Everyone:

Here is a Guide that every pet owner can use:  http://www.petsitters.org/cfincludes/MemberCenter/pdfs/DPPetOwner.pdf

Please download, print and keep for emergency purposes.

If a member of your (human) family got sick or hurt or had a condition that demanded expert care, you’d ask your doctor for a referral to a specialist—someone who could offer treatments beyond what your GP could provide.

And now, if your dog needs care beyond the scope of your regular veterinarian’s practice, you can do the same thing for him.

Specialists can take over where standard veterinary care leaves off because they have specific education and hands-on experience over and above that of most general practice vets, says Nancy Kay, DVM, a board-certified specialist in small animal internal medicine in Rohnert Park, Calif., and author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life (2008). “Veterinary specialists have spent two or more years of in-depth residency training, often receiving one-on-one guidance from clinicians who are experts in their fields,” she says. “That’s where they learn how to deal with challenging cases.”

Veterinary specialists—experts in everything from anesthesia to zoological medicine—were all but unheard of when most of us were young (and romping with the dogs of our childhood). The first specialties were recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in the 1950s, when the association established the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) to serve as an umbrella organization for all AVMA-recognized specialty groups.

Today, the ABVS represents 39 distinct specialties, which are practiced by members of 20 specialty organizations, some of which encompass several disciplines (for example, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, or ACVIM, covers large and small animal internal medicine, plus oncology, cardiology and neurology). More than 9,000 U.S. veterinarians—roughly 9 percent of all vets in the country—are card-carrying members, or board-certified diplomates, of these organizations. To obtain diplomate status, a vet must complete postgraduate coursework and residency and pass a certification exam. In some cases, that means several years of additional training after vet school.

In addition to the AVMA-recognized specialty groups, a few organizations offer specialized training and certification to vets who have added physical rehabilitation and various types of alternative medicine to their practices. (See sidebar.)

Extra Credit
While the specific requirements for diplomate status vary, virtually all require a veterinarian to take additional coursework and complete an internship (or its equivalent in active veterinary practice).

The expertise demanded of specialty veterinarians is especially important in veterinary medicine, because vets—unlike human doctors—can legally perform any accepted procedure on your dog, says Mitch Robbins, DVM, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) who practices at the Veterinary Specialty Center in Buffalo Grove, Ill. “If you needed surgery, your doctor is required to refer you to a surgeon,” he says. “He can’t just operate on you himself. But if your dog needs surgery, your regular vet can do it himself. The question isn’t whether he can perform the procedure—it’s whether he is the best person to do it.”

Another issue is equipment—high-tech radiology, neurosurgery and diagnostic machines that specialists have (and general practice vets almost never do). Specialists have received training on this equipment and are well versed in the latest therapies and technologies, says Patty Khuly, VMD, a general-practice veterinarian in Miami, Fla. “They’ve invested in the kinds of equipment that I wouldn’t buy for my practice,” she says. “Of course, there are good and not-so-good specialists just like there are good and not-so-good general practitioners, but, generally speaking, specialists are at least four years ahead of everybody else. Veterinary medicine is advancing very quickly, so four years represents an awful lot.”

Specialization in veterinary medicine is definitely growing, as more pet owners are looking for advanced care and more veterinarians are choosing to tackle it: According to the AVMA, almost 40 percent of 2007’s veterinary school graduates enrolled in targeted post-graduate coursework, internships and residencies, up from just 15 percent in 1995. And despite the current economic situation—and the fact that a specialist will almost always cost more than a family veterinarian (generally about twice as much, says Dr. Robbins)—owners are keeping them busy. They can be found throughout the country, at major veterinary teaching hospitals as well as clinics, many of which offer a few different types of specialty care along with 24-hour emergency services.

When to Get a Specialist
Most often, a specialist will see clients who have been referred by their primary veterinarians, although owners also wind up there after bringing their dogs into a specialty hospital for emergency care.

Most general practice veterinarians will readily suggest a specialist in cases that are beyond their area of expertise, says Dr. Khuly. “A few vets might want to do everything in-house, or they might feel that the client wouldn’t want to see a specialist for financial or other reasons, but most routinely make referrals,” she says. The phenomenon is much like the one in human medicine, she says. “The general practitioner is your go-to person for everyday issues, but the specialist is who you see for more complicated problems.”

For example, your family vet might suggest you see a specialist for treatment of a known disease or condition (such as heart rhythm abnormalities or diabetes), says Dr. Kay. You also might be sent to a specialist if your dog isn’t getting better—or is getting worse—despite the treatment he’s currently getting. Dr. Kay also recommends seeking a specialist for a second opinion, or if you just want to feel more certain about your dog’s care or have a “gut feeling” that he might need more than your family vet can provide.

You also might want to consult a specialist if your dog needs diagnostic procedures beyond the run-of-the-mill temperature readings and blood work that your regular vet provides. For example, endoscopy—a nonsurgical method of evaluating a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal or urinary tract or removing growths or tissue for biopsy—is generally left to the specialists, says Dr. Kay. “Some general practitioners perform endoscopy procedures, but unless they’ve received extensive training, they won’t have nearly the experience that a specialist in internal medicine does.”

Seeking Out Surgeons
By far the most common reason dog owners seek specialists (and the most common reason that general practice vets make referrals) is for surgery. “Most family veterinarians know that they can’t perform a total hip replacement, and they’re not about to take out a big scary cancer mass,” says Dr. Khuly. “They know that they have limits, and so they’ll refer those cases to a surgeon.”

If your veterinarian recommends taking your dog to a surgeon (or if you think you should see one for a second opinion), do your homework—on both the surgeon and the surgery that your vet has recommended—before the consultation, says Dr. Kay. Find out if he’s board certified, and ask about his experience in cases like your dog’s. Be sure to bring your dog’s medical records, including the latest x-rays, lab results and prescriptions, to the appointment.

When you meet with a surgeon, Dr. Robbins recommends asking the following questions:

•Are there any other options that we could consider? What’s the advantage of surgery over nonsurgical options?

•What can I do to ensure that my dog will be a good candidate for this procedure? Are there additional tests that should be performed (such as “staging” of cancer)?

•What are the risks and possible complications? What is the prognosis for my dog, considering his age and overall health?

•What will the aftercare involve? Will my dog need to remain in the hospital immediately after the surgery (and does your hospital provide 24/7 care)? Do I need to buy special equipment, like an orthopedic bed or baby gates for the stairs? How much post-operative rehabilitation will he need and what will it entail?

“In my opinion, any time you’re talking about a surgical procedure that has some complexity to it, the least you should do—at least, what I would do—is talk to a surgeon,” says Dr. Robbins. “The ‘second opinion’ is the basis of specialized medicine in humans, and it’s the best way for you to be an advocate for your dog. You always want to know if there’s something new or better that could be done to manage your dog’s condition and give him a better quality of life.”

Special Interests
Here are some of the more popular specialties, and the conditions that they address.

• Acupuncture. Vets are certified by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) and can treat arthritis and other musculoskeletal problems, plus skin, respiratory and gastrointestinal problems.
• Behavior. Diplomates are certified by the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) and treat behavioral issues, such as aggression or anxiety, that are often tied to a dog’s overall health.
• Canine and Feline Medicine. Diplomates are certified by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP), which offers certification for general practitioners who focus on dogs and cats. (ABVP also certifies equine, dairy, avian and other practices.)
• Chiropractic. Vets are certified by Animal Chiropractic Certification Commission (ACCC) and treat various types of muscle, nerve and joint pain as well as digestive and other internal medicine problems.
• Dentistry. Diplomates are certified by the American Veterinary Dental College (AVDC) and treat conditions involving the teeth and mouth.
• Internal medicine. Diplomates are certified by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in small or large animal internal medicine, cardiology, oncology or neurology, and treat internal medicine disorders, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and neurological problems.
• Ophthalmology. Diplomates are certified by the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) and treat diseases and injuries involving the eye.
• Radiology. Diplomates are certified by the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) and provide imaging services or cancer treatment (radiation oncologists).
• Physical Rehabilitation. Vets are certified by the Canine Rehabilitation Institute and provide physical rehabilitation after accidents or surgery.
  

Second Opinion Etiquette
Going for a second opinion? Nancy Kay, DVM, Diplomate, ACVIM, and author of Speaking for Spot  tells us how to serve our dogs’ best interests as well as maintain harmony with his health care team.

• If your primary-care veterinarian didn’t provide the referral, be sure to let her know what you’re doing. (Plus, how else will the specialist have access to your dog’s medical records?) Avoid the impulse to “sneak out” for a second opinion for fear of hurting your vet’s feelings. Unless she’s fresh out of school, this won’t be the first time a client has requested another opinion, and it won’t be the last. Remember, your vet’s foremost concern should be your dog’s health, not her own feelings. This is part of the oath we all take when we enter the profession.
• Arrive early for the appointment with the specialist. There will be paperwork to complete, which can be a 10- to 15-minute process, or even longer if the receptionist is busy.
• Have a legible copy of your dog’s recent and relevant medical records, including all laboratory data, imaging studies (x-rays, ultrasound evaluations, CT and MRI scans), ECGs (electrocardiogram tracings) and doctor’s notes. It really helps when this material is arranged in chronological order. Icing on the cake is a legible summary prepared by your family vet. Remember, a stack of invoices is not a substitute for your dog’s medical record.
• Bring all of your dog’s current and recent medications so the specialist can read the actual prescription labels. Just like human doctors, vets often have lousy handwriting, so details from a printed label are usually more reliable.
• As tempting as it may be to tell the specialist everything your family vet has told you, hold back and give her a chance to draw her own conclusions by asking her own questions.

