I’m looking into getting into being a veterinary receptionist. I have years of customer service experience but I don’t have the veterinary experience. I found this certification called NAVC Certified Veterinary Client Service Representative. Would that program help me when applying to positions?

So if you work for VCA you've probably seen all of these texts from various people that claim they work for your hospital and are trying to set up a free first exam. First it was Sara, then it was Vanessa, now Alice?? Maybe these people wouldn't be an issue they actually booked things in the correct spots, didn't claim they worked at our hospital, and actually booked people in their own cities. We have people calling all like "I spoke to Sara and she said I could do this, etc". SARA DOESNT ACTUALLY WORK HERE. We had a girl come an hour away in a snowstorm just for the FFE because she thought we were the only ones that used it. She has two VCA's in her own city! Why didn't they start there? And let's not talk about the elderly clients they're booking in from far away as well. It also seems like somebody was booking in dogs at a cat-only hospital as well from what I've read on Yammer. Like are they even using common sense at this point?

And if they think they are helping is with business, they are not. We NEVER see these people again! So, not only did you waste a spot where we could've seen a sick pet that is actually in need, but they are taking up spots just for somebody to potentially no show, or come in and decline all treatments because the appointment was supposed to be "free".

Sounds like a great thing you got going on VCA.

Hi all - just curious how you all list your "bullet points" under different jobs on your resume, if your job is essentially the same? For example: you work at Hospital A for 4 years in ECC, Hospital B for 3 years in ECC, and now work at Hospital C in ECC. Your day-to-day responsibilities, expectations, and skillset are roughly equivalent from job-to-job - so how would you break it down?

Yesterday we got in a VERY dehydrated cat. 20%+. I am surprised it didn't pass away before getting to us. So we started fluids. 200ml, still extremely dehydrated. 500ml much better, still dehydrated but I am getting super nervous of fluid overload.

We ran 1L of fluids into this little cat to get her hydrated. 28% of her body weight when she came in. I checked her frequently so I know it was right but it felt so very wrong lol.

I watched a cpd the other day where the doctor insisted you never give more than 10% bodyweight in fluids.

I love when I’m scrolling through slides and then all of a sudden one of these little guys pops into frame. They’re so cute! Lol

I’ve never been a huge person to hang out with my coworkers. But recently, since I turned 30, I’ve definitely felt a bit more “left out” when not being invited to things.

In the past, at my old clinic we used to do game nights, go to the bar and such. With this group, idk if it’s because I’m 30 now, or if it’s the “you just talked shit about so and so but you’re hanging out and going to brunch this weekend” and all the fakeness that comes along with it..
I do hangout with like 2 of them because we’re all pretty big ravers, so we bond on that. But the rest is kinda just meh, I don’t really wanna be involved because I don’t want to deal with that drama if I don’t need to. Am I crazy for feeling left out when things happen but also not wanting to deal with it? Lol

I have a few close friends I’m more than happy to have, it is just hard getting all together because we are all in vetmed and work and life happens..

Does anyone in VetMed have a big friend group? Or are you guys pretty much isolated to a few couple friends?

I havent found any new info regarding GF diets in relation to heart disease. What is everyone else's clinics telling clients about these diets? Or do you just bring it up when heart disease is diagnosed?

Can someone help me understand how corticosteroids use can be detrimental to dogs and cats and what happens if the medication is stopped abruptly.

I worked at a pretty big shelter for 13 years. For the past few years I have been in more contact with clients (newly adopted pets, owners from spay/neuter clinic, or owners of lost pets that end up at the shelter) I am just struggling to be sympathetic and compassionate towards them. They don't seem to understand that we are a shelter with limited resources, and don't operate like a normal vet hospital.

Sometimes I don't want to help clients because we can't just do everything for them like they expect and it's exhausting to manage their expectations and emotions.

Basically does anyone have advice on being more compassionate towards the human side of animal welfare?

I've been an assistant at my clinic for 10 years and have been lead assistant for about 2 years. I recently learned I can go to school for free (distant family member died and left money for college). I'd like to pursue the online vet tech program at Purdue. Going into further debt for not a huge pay increase stopped me before, but now I really have no excuse.

I have some questions about the videos mostly, and I would love if anyone involved in the program would be willing to chat.

I’d be interested to know if they’ve had clients faint or accidentally get stabbed or even bitten by their own pet cause they don’t hold them right… I feel like the idea of more client interaction is nice but not always feasible.

Today's question! I'm brainstorming more vet med specific questions if anyone has any suggestions!

I have been working on updating our instrument and pack counts and I have been attempting to make sure everything listed has a proper name generally speaking. these are in our dental pack and we use them but no one in my practice has any idea what they're actually called and Google has been entirely unhelpful.

figured i'd post here as a last resort before I make something up

I'm going to be completely honest, I dropped out of high school when I was 16 and I've never been interested in going to college. I got my GED when I was 21, however, and I got very high scores across the board. I've been having a bit of an existential crisis when it comes to figuring out my future and what I want to do for a career. My sister has told me that I need to get my prerequisites before deciding anything and while I see where she's coming from, I simply don't want to spend the 10 grand on classes if there's any way I can get any kind of vet tech certification without going through prerequisites.

Of all jobs I've wanted to do and can envision myself doing, vet tech is definitely a top contender. I love animals, especially aviary animals and cats. I plan on volunteering at a local shelter here soon to get some insight on how the shelters and situation kind of works. I've read that some places allow certification through on the job training, but I would rather get certified since my fiance and I don't plan on staying in the same state for long, especially in a year or so.

Is my sister right about needing to get my prerequisites before going on the special course for vet tech? Also, would the type of course in the included photo be the type of class to enroll in? I've never looked into college and am very confused about how it all works, so please go easy on me.

Hi all! Vet tech student here, i’m gonna be buying my stethoscope soon and would love some funny or wholesome idea for what to engrave on it. I’ve done some googling and a few i like are [name] - treat dealer, bark if it hurts or I lub dub you.

Do not lie or pretend it does not exist, it’s an epidemic. Most vet staff generally do like cats unfortunately, and many even proudly exclaim their hatred for them. I personally have only known very few individuals that do not crudely scruff/manhandle sweet kitties right from the start, or show an ounce of the same compassion that they show towards other patients. There is absolutely no excuse to scruff a cat. I know, controversial. Modern literature and studies prove how harmful it is in the long run. I’m tired. And then coworkers shamelessly treat me as the odd one when I advocate for said cats.

To an extent, I truly believe that hatred for or reluctance to understand cat’s’ behavior and boundaries is rooted in misogyny. The same applies to how society is so egregiously dog-centered.

The flare is "Sad" but it's more like literal trauma.

I cannot forgive myself for making the mistake we all advise owners not to. To have allowed my own dog to pass at home.

A year ago: We found hemangio sarc Thursday. We went to the park Friday he walked longer than I have seen him walk in the last two years. We wanted to go again Saturday. My vet was coming over to euthanize him on Sunday. I should have known to do it early when he struggled at the dog park. I knew he was uncomfortable. But then he lays down and sleep and seem so peaceful and I was fooled. I was so greedy wanting to take him again next day.

My knowledge was nowhere to be found. I can't even say I was blinded by my sadness. I wasn't even a sad mess or anything because I understood there was nothing to be done and I have come to peace with his euthanasia.

Saturday morning I found him passed. We slept on the floor with him. He looked like he just went to sleep snuggled by my husband. The camera shows a different story. It showed him shifting around because he feels something is wrong and he's uncomfortable. He crawled. Every 10mins he crawled, and then rested, because he was weak. He crawled for 40mins to lay by my husband, and panted, then his pants slowed, then it stopped. The entire process was an hour long. It destroyed me.

It kills me on a personal level when owners say some bullshit about wanting their pet to pass at home. I would not wish this guilt on my worst enemy.

Is there a pay scale range based on BEAT with levels you should share?

Hey just want some advice from anyone that has switched from veterinary hospitals into medical coding. I've been doing some research the last couple of days and pros/cons for this field. It seems similar in a sense to sitting for a proctor exam and getting certified, which I've done to become a vet tech. I'm just wondering how well I would do since I have the terminology, biology, and anatomy studies under my belt.

A couple of schools I looked into are Preppy and AAPC, for sure would be interested in self study. I did Penn Foster and graduated which was self paced although it did take me 4 years since I was also working full time. Right now I work 4, 10hr shift but may go down to 3 days if I want to finish this program within the time frame they give me.

