As the NAVTA website says, veterinary technicians (vet techs) find themselves caring for a wide variety of animals, some with fur, some with feathers, even some with scales. They are the nurses of the veterinary world, and can help make sure your pet gets the best possible health care. So, hug a vet tech this week!
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When you take your pet to the veterinarian, you may notice another staff member who helps care for the animals, perhaps helping to hold your pet during its exam. That person is may be a veterinary technician. These are usually folks who have received special training to help the vet examine and treat the animals.
The veterinarian always has the responsibility for making the diagnosis, prescribing medications and for performing surgical procedures. The veterinary technician, or “vet tech”, is like a veterinary nurse, assisting with surgery, administering medications, and helping pet owners understand and carry out the vet’s instructions. Some vet techs may perform laboratory tests, clean teeth, handle x-ray procedures, insert IVs, even assist with euthanasia when necessary.
A vet tech can make a veterinarian more effective in treating pets, because the vet can focus on the patient while the vet tech sees to the technical details. A veterinary technician is a skilled professional who can help the vet make sure your pet gets top quality medical care along with personal attention.
National Veterinary Technician Week, which begins October 11th this year, is a time to recognize the contribution vet techs make to the health and well-being of our best friends. The theme this year, “Our Passion Shows With Every Species We Touch”, emphasizes their compassion for all animals. Much of their work is behind the scenes and often not recognized or appreciated by those of us whose animals benefit from their care.
So, if your veterinarian has a vet tech on staff, take a minute the next time you visit to thank them for their hard work, and the medical and emotional support they give to their animal patients. After all, the next pet they nurse back to health could be yours.
For more information about veterinary technicians, visit the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America website at NAVTA.net. You can find information about training and certification for people who love animals and want to be a member of a veterinary healthcare team, when you’re speaking of pets.
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