 

Halloween Safety Tips

No Scaredy Cats This Halloween:

Top 10 Safety Tips for Pet Parents

Attention, animal lovers, it's almost the spookiest night of the year! The ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet saying "trick or treat!" all the way to November 1.
1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.
3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.
5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.
6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana.
7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.
8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.
9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.
10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increaing the chances that he or she will be returned to you

Does your dog bark or growl and lunge at other dogs while you’re walking him on a leash?

This is a very common problem in under-socialized, nervous or anxious dogs. Immediately when your dog sees another dog and barks, he gets an adrenaline reward.  Not only are  bark-and-lunge explosions stressful for you, but also for your dog. In addition, from your dog’s point of view the aggressive display seems to work pretty well–after all, the other dog always goes away.

That means every time your dog blows up, he becomes a little likelier to try the same tactic next time. So until you can get good professional help, keep your dog out of trouble as much as you can. Dogs have but two options. Flight or Fight: Flight is to run away or avoid, but this isn’t an option when on lead.  So the only option left is to fight, by barking and acting aggressively.

It’s best for your dog to avoid encounters altogether by teaching him to ignore other dogs completely when walking on leash, unless specifically stopped on cue, told to sit, and stay and wait for permission to approach and greet.  The absolutely more problematic, most difficult way for dogs to meet and greet is on leash.

Once a dog’s mind passes a certain level of arousal, he can’t hear you, everything is oblivious except the other dog. At his peak he may as well be deaf, will not eat treats and does not feel any tugging on the leash. He has become possessed.

He can’t learn a new behavior at his peak of arousal; his learning environment needs to be in your yard absent of any distractions.

If your dog could act naturally and calmly around other dogs he would.  But, he must be taught in the quiet of your own home and yard, without distractions.  Dogs need active behaviors they can perform in place of their usual bad behavior.

As you begin modifying his behavior, consider the following:

Treatment depends on how established this problem has become.
Teaching your dog to focus on you is vital.
Your dog should learn that when he’s on leash, he should walk past and ignore other dogs. There is no reason to meet and greet.
Teach a desirable alternate behavior. So it can’t be just the absence of the bad behavior, as dogs don’t understand voids.  You need to give him something else to do instead.
The new behavior must be ingrained into your dog’s head for at least several weeks before expecting him to be able to listen to you in the presence of another dog at a distance.
Reward the calm before the storm. Reward your dog before the barking starts and he may be able to happily walk past the distraction without reacting at all. By praising quiet, you may avoid noise all together.
Act the way you want your dog to act. If you want him to be relaxed, calm and happy – move, speak and touch him as if you are relaxed, calm and happy.
Try a Head Halter. These can be helpful when used properly and make on-leash management much easier on the dog and human. The way to use most head halters is to use a smooth upward pressure to stop forward movement and to help redirect the dog. Release all pressure immediately when the dog sits or calms.
Don’t set your dog up for failure. If you can avoid a situation that is likely to be a problem, avoid it. Turn around and go a different direction, walk a different route, or walk at a time of day when you won’t encounter your dog’s trigger. Repeating failure won’t help your dog improve.
Choke collars, pinch collars, and shock collars are designed to stop dogs from barking by causing pain. The dog might stop barking because it hurts, but this won’t decrease the dog’s frustration. In fact, the association with pain can cause the dog to DISLIKE other dogs and ultimately behave AGGRESSIVELY toward other dogs.
With patience, redirection, and praise, your dog can learn how to act appropriately when encountering other dogs during his walk.

Cancer Fighting Foods for Dogs BY DOGGEEK 



A DogGeek.com exclusive by Teresa Barker

It’s estimated that nearly one in three dogs will be affected by cancer, and of those affected, nearly half will die. Because of these alarming rates, it’s important to know what kinds of foods may support your dog’s health and even reduce their risk. Many of the great “superfoods” beneficial to your dog’s health are also “superfoods” for you. So have fun incorporating new healthy snacks into your dog’s diet, and please pass the blueberries!

The Heavy-Hitters (foods high in vitamins, carotenoids, and bioflavonoids)
Carrots, apples (no cores, stems or seeds), berries (no stems), celery, figs, tomatoes, and apricots (no pits) are all fantastic. Always opt for organic, as consuming the chemicals sprayed on “conventional” produce defeats the purpose. Also, avoid onions, grapes, raisins, and chocolate.

