From October 11 to 17, pet parents, veterinarians, and other clinic staff have the opportunity to show their appreciation for the hard work and dedication of veterinary technicians during a week set aside to honor them. Minnesota Veterinary Hospital is fortunate to have three caring professionals on our staff.Amy Brown, Rachel Copeland, and Tera Thompson help care for your pets each day by assisting with vaccines, preparing lab samples, taking vital signs, and much more. Of all their duties, comforting a scared pet by demonstrating love and compassion is by far the most important.
History of National Veterinary Technician's Week
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians started this appreciation and awareness event in 1993. Now in its 22nd year, the purpose of National Veterinary Technicians Week remains the same as when it started. The goals of the organization include:
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Educating pet owners on the important role veterinary technicians play in their pet's health and longevity.
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Promoting the value of veterinary technicians to veterinarians and other members of clinic staff. Fortunately, we don't need any help recognizing the treasures we already have.
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Providing an opportunity to recognize individual vet techs for their outstanding care of the animals their clinic serves as well as the relationships they build with clients.
There is No Typical Day for a Veterinary Technician
Emergencies and having things not go as planned are even more common with pets than with people. Nevertheless, the description below indicates what an average day looks like in the life of a veterinary technician.
A client arrives with her cat for a routine examination. Our vet tech greets the client and her pet and then briefly discusses the reason for the appointment. She asks about any health changes since the last appointment. Next, she weighs the cat, takes his body temperature, and records other vital signs for the veterinarian. When our veterinarian enters the room, the vet tech provides the details she has gathered and assists with the rest of the appointment. This may include holding the cat in place to draw blood or anything else the doctor asks her to do.
Client education is another important aspect of a veterinary technician's job. She explains the reason for certain procedures as well as how to best care for the pet at home. A lot of what our wonderful vet techs do also goes on behind the scenes. Cleaning cages, counting out pills for a new prescription, and cleaning up after sick pets are just some of the things our staff does each day.
Express Your Thanks at Your Pet's Next Appointment
You don't have to wait until the week of October 11 to 17 to let a vet tech know that you appreciate her work. Feel free to mention it any time you come in to visit us. The veterinary technicians and the rest of the staff at Minnesota Veterinary Hospital in Shoreview look forward to seeing you soon.