Have you thought of who else is involved with your pet’s care when you leave it at the vet hospital? Answer: The veterinary technician. The veterinary technician provides technical assistance to the veterinarian in all areas of patient care.
Sandy works as a veterinarian technician at an animal hospital in her locality. Sandy studied at a college accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association to become a veterinary technologist. These accredited programs have a very comprehensive curriculum that teaches Sandy all about animal care.
Sandy could also have passed an exam offered by her state of employment. The test helps to make sure that the person who will care for your pet is a certified and qualified professional.
Sandy, what is your role? Sandy is a qualified veterinary technician and can assist in many aspects of pet care, except for surgery, diagnosis, or medication.
The Day of the Veterinary Technician
The veterinary technician may greet you as you enter the hospital and accompany you into the examination room. The technician will listen to you and take notes as you explain the reasons for the visit. The technician may examine your pet physically — examining the eyes, ears, and heart and taking its temperature. This information is sent to your veterinarian so they can evaluate it.
The veterinary technician will take the samples for lab testing, like a complete blood count (CBC) or a parasite check, and will use high-tech instruments to document the results. This will then be forwarded to the veterinarian for interpretation. The veterinary technician is responsible for delivering X-rays to the vet when further testing, like heartworm, is needed.
Your pet is at the hospital to undergo surgery. The veterinary technician will perform the physical examination on your pet before the surgery, run all the lab tests, and ensure that the equipment is prepared for use by the veterinarian. Under the direction of the veterinarian, he/she can administer anesthetic agents to your pet in order to ensure your pet is comfortable during the surgical procedure.
The veterinary technician will closely monitor your pet’s respiratory and heart rates during the procedure to ensure their safety. The veterinary technician can also assist the veterinarian during the surgery by handling instruments or other items.
The technician is responsible for monitoring your pet’s recovery and administering pain medication as directed by the veterinarian. The veterinary technician is trained to meet all your pet’s post-surgery needs.
What causes bad breath? You may be aware that your pet’s bad breath can result from a variety of dental hygiene problems. Most veterinary technicians in hospitals can discuss the reasons for bad breath with you and how to fix it. Like a dental hygienist, the veterinary technician has also been taught to use an ultrasonic cleaning machine on your pet. The technician will examine your pet’s mouth and take any concerns to the vet.
Aren’t you happy to learn that someone with the education and experience to care for your pet will be there from the time they arrive at the animal hospital? Ask to meet the technician the next time you bring your pet into the animal hospital. You can ask them which of over 80 AVMA-accredited programs they have graduated from.
You will feel more at ease knowing your pet is in good hands with a veterinary technologist who has a passion for pet care.