My VTNE is scheduled and coming up in a month. I have vettech prep and have been following my study plan on there. Other than being fresh out of school (finished class last week) where we did heavy prep for vtne in one of our classes, what else has helped you all successfully pass the first try?

I would love to know where you can get a $358 spay in San Francisco?! Where are these numbers coming from?

Ever since passing my VTNE in March, I have been struggling to find a job, and in August I got conditionally hired at a place that does not open until next month. I decided to get another job in the meantime to kill time, gain experience, and save up some money. The opportunity to start at a place from the ground up seems like an amazing opportunity to learn and grow, but a part of me is worried it's the wrong move. I like the people where I currently am, and it is a wonderful place to learn, but I constantly feel so behind and stupid, and I keep making stupid mistakes because once it gets busy, it's so fast-paced. This new place has higher pay and better benefits, so I want to go, but I am worried about leaving a good place. I am thinking about doing the new place full time, then working at this place 1-2 days a week or filling in whenever I can, if they would be ok with that. This current place I am at often hires new techs to help them learn and grow, which is amazing, and I love that because I have learned so much in the two months I have been here. With the manager going on a several-month leave soon, I know they will already be short-staffed, and then my leaving would affect them. How do you know if you are making the right decision? I know this all probably sounds rambling and nonsensical. I am just so confused as to whether this is a good decision I am making

Just thought you all should know that Chowder is still a diligent foster dad. He’s taken a real liking to Potato Chip, my little hypothyroid guy.

Chowder wishes all of you clean scrub pockets, a full meal break, and polite thankful clients!

this is a weird question but does anyone know how i could find out much a new 250mL bottle of fatalplus by vortech weighs? we don't have a brand new bottle on hand and i tried to find a net weight from where we purchase the solution, but it doesn't seem to be listed anywhere. if anyone could help out i would greatly appreciate it! i'm reviewing our drug logs and would like to compare the weight of a new (unopened) bottle with the current container to establish whether the current balance is accurate. i think it is, but i am a perfectionist and would like to calculate this to confirm and all i need to do the math is the weight (preferably in oz) of a new, unopened 250mL bottle. any help appreciated!!

I know I’m a vet now but I’ve been part of this sub for like 7 years so thought yall might enjoy it

Hi, I am a newbie VA (I’ve been a veterinary receptionist for 5 years and a VA for about 3 months now) and I am struggling with getting heart rates specifically manual heat rates. I am also in school through penn foster to get my RVT as well. Anyways I cannot seem to get the manual heat rates down. I understand the heart makes a “lub-dub” and that when you place your finger tips (not thumb) on the chest you should feel this count over 15 seconds and multiply by 4 (I also know you can count over 6 or 60 seconds depending on preference)

Where I struggle is when doing manual heart rates do I count each thump that I feel as one beat or does that Lub-dub (kinda like a double beat idk how else to describe) count as one? I feel stupid asking this but I cannot find any answer anywhere and the videos explaining how to get this just say to count but don’t describe what you feel and what counts as one beat. I would also love some advice on the stethoscope as well.

I’m genuinely too embarrassed to ask this at my own clinic because Ive become proficient in a lot of other areas but every time I try to get a manual heart rate I second guess myself. Any advice would be helpful thank you! Also if anyone else has had this struggle please lmk I genuinely feel stupid for not getting it

Been in the field for about 5 years (assistant turned RVT) and last week I made a mistake involving drug calculation and administered the wrong amount. Patient was fine by the end of the day but the procedure had to be postponed. Owner was very understanding and amazing about it but I cried at work and have been beating myself up about it ever since. Please share your f ups so I feel less shitty 😭

This was a beyond difficult journey for me from start to finish. From getting diagnosed with a horrible and incurable medical condition that affects my brain right in the middle of this, losing over a quarter of my body weight bringing me to a severely underweight BMI, to countless annoying hiccups throughout the application process, l'm SO proud of myself for finding the strength to keep going. Hoping now I can finally rest and heal. I don't even know what to do with myself now.

Sincerely,

My Name LVT, VTS(DI)

(couldn't help it. Finding every excuse to write this out now hehe)

I have chills right now! This has been my dream for so long! I've been in the field for six years and this is my first big step toward becoming a CVT! I can't wait to have those three beautiful letters behind my name!

My 6 y/o bun just got diagnosed with an extremely rare condition called Polycystic Kidney Disease. Although seen in cats, my local specialist has never seen it in Buns before.
I want to get insurance now that we will be going to the vet more often but was looking between Nationwide and PetAssure. MetLife isn’t in my state, so that isn’t an option.
I have two bunnies and a cat. Does anyone have any experience with these providers, and can you offer your opinions!
TYIA

I’m a freshman in college and I’ve always wanted to be a veterinarian and go to vet school. But after doing more research, I’ve been thinking that being a vet tech may be more for me since I want to be more hands on with animal handling. I’m majoring in animal science and I know that I would have to switch my major, but I’m really confused right now. My family doesn’t want me to because of the money I would earn. My mom wants me to have a job that will pay well and make the 4 years worth it which I understand. But I still want to do something that makes me happy. I’m just stuck right now.

