in veterinary clinics and hospitals education and training

While a formal degree is not mandatory for a career in veterinary clinics and hospitals, it certainly wouldn't hurt when it comes time to look for a job. In addition, many programs offering degrees in veterinary technology have excellent placement assistance, internship opportunities and help you prepare for the National Veterinary Technician Exam.

I recommend: Get a bachelor's degree in veterinary technology from Mercy College, a program fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA). Get an associate's degree in applied science from Brown Mackie College and learn a wide range of animal care skills to be applied in veterinary clinics and animal hospitals.

Become a certified veterinary technician before seeking work in animal hospitals and clinics

If the formal route is not for you, you might consider becoming certified as a veterinary technician through programs offered by veterinary associations and technical schools. These shorter, more intensive programs will expose you to many aspects of working for veterinary clinics and hospitals, from online courses to hands-on experiences with working veterinarians.

I recommend: Penn Foster Career School is an accredited independent home study school which offers a program for certification as a veterinary assistant, covering everything from surgery to washing and feeding animals. The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) offers accredited programs for veterinary technician certification. Students at the Vet Tech Institute learn from hands-on training, guided by a licensed veterinarian.

Volunteer at veterinary clinics and animal hospitals to gain valuable training and experience

Many local veterinary hospitals and clinics and even animal nonprofit organizations are always seeking volunteers. Volunteering will provide you with extensive and incomparable hands-on training for working in veterinary clinics and hospitals.

I recommend: The Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has year-round voluntary veterinary clinic assistant positions available, which allows volunteers to help out with everything from surgery to cleaning animal cages. Henrietta Animal Hospital is open to student volunteers who are interested in seeking careers in the animal healthcare industry.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider joining the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) and take advantage of continuing education seminars and conferences to add to your veterinary clinics and hospitals training. Many of these seminars are available online.

If you find yourself establishing a new vet clinic or revamping an existing one, you know the importance of referrals. Becoming one of the most trustworthy veterinary clinics and hospitals around means client referrals. Getting those referrals requires a level of customer service you and your staff must prepare for diligently through a commitment to client and patient needs. You must create the reputation of providing the best care for the animals and emphasize showing compassion to the patient’s owners to the extent that you surpass all other vet hospitals in the area you serve.

Before you start comparing your establishment to other animal clinics, however, answer the following questions to prioritize your clients' animal health care needs:

1. Demographics: are your potential clients well-educated and affluent, working-class or middle-to-low-income consumers?

2. What do they value most in vet hospitals: experience, or cutting-edge technology and techniques?

3. Do you forsee a need for discounted or free services in your area?

Action Steps
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Earn AAHA and APHIS accreditation to get listed on each veterinary search engine

Veterinary hospitals must meet stringent professional regulations and are subject to regular inspections of their property and records. Vet clinics that go one step further will also maintain professional accreditations that are not legally required, but give clients a greater sense of the clinic's commitment to excellent patient care.

I recommend: Pet people can visit HealthyPet.com to find vet clinics accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association. Veterinary hospitals aligned with the USDA Animal Health Inspection Service are listed with the Animal Health Channel. Just a little extra work from the start can earn you positive results and referrals for the life of your business.

Join a local animal emergency clinic cooperative

Your potential clients won't think about needing a 24-hour animal hospital until that dog fight or poisoning incident at 2.00 a.m. You may offer emergency service, but most vets are either going to regional emergency service cooperatives staffed by local vets, or they're leaving the emergencies to 24-hour emergency clinics. If you do offer emergency service, buy a listing in both the print and online versions of the local yellow pages under 'Veterinary Hospitals - Emergency.'

I recommend: Make your clinic easy to find for the sleep-deprived, frightened pet owner. Register with the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society's clinic search engine, and with VetLocator.com.

Partner with free pet clinics and offer pet insurance information to clients

Most veterinarians will offer low-cost or free pet clinics at least once a year in conjunction with a local animal shelter or other worthy cause. While these clinics are usually just small-animal vaccination opportunities, take it one step further as staffing allows and offer free spay and neuter clinics and programs for low-income families or victims of disaster. If animal rescue groups ask you for a discount program, do it. Most of the rescue group's members will also come to you with their own pets. Accept others experiencing financial hardship on a case-by-case basis, or enlist the help of an outside firm to handle insurance or credit issues.

