2 answers
Cedar
Student
Craftsbury, VT
1
Question
Updated
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What procedures or tasks as a vet tech do you feel most comfortable with, and which ones are either uncomfortable or a challenge to complete?
This question is for vets or veterinary technicians
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2 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach, Mentor
1221
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Cedar,
I am not a vet or a vet tech, but I would say that once you have gone through veterinary/vet tech school, gained some experience and are working as a vet/vet tech, you should be comfortable with what you do. That's what you go to school for. And you'll develop confidence in your abilities as you learn and practice.
Of course, you'll be more familiar with common procedures than the rare ones though. But like in any other field of work, you'll have to read the literature to keep on top of your field and you can research case studies as you need them. You can (and should) also ask colleagues who are more experienced and keep learning from them. Nobody knows everything about everything in their field of expertise.
Having said that, vets treat all kinds of animals. Sure, you can specialize and all but people keep all kinds of animals. If there is no more specialized vet hospital in the area where you could refer the patient, you would have to go with what you DO know and what you can read up on. I would find it difficult and uncomfortable to treat animals I am not too familiar with.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
I am not a vet or a vet tech, but I would say that once you have gone through veterinary/vet tech school, gained some experience and are working as a vet/vet tech, you should be comfortable with what you do. That's what you go to school for. And you'll develop confidence in your abilities as you learn and practice.
Of course, you'll be more familiar with common procedures than the rare ones though. But like in any other field of work, you'll have to read the literature to keep on top of your field and you can research case studies as you need them. You can (and should) also ask colleagues who are more experienced and keep learning from them. Nobody knows everything about everything in their field of expertise.
Having said that, vets treat all kinds of animals. Sure, you can specialize and all but people keep all kinds of animals. If there is no more specialized vet hospital in the area where you could refer the patient, you would have to go with what you DO know and what you can read up on. I would find it difficult and uncomfortable to treat animals I am not too familiar with.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Karen Shea
Veterinary technician
6
Answers
Lake Mary, Florida
Updated
Karen’s Answer
Hello Cedar,
And welcome. I very happy to hear your question. I was a head vet for 4 years at a very small but growing hospital that saw multi species. I think the only thing we didn’t see was cows. Imagine having to learn everything possible about the care, handling and treatment of all these types of animals. We even saw wildlife. It was a fun job. I learned so much and it was the best job of my life.
During those 4 years I learned more than most people do in a lifetime. We treated every animal you could imagine and more. I had to learn every handling technique, every dietary requirement,,every medication used, for every animal that proceed or keep as pet or even wildlife sanctuary animals.
To address your question .The easiest thing that I have ever done was to take care of a baby bobcat who was blind. She was a feisty little girl. We gave her wildlife diet for wild cats. She used a litter box. We each took turns taking her home for the weekend. I took her home for the Thanksgiving weekend. She was almost as big as my very large beagle. They ran around and played a lot which really tired her out. It was great that she was tired because I had to keep her in a large carrier at night. The first night she was waking me up off and on throughout the night. Good times. We kept her until she was about teenager for a bobcat. We took her to Disneys Animal Kingdom where she was so tame she was able to be used as a teaching animal. We spent the day at Disney and we got recognition in the newspaper.
The worst thing I’ve ever had to do was to help the Vet put a horse to sleep. I don’t remember what exactly what was wrong with him. He was on the older side but still had a lot of years left. If I remember correctly I think he might have had laminitis. But he was obviously in pain. So I hand the first very large prefilled syringe. The horse started shaking in his legs then he started to stumble. After getting worse and worse in his battle to keep his balance, he finally loses the fight and crashes to the ground. That’s when the vet took the second syringe and injected the rest of the euthanasia fluid. He was trying to kick and get back up but it was taking effect quickly now. He couldn’t keep his head up anymore. So he laid his head down and eventually quit breathing. He was finally gone. I’ve helped in more euthanasia than I can imagine and I’ve actually euthanized a few myself. Every time it was difficult. You have challenges around every corner in this field. Some seem Unsurmountable. But you work your way through o. I have euthanasia’s that have stayed with me since I was 24. I’m now 53 and I still remember my 1st euthanasia. It was a very small kitten that had been run over. She had a broken back and no reflexes in her hind limbs. The kindest thing to do was euthanasia and I was the only person left in the clinic with the vet after hours. I was the only help he had. I had to hold that kitten while the vet injected the solution. Feeling the life leaving her little body is something that has haunted me through all of these years. It’s the first one that’s the worst. After you have helped with more, your brain adapts to the sadness and pain that the end of life brings and replaces it with knowledge, acceptance and in some cases understanding. The pain you feel for the owner turns into empathy which differs from sympathy. In the simplest of terms, sympathy is exhibition of the feelings of the person you are working with, empathy is the understanding of the feelings that the other person may be experiencing. Do you see the difference? One can affect you mentally and physically while the other allows you to compartmentalize the feelings of the other person leaving you free of the anguish and guilt that a client looking at euthanasia must feel. You grow, you adapt and most importantly, you accept. These grounding actions are either inherent in your personality or learned. You need to know which is applicable to you. With resilience, dedication, commitment and determination. You can overcome these obstacles setting yourself up to be a well adjusted worker that tackles each day with enthusiasm and passion. Seek knowledge through classes, volunteer opportunities and job shadowing to obtain your ultimate goal. Good luck and God speed. Please feel free to get in touch again with any further questions.
And welcome. I very happy to hear your question. I was a head vet for 4 years at a very small but growing hospital that saw multi species. I think the only thing we didn’t see was cows. Imagine having to learn everything possible about the care, handling and treatment of all these types of animals. We even saw wildlife. It was a fun job. I learned so much and it was the best job of my life.
During those 4 years I learned more than most people do in a lifetime. We treated every animal you could imagine and more. I had to learn every handling technique, every dietary requirement,,every medication used, for every animal that proceed or keep as pet or even wildlife sanctuary animals.
To address your question .The easiest thing that I have ever done was to take care of a baby bobcat who was blind. She was a feisty little girl. We gave her wildlife diet for wild cats. She used a litter box. We each took turns taking her home for the weekend. I took her home for the Thanksgiving weekend. She was almost as big as my very large beagle. They ran around and played a lot which really tired her out. It was great that she was tired because I had to keep her in a large carrier at night. The first night she was waking me up off and on throughout the night. Good times. We kept her until she was about teenager for a bobcat. We took her to Disneys Animal Kingdom where she was so tame she was able to be used as a teaching animal. We spent the day at Disney and we got recognition in the newspaper.
The worst thing I’ve ever had to do was to help the Vet put a horse to sleep. I don’t remember what exactly what was wrong with him. He was on the older side but still had a lot of years left. If I remember correctly I think he might have had laminitis. But he was obviously in pain. So I hand the first very large prefilled syringe. The horse started shaking in his legs then he started to stumble. After getting worse and worse in his battle to keep his balance, he finally loses the fight and crashes to the ground. That’s when the vet took the second syringe and injected the rest of the euthanasia fluid. He was trying to kick and get back up but it was taking effect quickly now. He couldn’t keep his head up anymore. So he laid his head down and eventually quit breathing. He was finally gone. I’ve helped in more euthanasia than I can imagine and I’ve actually euthanized a few myself. Every time it was difficult. You have challenges around every corner in this field. Some seem Unsurmountable. But you work your way through o. I have euthanasia’s that have stayed with me since I was 24. I’m now 53 and I still remember my 1st euthanasia. It was a very small kitten that had been run over. She had a broken back and no reflexes in her hind limbs. The kindest thing to do was euthanasia and I was the only person left in the clinic with the vet after hours. I was the only help he had. I had to hold that kitten while the vet injected the solution. Feeling the life leaving her little body is something that has haunted me through all of these years. It’s the first one that’s the worst. After you have helped with more, your brain adapts to the sadness and pain that the end of life brings and replaces it with knowledge, acceptance and in some cases understanding. The pain you feel for the owner turns into empathy which differs from sympathy. In the simplest of terms, sympathy is exhibition of the feelings of the person you are working with, empathy is the understanding of the feelings that the other person may be experiencing. Do you see the difference? One can affect you mentally and physically while the other allows you to compartmentalize the feelings of the other person leaving you free of the anguish and guilt that a client looking at euthanasia must feel. You grow, you adapt and most importantly, you accept. These grounding actions are either inherent in your personality or learned. You need to know which is applicable to you. With resilience, dedication, commitment and determination. You can overcome these obstacles setting yourself up to be a well adjusted worker that tackles each day with enthusiasm and passion. Seek knowledge through classes, volunteer opportunities and job shadowing to obtain your ultimate goal. Good luck and God speed. Please feel free to get in touch again with any further questions.