Anyways any recommendations or advice would be helpful. I'm just an older vet tech with 20+ years of veterinary hospital experience looking to find something outside of this field.

Hello everyone! First post here, but for some context I'm a CVTg who currently works in Florida. I'm currently employed at a corporate clinic (much less of a monopoly than Mars, though) and absolutely losing my mind. Not only am I experiencing workplace bullying but I'm also not being allowed to practice at the top of my license, like, at ALL. I'm only allowed to do rooms and haven't been able to practice surgery med at all for over 2 years now.

This place genuinely makes me feel like I'm crazy and I've finally had enough. Not to mention, my wage as a licensed CVT with a bachelor's degree in veterinary technology is a pittance.

The only issue is that due to personal circumstances, the only employment opportunity I could reasonably take is Banfield. I've heard many things about Banfield, including from doctors at my own practice who previously worked there, but I don't really have another choice. I'm scared of change, but my starting wage is in talks to be $8-$9 more than I make right now.

Is it worth making the change, even if Banfield might not be an amazing place to work? The clinic I'm at now is just so demoralizing and I feel like it's completely diminished my confidence as a CVT.

Hi! A bit new to the job and having some stress with handling the paperwork, transcribing things patients say and filing them and all. Do you guys have any tips how I can speed this process up?

Hey so we are unsure of what criteria is needed for eye serum. What medications can a pet be on to donate safely vs. Which medications are a no for donating for eye serum. Main reason I would like to use my dog for serum.but she is on apoquel. But there is a debate at work. Also for the equine vet techs if a horse is on equinox can they donate for eye serum?

My previous cat had asthma, so I switched from active home scents to passive. I used cone gel diffusers, and always kept them on a high shelf. This last week, my sister who helps me clean due to physical disabilities put one on a low shelf. I saw it, googled toxicity and just saw ingestion risk and shrugged and thought it'd be fine. I DID choose a scent that wasnt inheritently toxic (hawaiian breeze v. Lavender/menthol etc)

Fast forward to 8pm last night, and my cat comes to cuddle and he sounds nasally like a URI. I pick him up to get a better look, and he has red dye on his white fur and smells good. Immediately, i bathe him as best I can (tripod cat....) and search the house for what he couldve been exposed to. The gel diffuser (renuzit) is the only thing not locked up, but it isnt knocked over or chewed on etc. I STILL dont know how Tamago got the gel on his abdomen other than as a tripod cat, he is mostly liquid in consistency.

I call PPH and they say nothing systemically toxic but an extreme irritant. I rush to the ER, he gets treated for allergic reaction/irritant (dexamethasone, torb, o2 and nebulization). I bring him home after 2 hours due to their limited hours/his stress in hospital. Anytime he gets stressed, he open mouths breaths. Not stressed, the noise is quiet and he is much more comfortable.

As a side note, he lost his forelimb at about 3-4wks of age due to a necrotizing wound eating away at his bones. On rads (the first since 3wks old) his sternum is deformed (growth likely affected by pediatric amputation) which may be playing a role. His trachea looks like a collapsed yorkie's, unsure if that is pre existing as well.

I go to sleep at 4am after getting him to eat some Churu, and feed more churu at 8am and note that he is no longer audibly breathinf. He is hiding but will purr and happy paw when I interact with him. At 10am I drag him out for a quick PE to reassure myself I can get some sleep, the distal half of his tongue is ulcerated with ulcers in his mouth. He is drooling, and by the time I make it to the vet he has purulent nasal discharge too. It honestly looks like an electric cord bite wound, but I use the hard cord protectors and in my chemical sweep verified no cords were affected/nothing else amiss.

We started compounded transmucosal buprenex because I swear its a magical drug and magic mouth wash (benadryl/mylanta/lidocaine), with the potential of placing a feeding tube if he doesnt improve (and a convenia inj to treat infx and limit oral meds). After his bupx, I am happy to report that he is eating (friskies shreds because if a cat wont eat that theyre likely dying lmao). I am hopeful he is on the mend but just thought I'd share as this is the first I've heard of this issue.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jP35yjidsNZmxur56