I recommend: Provide brochures in your lobby and link your website to (VPI) Veterinary Pet Insurance. Enroll your practice in CareCredit and avoid the hassle of allowing client charge accounts, while still providing the convenience of payment options.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Offer a discount to CareCredit members to encourage participation and avoid client nonpayment.
• •  Most shelters require and provide free sterilization, vaccination and flea treatment and prevention, with the aid of volunteer animal hospitals. Contact your local shelters and city officials to volunteer your veterinary clinic services and get on the city's provider list.

Veterinary clinics and hospital personnel use many terms that aren't widely known to laypeople. Understanding these terms and the meanings in lay terms can help you and your staff to convey the information your clients need.

In order for a veterinary clinic to be successful, the clients must have confidence in the entire staff. Therefore, every member of your staff should fully understand the terms and be able to explain them to any client, even one without any medical knowledge.

Action Steps
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Whelping and queening

Whelping is the term used to describe the birthing process of dogs. Queening is the term used for the cat birthing process.

I recommend: DrLarryPetVet.com provides information about whelping and queening. It includes tips to make the whelping experience positive for the dam.

Fluoroscopy

A fluoroscopy is a specialized set of x-rays that can be compared to each other in real time. This is used to diagnose intestinal tract problems and joint disorders.

I recommend: Mississippi State University offers information on numerous terms used in veterinary clinics and hospitals. This university has various research projects in the veterinary medicine field, which enables it to provide up to date information.

Addison's disease

Addison's disease is a condition in which the adrenal glands don't produce enough cortisol and other hormones. It is the opposite of Cushing's disease, which is when the glands produce high levels of hormones.

I recommend: Washington State University provides a description and other information about Addison's disease.

Fine needle aspiration cytology

A fine needle aspiration cytology is a test in which fluid is drained or cells scraped from an area that is thought to be cancerous. Once the cells or fluid is collected, a preliminary test can determine whether a biopsy must be performed for a definitive diagnosis.

I recommend: NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine provides information about fine needle aspiration cytology and the interpretation of them.

Hip dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a condition which leads to degenerative joint disease in dogs, and sometimes in cats, that affects the hips. Because this condition is genetic, animals with hip dysplasia shouldn't be bred.

I recommend: The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals website provides up to date information about hip dysplasia.

Escherichia coli, E. coli

Escherichia coli or E. coli is an intestinal bacteria that can kill animals quickly. It can also be spread to humans. However, the bacteria won't kill the host animal. It will kill the offspring and animals that come in contact with the carrier's feces.

I recommend: You can find information about E. coli on the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine website.

Running a vet clinic isn't a cheap endeavor. Planning your budget ahead of time to include all of the equipment and supplies you will need is vital to your clinic operating in the black instead of the red. In fact, nearly 2/3 of your fees will go toward operating expenses.

In order to help you plan your budget appropriately, you must consider all the veterinary clinics and hospitals pricing and costs. Use the following guidelines to help you along the way:

1. Consider the cost of the bare bones equipment you need for your clinic.

2. Figure out the cost of vaccines and medications for your vet clinic.

3. Determine the cost of diagnostic equipment.

4. Plan on purchasing surgical equipment for your clinic.

Action Steps
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Price cages and tables for your vet clinic

Cages and tables for your vet clinic are a necessary expense so you can properly care for the animals in your clinic. The price you pay for these items depends upon the features and upgrades you want for the equipment.

I recommend: You can find cages to fit the needs of any vet clinic at Northgate Veterinary Supply. Prices start at around $1,100 for a new cage kit. For parts, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $1,000. Paragon Medical Supply sells exam tables for animal hospitals starting at around $500 for a basic table or $3,200 for an electric table. If you want to add a scale to your table, add around $500 to your total.

Add in the cost of vet clinic vaccines and medications

Medications and vaccines are a way that your vet clinic can help to keep animals healthy. While some of these items are expensive, the benefits outweigh the expense.

I recommend: Medi-Vet sells medications for animal clinics starting at around $15 for some injectables or under $10 per bottle for some oral medications. Henry Schein sells vaccines for veterinary clinics. Prices vary depending upon the type of vaccine; however, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to over $400 per case.

Factor in the cost of diagnostic equipment for your vet clinic

In order to treat animals brought to your vet clinic, you have to be able to diagnose any illnesses or conditions. The price you pay for these items can be recouped easily while caring for sick animals.

I recommend: DRE Veterinary sells diagnostic supplies for vet clinics. For an eye, ear, nose and throat diagnostic set for your veterinary clinic, expect to pay at least $650. Diagnostic lights start at around $2 from this company. Keebo Store sells ultrasound equipment for veterinary hospitals. Prices range from around $2,100 to around $4,500.