What physical requirements are associated with being a veterinarian?

Answer 1

There are no physical requirements laid out for a veterinary technician because what they do depends on where they work.

In a research facility they may have to lift nothing heavier than mice, rats or beagles. In a large animal facility they may have to be able to wrangle animals weighing more than 1000 pounds and working for a drug company they may have to carry nothing heavier than a few containers of product samples. In small animal practice, research, or working for a drug company, a vet tech generally doesn't have any requirement for being able to run but in an equine facility being able to run alongside a horse up and down a reasonable stretch of ground several times in a row and often in adverse weather conditions such as 100 degree heat is a common part of the job.

For the average veterinary technician that works in a small animal practice, being able to be on your feet all day and lift at least 20 lbs and being able to squat/kneel/bend over repeatedly during the course of the day would all be necessary.

Answer 2

There are actually relatively few absolute physical requirements; there are deaf veterinarians, parapalegic veterinarians, color blind veterinarians, etc.

It would be challenging for a completely blind (100% sightless) person to work as a veterinarian, but a legally blind person might be able to adapt techniques and be just fine.

A quadrapelegic person would also be extremely challenged by private practice, but not all veterinarians work in private practice.

The most important qualification is an open, inquisitive mind that actively seeks to learn and understand.