Not only is the human healthcare industry growing, but so is the animal healthcare industry. There are three main driving factors to the growth we’re seeing, namely a growing pet population, an aging pet population, and expanding pet treatment options.
We all know that pets enrich our lives and add a lot of joy. But research has also shown that having pets is great for our health. This may be why more and more people are adopting pets into their families. In fact, according to the American Pet Products Association, the number of dogs kept as pets has grown 50% between the years 1988 and 2017.
The life expectancy for dogs and cats has actually increased over the decades, thanks to more pet owners and veterinarians focusing on preventative care. But as our pets age, they do require more healthcare services that go beyond traditional routine care.
Just like people, aging pets will require more diagnostics through X-rays, CT scans and MRIs. Those with chronic illnesses and diseases will need frequent treatments and medications filled.
All of this data points to the fact that veterinarian technicians could be in high demand for years to come.
Just how fast is the veterinarian technician field growing?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://bls.gov), employment of veterinary technicians is projected to grow 19% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations.