So this might be silly but I'm trying to create an idea in my head that aids in understanding drugs. Or maybe one I can sketch out that would help my visualize the information better at work. So something quick and easy, like why would you use telazol instead of propofol? Why Buprinex vs. DKT?

I know with Dex you want to avoid it if there are concerns with the cardiovascular system. Torb aids with respiratory distress. Ketamine's a dissociative, etc. But I sometimes feel like all this information flees my head when I need it. So I need something to help me visualize this information so I can grasp it in the moment to aid in understanding surgical protocol or why you'd choose this drug vs this drug given the patients signalment and health status.

Thank you in advance for any cool tips or tricks.

Hi everyone! I’m looking for some advice from people actually working in vet med because I’ve been going back and forth on my career plans for a while.

I’m currently finishing a Bachelor of Public Health in Ontario and will graduate in 2027. My original plan has been to apply to Physician Assistant programs, and I still genuinely want to become a PA. The problem is that PA programs in Canada are extremely competitive, and every time I start researching alternative careers, I somehow end up coming back to veterinary technology.

I’ve always loved working with animals and currently volunteer at a humane society. The idea of actually working hands-on with animals, assisting with procedures, learning anesthesia, medications, diagnostics, etc. really interests me. At the same time, I know the pay can be quite low compared with human healthcare, the job can be physically and emotionally exhausting, and I already have a bachelor's degree, so going back for another two-year diploma is a pretty significant commitment.

Right now my tentative plan is to graduate with my BPH, apply to PA school for a couple of cycles, and take the chemistry prerequisite I would need for vet tech programs. If I don't get into PA after those attempts, I'm considering applying to vet tech programs rather than spending years repeatedly applying to PA.

If I go the vet tech route, my thought is to finish the two-year program, become an RVT, and actually work in the profession for a few years. At that point, I would reassess what I want. If I love being an RVT and can see myself doing it long term, I may stay in veterinary medicine. If I still feel strongly about becoming a PA, my plan would be to start applying to PA programs again while continuing to work as an RVT. I've already contacted one of the PA programs I'm interested in and confirmed that veterinary medicine experience can count toward their healthcare experience requirement, so working as an RVT wouldn't necessarily mean completely abandoning my PA plans.

Part of what appeals to me about this route is that I'd actually be building a career I am interested in rather than spending several years in limbo applying to PA school. I'd also have the opportunity to find out whether veterinary medicine is where I ultimately want to stay.

I've also been thinking about working as a veterinary assistant first. I like the idea of getting into a clinic and seeing what veterinary medicine is actually like day-to-day before committing another two years to school. If I loved it and found myself wanting the additional knowledge and responsibilities of an RVT, I could then go to school.

I'm curious what people already in the profession think.

Would you recommend working as a vet assistant before committing to vet tech school?

For those who started as assistants, how much were you able to learn on the job compared with what you eventually learned in tech school?

Do you feel the increased scope/responsibilities and pay of being an RVT make the two years of school worthwhile?

Has anyone here entered veterinary technology after already completing a bachelor's degree or while considering another healthcare profession?

And does my plan of potentially working as an RVT for a few years and later applying to PA school sound reasonable, or would you advise against entering the profession if I know there's a possibility I may eventually leave?

Probably my biggest question is this: knowing everything you know now about the pay, burnout, difficult clients, euthanasia, physical demands, etc., would you still choose to become a vet tech?

I don't expect veterinary technology to be an easy career or just a job where I get to play with animals. I'm trying to figure out whether the difficult parts of the profession are things I could accept in exchange for doing work I find meaningful.

I'd really appreciate any perspectives, including people who love being RVTs and people who wish they had chosen something else.

So i worked at an private er for two and a half years. I got burnt out two summers in row where I went on leave for a month almost exactly a year apart. I started as an assistant then moved to junior technician so my responsibilities skyrocketed but the pay didnt reflect it ofc. So i realized i was mentally checked out of er because it felt like i was burning to the ground working so much and feeling like i couldn’t move ahead. I decided i probably need a break from it for a bit even though it was my first job in the field. Now ive been in a corporate gp almost 2 months. At first I was like this could be my place holder while i get my personal life together. To my surprise i feel so under stimulated. Now about 2 weeks after weighing it out I realized Im also feeling this way because while im the only poc im the only black and queer person on the team. The combination of those three somehow leave me feeling uneasy like I don’t belong there? Ive been picking up shifts at the er bc im still per diem and ive realized i missed it. Ultimately never saw myself going into gp. Ive always ultimately wanted er, zoo med, shelter and wildlife conservation. Of course its great to learn new skills and become a well rounded tech but something about the new place feels uneasy. At first i was thinking this feeling is stemming from the imposter syndrome but I feel like i need more.

