Veterinary Technician Week

Veterinary Technicians play a vital role in your pet’s health. Without Veterinary Technicians, veterinary practices would not function as they do today.

Veterinary Technicians and Nurses undergo rigorous training in animal care and handling, laboratory testing, radiography, surgical and anesthetic procedures, nursing care, and many other technical procedures and practices.

But what exactly does a Veterinary Technician or Nurse do in the practice? 

They perform many of the same tasks that nurses, laboratory technicians, and other specialized technologists provide to people. Check out this list below of just some (not all!) of a Veterinary Technician's daily duties: 

• Often, Veterinary Technicians are the first point of contact with the patient or client, discussing the medical issue that has brought the client to the practice.
• They collect a patient’s medical history by carefully asking all the right questions, obtain vital signs, and collect blood or urine samples for laboratory testing.
• Perform laboratory testing on blood, urine, and stool samples.
• Prepare the patient and surgical suite for surgery.
• Assist in surgical procedures; monitor the patient’s vital signs and watch for any signs of distress in the patient during the surgery.
• Ensure the proper sterilization of surgical instruments.
• Assist the veterinarian with medical and diagnostic procedures.
• Keep the patient calm and comfortable during procedures that may be frightening to a cat or dog.
• Provide specialized nursing care after surgery and for critically ill patients.
• Change bandages and dressings.
• Feed and water the patients and take them out for exercise and “bathroom breaks”.
• Educate clients on caring for their animals whether it be proper medication dosing, preventive care, nutrition, or recovery from procedures, surgery, or illness.
• Follow-up with clients to check on the progress of the patient once discharged.
• In smaller practices, Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Nurses can provide practice management and administrative support.
• Trim nails, express anal glands, clean ears, do sanitary trims, give microchips, take blood pressure readings, position and take x-rays for doctor review, assist with ultrasounds, administer laser therapy, and so much more. 

Veterinary Technician Week is a week set aside to acknowledge and recognize the role that Veterinary Technicians and Veterinary Nurses play in veterinary practices. They are highly skilled and extremely dedicated to the work they do each day. We at Piper Glen Animal Hospital are so grateful to have the compassionate and capable team that we do. Send a thank you card to the Veterinary Technicians or Veterinary Nurses at your veterinary practice. Better yet, if you happen to be in the practice this week, be sure to thank the Veterinary Technicians in person!