How to Answer: Talk about a time that you had to make a tough decision when it came to an animal and how you handled that.
Advice and answer examples written specifically for a Veterinary Technician job interview.
30. Talk about a time that you had to make a tough decision when it came to an animal and how you handled that.
Why the Interviewer Asks This Question
The interviewer wants to know that while you enjoy working with animals, you understand that making tough calls that are not always easy is part of your role. The interviewer is trying to determine that you can put your emotions aside and be professional and make the best call for an animal under all circumstances.
Written by Lindsay Williams Ortega on March 7th, 2022
What You Should Say
Think about your prior roles in veterinary care. Talk about a time that you had to make a decision involving animal care that was difficult for you. You will want to demonstrate that you were able to maintain professionalism in this situation and that you ultimately put the care of the animal before everything else.
Written by Lindsay Williams Ortega on March 7th, 2022
Answer Example
"I had a dog that was just shy of two years old come into the emergency center and the dog had been having seizures at home and difficulty breathing. We kept the dog for a few days to monitor his breathing and during that time he had two more seizures even with medications. The dog's oxygen levels were extremely low and after consulting with our veterinarian, we determined that the dog was under a great deal of medical stress and was suffering and in pain. We called the family in and discussed what we felt was really the only option, to put the dog to sleep. It was such a difficult decision to make because the pet was incredibly young and we were having a hard time determining what was causing such illness but there really did not seem to be anything that was providing relief and we ultimately did what we felt was best for the animal."
Written by Lindsay Williams Ortega on March 7th, 2022