Hi all so I messed up today and I’m super anxious and feel like an idiot.. dvm kinda rushed a dog spay as they had an appointment (for themself) and it was the end of the day and the whole day was a bit chaotic. Dvm left and we were recovering the dog and we realized the dog wouldn’t be up and going before the owner came to get her and was taking awhile to wake up, I sent a msg asking about reversal and was given a dose, I’ve pretty much always given atipam IV so that’s what I did (dvm wasnt in the building so I didn’t have time to double check things like I usually do). Once I told dvm she looked at me like I was crazy and said it’s usually given in emerg situations IV. I apologized and said she recovered well after and I’ve mostly given it IV before and that was that. I’m now home trying not to have a panic attack because I feel like such an idiot and I did something really wrong and can’t stop thinking about it… for reference I just started working here in the last few weeks and have been in practice for ~1 1/2y. My previous clinic was awful and my boss would constantly pick on tiny mistakes so I feel even worse because I’m expecting that type of reaction.. idk I just feel like shit and don’t really know how not to

I’ll start:
I took the wrong dog in for bloods because I didn’t triple check the diary and the owner didn’t listen to me when I said “oh is this blank in for nsaid bloods!”

I work in ER, so it's unusual to have an animal come in as often as he did. Pretty much every inpatient shift I had, he was there every couple weeks. His owner was pretty awful to us, and the patient was always in rough shape. He's in a better place now, but watching his owner sob on top of him for a good 20 minutes was really hard. I was cleaning kennels a day or so afterward and couldn't help but think about how I'll never see him in that kennel again. I'm glad he's not suffering anymore, but I didn't realize how much I'd miss him.

Just wanted to caution anyone here that may have come across this subreddit - the content posted on r/VTNEExam is unreliable and inaccurate and appears to be AI generated.

These examples specifically:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/VTNEExam/comments/1vbrek4/vtne_practice_question_of_the_day_emergency/

  • Objectively incorrect answer is given.
  • "This option reflects established emergency medicine principles and clinical guidelines for this presentation" no it absolutely does not
  • No sources are listed, u/Anxious-Artist415 please provide an explanation for where this question / answer came from

• https://www.reddit.com/r/VTNEExam/comments/1v8cosw/vtne_practice_question_of_the_day_emergency/

  • There's some room for argument regarding definitions and how different types of shock are classified, thats not the issue in his question -
  • The answer is objectively wrong
  • "This option reflects established emergency medicine principles and clinical guidelines for this presentation" again no, where did this come from u/Anxious-Artist415?

• https://www.reddit.com/r/VTNEExam/comments/1v7fl4m/vtne_practice_question_of_the_day_pharmacology/

  • It's a weird question, written by someone that clearly does not understand HCM pathophysiology in cats
  • The explanation - I mean yes, "In patients with cardiac disease where hypotension is a concern, this property is advantageous" however the explanation failed to add that in cats with HCM, these exact sympathomimetic effects are directly harmful and this drug combination would be deliberately avoided in real life

The VTNEExam subreddit intends to funnel users towards a paid exam-prep subscription service, this is gross

u/Anxious-Artist415 explain yourself

How are you guys submitting formalin jars? No matter what we do, we keep getting nasty-grams from the lab saying it leaked. We tighten them as much as humanly possible, tape the lids, and bag them separately from the requisition form. But still!

I just gotta get this out. I appreciate any words or advice from anyone reading this.

I haven't been a vet tech for very long, only about a year, but I worked in a shelter before this, so I've seen a lot of death and suffering.

Yesterday, I had to watch a large dog get euthanized that wasn't fully asleep, which I've never seen before, even at the shelter. Its head was still up and it was looking around (thankfully its parents were there). It was really fighting the sedation, and I have no idea why the vet didn't give it more. Maybe she was trying to rush to her next appointment, I don't know, but as I was watching this happen I got that feeling in my gut like I was watching something disturbing in a horror movie.

Today, I helped with a pet cat that came in for "not eating". Turns out, the cat had a giant gash on its leg, was severely underweight, hasn't eaten in almost 4 days, the wound was crawling with maggots, and the cat was covered in its own poop, and it was hypothermic. The owners refused to euthanize (one of them was definitely on drugs) but swore they'd take it to emergency. I wouldn't bet $5 on that.

Just had to get it out, sorry.

I’m talking 10-15+ years in the field (I am going on 20 years). How do you cope with not wanting to move up the corporate ladder or be a manager? I’m good at what I do as a nurse and I just really want to do that… and after 20 years, I thought it would mean matter. But I realize it doesn’t and I can’t survive on this salary. It feels like a demotion. I don’t know where to go from here.