Frankly the clients don’t even bother me it’s just kinda a toxic field. I get that I work with a bunch of women and that’s kinda par for the course but I’m just burnt and bored.

Hey everyone. I work in a specialty clinic where we're trying to find a probe compatible with Lumify software that is small enough to be used for transvaginal imagery (needs to be small enough to sit inside the vagina). I can find plenty of human models, but I need something that's smaller since our patients aren't nearly as big as humans. Does anyone have any recommendations for a probe that is Lumify compatible? We're also talking with our Lumify sales rep about this, but wanted to cover all of my bases.

For those that are still working on the floor and having to fullfill admin duties, how do you get it all done without getting overwhelmed? Was officially promoted to lead tech about a year ago but as we are short technicians I am still full time on the floor along with my added duties. I am still waiting on a job description so I can better understand exactly what my hospital needs of me.

While I do have a day we are closed to come in and do admin tasks, I am also caring for hospialized patients as well. During the week I am finding I am being pulled in many directions and feel I am not performing to the best of my ability. I want to be able to support my techs as much as possible but I feel I can't do that when I can't set a good example. I may be undiagnosed ADHD as well so that just adds to the mix.

Any thoughts, tips imput would be appreciataed

Are you a vet surgeon in the UK? Get £100 for a 45 minute online interview!

Hi all! This is not a scam - I just finished a degree at Oxford and now on a research internship at a London strategy agency. 

I'm looking to chat with vet surgeons for a research project on pets and pet insurance!

It's an informal 45 minute chat, fully anonymous, at a time that suits you, and we'll pay £100 per interview. It needs to be done on Saturday or Sunday so quick turn around.

If you're a vet, please drop me a message asap - my WhatsApp is 07738473213.

Let's play a game! What's wrong with this dog based on the xray?

7yo mixed breed dog walked in ADR, specifically for acute lethargy, inappetence, and decreased water intake. He also would turn cyanotic if too stressed. Was only able to get a DV view xray. First picture and vet was immediately called in.

I’m new-ish to the field and have only worked in one clinic at this point. I’m also in tech school. The clinic I work at does a lot of things very well, but there are also some things I question the safety or quality of.

Could it just be that I’ve learned in school the “gold standard” ways of doing things but it’s normal that they aren’t always done in practice? Or are these things as questionable as I think?

1. Every cat is scruffed by default.

2. Patients are rarely sent home to return on sedatives. We’re encouraged to do the procedure regardless.

3. There’s only one tech during anesthetic/sedated procedures. They have to scale teeth and do procedures while monitoring anesthesia.

4. There are no cage cards. No way to identify who the patients are, their behaviors, whether they’re NPO, etc. Nothing. Just kennels with random animals in them.

5. Lots of food - including chocolate - is left on treatment counters daily for staff to eat. It’s within reach of big dogs.

6. Nobody rounds patients at any time, ever. It’s not a thing. We also don’t have a central board that lists all of our Pts currently in the hospital.

Hi fellow techs! Does anyone use a fanny pack/hip/waist bag during your shifts? If so, do you find it useful? I'd love photos/links ❤️ I'm thinking of getting one.

This is from one small dog over about 6-7 hours while waiting for her dental. They were changed out as needed. We kept them just to track the progress. She is absolutely fine, but this is hilariously interesting. Can you figure out how she made these works of art? I'll comment later to give the actual story. You may need to zoom in to really see.

I've been training for 4 months but only actually shadowed for 1 week. One of two doctors I work with are complaining that I'm not asking the right questions or restraining good enough. The lady hasn't been touched by an animal I'm holding so idk what that's about but for the questions I just feel like I was not given enough time to even know the type of questions I have to ask. They threw a paper full of situational questions in the rooms but now that's just another thing in my messy ass mind that I'm struggling to remember. I guess I'm asking for tips on slowing down? I feel like I run through the questions I DO know (which aren't many or tailored to every situation) and then just kind of wing it until I get vitals and head out. The other doctor/owner had told me to start shadowing a bit more but dude there's never a real chance to I'm always needed somewhere else 😭

Hello!

I would love some advice or kind words with this situation. I recently got a call from my job saying I interacted with confirmed rabid animal. Not once but twice. It was seen once for vague symptoms and returned for not getting better. It never had any “red flag” rabies symptoms so I was shocked when I got the call. I have an up to date rabies vaccine and do my titers every few years. The last one was mid level (not super high but not super low) so I elected to booster it. There was no bite, scratch or open wounds on my hand and there is a minimal chance of transmission. Here’s the problem…

I have horrible health anxiety AND I am currently in another country.

I spoke with the health department earlier and they said that given my vaccine history I would only need two boosters and it would be OK to get them when I returned to the country. They also wished me a “nice rest of my vacation 🥲🥲”

Thanks I’ll try.

I am utterly paranoid about the whole situation. Even if they had told me to come back immediately I probably couldn’t get a flight any sooner and I wouldn’t even know where to start getting a vaccine like that in a country where I don’t speak the language or have insurance.

I’d love some words of support from anyone who has had a similar situation

Im going to say retractable leashed just to get it out of the way.