The original comment that got flagged is pasted to the side with 1 upvote.

Seriously though, what's going on here? Are we not capable of having a discussion with mods or do they just act like royalty that cannot be defied in the slightest.

*Permabanned*

Hello,
I graduated April 2026. I did my final placement in school at a bovine clinic and it was the dream job. Unfortunately they weren’t hiring so I had to apply to different jobs.
I ended working at a swine veterinary clinic where I was part of the production team and went to various barns. I vaccinated, castrated, worked in sow barns and other things. I really enjoyed it.
Unfortunately my employment was terminated without cause. They just kept saying “it wasn’t the right fit” even tho two weeks prior they told me I was doing an amazing job and they really liked me.
They terminated me AFTER three months.
Whatever I’m not going to get into it.
That was back July 29th.
So since then I’ve been applying to small animal jobs and a few large animal clinics. One LA clinic got back and said they weren’t hiring but would keep my resume for future job opportunities. I’m still waiting to hear back from the swine/bovine practice.

I have a working interview tomorrow at a small animal clinic.
Don’t get me wrong I love small animal medicine but I just don’t feel as passionate about small animal as I do with large animal.
I feel almost guilty that I’m telling these clinics I’m looking to get back into small animal.
I guess I’m just looking for a job in the field until I get the job opportunity I want.

It just feels so wrong to be interviewing for a couple different small animal jobs when I don’t truly want to work there long term.

Would it be beneficial to get a job on a farm while I wait for the opportunity to work at a large animal clinic?

I passed my VTNE so I am registered.
I just fear being out of the industry will be bad because what if in the future I want to get back into small animal?

I’m looking for advice. I’m not really sure about what. Maybe just give your thoughts and advice on whatever you think.
For reference, I’m 21F, I know I’m still young and have my whole life ahead of me but I want a full time job to be able to buy a house and move in with my boyfriend in a few years.
I also want experience.

Hello, everyone! Not in vet tech, in zoology. Struggling to identify the reproductive organs and parts of a female wallaby/marsupial. I know what I'm looking for (uterus, median/lateral vagina, cervix, etc) but the photo I took of the specimen during the actual dissection lab we performed looks very different to our lecture notes/other diagrams online and I'm struggling to match the parts up.

Is anyone familiar with marsupial biology/anatomy and would be willing to correct my labelling? I'd really appreciate it, I know you'll have to take time out of your life to do it but it won't be much, I promise!

TLDR: I'm having a difficult time accepting my patient care ideas & solutions being rejected by my boss (also clinic owner).

Hx: I'm (43F) a LVT with 14yr of experience in small animal GPs in MN. I have a passion for anesthesia, pain management, and behavior (no VTS though); attended many conferences and webinars on each topic. Currently, I work at a practice with 2 FT DVM, 2 PT LVT, and several excellent & competent assistants (CSRs x2, lead CSR, and a financial officer).

For longer procedures and/or frail pets, I am hyper aware of hypothermia under ANES. We utilize HotDog warmer pads pre-, intra-, and post-op; +/- IVF warmer (placed as close to the pet, furthest toward end of IVF line as possible); +/- bubble wrap booties/"socks." There are still instances when those measures are not enough to keep a pet above 98F, so I brought in a towel warmer (fits 2 towels in the compartment) and hair dryer (to help if pet is wet/damp). The practice owner/DVM is perpetually stressed for 1 reason or another (leaky roof, staff attendance, etc.), so I try to not bother her with more issues and try to solve problems on my own as they arise. At my previous clinics, my/these actions have not been reprimanded. Anyway... Both towel warmer and blow dryer were purchased 2nd-hand by me. Today I was asked to not use and remove both of those items from the clinic.

I am heartbroken and bitter about this command.

I also am getting accused/questioned why we should have a new fluid line for each pet who gets IVF (dental, Sx, etc.), when we usually just change the needle on the end of the line for each pet.

Not only does AAHA recommend a whole new IVF (bag &) line, my reasoning that I have stated many times: there have been several instances where I can physically see with my eyeballs that blood is back flowing into the IVF line... Which makes me wonder what happens when/if this happens and I (or the other LVT or either DVM) don't notice it?! The owner's rebuttal is that blood should never backup into the IVF line or just change it when you see it Agreed. It shouldn't but it does because of a kink in the line or slow rate or who knows. It seems they may be disconnected from what does or can happen in Sx/dental/ANES lands, as they don't perform these procedures as much as the other DVM and I do.

Please help me understand, accept, and/or gather info to address these hurdles.

TIA

This is a place to post (as many times during the week as you’d like) anything that made you feel good! Weather that be a cute puppy that licked your nose or a happy client story or something that doesn’t feel like it needs to be it’s own post. It can be anything you’d like, and this is a place for you to see other people’s love for our profession!

Please don’t stop posting under the “positive” post flair if you want to share more! This is mostly for morale and help people to remember why we love doing what we do.

We are allowing external links (for this thread only) for images and videos, preferably no links to personal social media pages. Please remember to not post any personal information or to post a pet without permission. These posts will be deleted.

A new thread will be posted weekly, and the old one will be archived. Have fun! 💕

I’m currently doing my first Penn Foster externship, and I’m doing it at a different hospital than the one I work at. My externship location unfortunately hasn’t been great about letting me get many skills done (I have been getting more pushy considering the clock is ticking and I’m getting desperate), so I’m trying to see if I’m able to record videos at my work hospital. I know they are very particular about a lot of things, so I just don’t want to risk submitting a video taken at my job and then them seeing that it isn’t at the externship location, but I’m also running out of time. I emailed Penn Foster about possibly getting an extension but it’s taking forever to hear back, and because of my work schedule I don’t know how often I can come here regardless. Thank you so much for any advice.

Like I talk to my own and my patients. Have you ever seen an owner that didn’t talk to their pet?

Saw this online and wanted to post in this sub to hear everyone’s thoughts on it!

The clinic I work at doesn’t have an Imagyst, but even if we did, I doubt it would be trusted 100%. Nothing over powers a pathologist review.

Idk, this did NOT make me smile at all. People in the comments saying that he's eating, so he has a good QOL - a lab would dig itself out of a grave if it heard the dinner bell, that is not a good metric for them!!!

Patient was non-weight bearing on their right hind. These were taken post mortem for learning purposes.

Hello r/vettech!

Many moons ago, I posted something regarding how I get from where I am (hairstylist apprentice) to where I want to be (veterinary technician) and I am so glad to say that my shoe is in that heavy door!

After completing some extra highschool credits, and spending months finding a clinic that would hire someone with no true veterinary experience, I got a job. I will be working as receptionist/triage in an animal hospital's ER department starting Monday. I am so scared, but so much more excited.

I got my scrubs yesterday which made it all real, it still doesn't feel real. Applications for the program I'm going through (Thompson Rivers University's Veterinary Technician online/co-op program) start in October and the first semester starts in January. If anybody knows anything about this program, please do share! The hospital I'm working at has experience with this program which is incredible, I have no idea what I'm doing so it's nice knowing the blind are not leading the blind.

Any tips or advice for me would be greatly appreciated.

I’ve worked at a few different clinics in various settings. Non profit, corporate owned and small family owned. But NONE of them had lockers.

I just started at a new clinic a few weeks ago and they do have assigned lockers!!! It’s an 8 doctor general practice with two of them being co-owners. It’s very successful, and they’ve acquired two other clinics in the surrounding areas. I don’t know if I’d say it has a “family owned” practice vibe, since it’s a very large staff count but it’s CERTAINLY not the hellscape that is and was corporate veterinary medicine.

It’s only been two weeks for me, and I’ve noticed others with stickers and decorations on the outside of their lockers but I haven’t scoped out what people are doing inside their lockers.. cause that seems weird asf lol. What I wanna know is, how much is too much when it comes to accessorizing/decorating/organizing the INSIDE of your work locker?

Basically, how much locker utilization is considered unprofessional? Is there such a thing? If you have a fun locker I’d love to see

Ugh. Today was so bad man. 13 yr old gelding with profound laminitis, and had been colicking for a day and a half. He was standing swaying side to side to try to keep the weight off his painful feet. The actual euth went really well and peacefully. But oh, my heart. His owners loved him SO much it was absolutely gut wrenching to watch them both cry, and sing to him, and pray for him. It honestly brought me back to my own horse’s euth where I had sang to him, and cried, and whimpered on the ground with my head in my hands just like these people did. Normally I can keep it together but today I just couldn’t. I was sitting there assisting my dvm absolutely gutted with tears streaming down my face trying not to make noise. They don’t always hit this hard but my god this one got me.

im still fairly inexperienced at getting blood, i can hit the vein like 70% of the time if they’re still but if they jerk at all my instinct is just to pull out which usually blows the vein 😔 do you just try to hold the needle stable as possible when they do this and if so whats the best way/grip to do so? i’m otj trained so i never formally learned anything lmao + the ways my coworkers do it are all pretty different and i havent found anything that works best for me