Going Green
All dark, leafy greens, grasses, and plants (like broccoli) are fantastic for you both! Gently steaming veggies, or using a food processor helps your dog digest them easier, allowing their bodies to absorb the maximum amount of nutrients and chlorophyll. As long as you don’t spray your lawn with chemicals or pesticides, even your grass can be a good source of chlorophyll. Spinach, kale, parsley, asparagus, wheatgrass, and algea (yes, algea) are all at the top of their class in the chlorophyll department. Again, always opt for organic.

Gradually adding nutritious, cancer-fighting foods into your dog’s daily routine can be fun and easy, and may just motivate you to add them to your own diet. If you’re already starting your day with a green drink and eating veggies with every meal, it will be easy to share with your pooch, knowing how it might just save her life! Start slowly and try using whole, fresh foods in place of processed snacks. In no time, your dog will be begging for carrots!

What are the Benefits of using a Pet Sitter?

Advantages for the pet include:

• remaining in a familiar, secure environment, where all the sights, smells, and sounds are familiar.
   
  
  
• following a customary diet and exercise routine.
   
  
  
• not being traumatized by travel in a vehicle.
   
  
  
• most importantly, the pet receives love and personal attention while the owner is away.
  
  

There are benefits for the pet owner as well, some of which are:

• you won't be inconvenienced or upset by transporting your pet.
   
  
  
• you don't have to impose upon a friend, neighbor or relative (who sometimes forget).
   
  
  
• your home is made more secure by the crime-deterring measures provided by most pet sitting services.
   
  
  
• the pet owner can leave home with the confidence that his or her pet is in capable, caring hands.
   
  
  
• you can utilize other special services offered, such as watering plants, bringing in the mail and paper, taking trash to the curb for pick-up and filling bird feeders. Also, if your pet becomes ill, your pet sitter will take it to the vet to be seen.
  
  

 

8 Reasons All Work Places Should Have an Office Cat
POSTED BY DEVAN MCGUINNESS

There are some huge perks for being able to work from home and one of the biggest is that I get to dictate what happens in my office.

I love the flexibility it gives to my day and being able to have all the comforts of my home while I work. One of those comforts is definitely having my cats around. There is something about them that just brings a calm to me. They will come over and say HI. They will purr and sit on my lap and generally they make my day much more enjoyable.

I happen to believe that most offices would benefit from having an office pet or two. I can only imagine it having a positive effect on the workplace and you know, there is not enough kitten-interaction time in the day anyway.

1)The Perfect Supervisor  Workers will be on their best behaviour with these eyes of disappointment staring at them. 


2) Can Be In Charge of Securtity Cats can be scary when needed. They would be amazing to have on hand if you need to fire someone or if you need to beef up security.
3)Reason to Keep Things Tidy No one wants to put the kitty in danger .
 
4)They Know How to Throw a Party No one throws a party like a cat!
5) Productivity Will Be Up No one will want to leave the office so employees will work later and they will come in earlier to greet their little friend. 
6) They Can Help With the Mundane Tasks An extra set of hands (or in this case, paws) can be helpful.
7) Dress Code Will Improve No one wants to be upstaged by a kitty with good taste so there's no doubt employee dress code will be improved. 
8) Keep Tabs on Breaks If you have employees who never get a chance to take their break, that's where kitty comes in. They will make sure you get your time off by sitting on your keyboard. It's kind of their thing.
Keep Tabs on Breaks

Photo hosted on Imgur Gallery. Used with permission

by Nathan J. Winograd 

The American Humane Association bills itself as “the nation’s ‘voice’ for the protection of animals.” And it claims that,

One of the important ways American Humane helps protect animals is by educating and training people how to provide the best animal care possible. Throughout the year, we host trainings nationwide for animal welfare professionals and for all people who love animals and want to make a difference in their well-being.

What kind of training does AHA provide for those who might want to “make a difference” in the “well-being” of animals? Every year, AHA hosts “Euthanasia by Injection” workshops where shelter employees from across the nation come together to learn how to kill animals. “Whether you’ve never performed euthanasia or have years of experience with it,” says AHA, everyone is welcome—including those who will use the knowledge to kill healthy and treatable animals. AHA holds the workshops at regressive shelters across the country—so there are plenty of animals on hand to kill.

Imagine it. A hall filled with people who are there to learn one thing: how to kill the dogs and cats. And although on the very same website that AHA advertises this workshop you can read their official position against dissection which states that dissection is wrong because it teaches children “that it is all right to disregard another’s life for the sake of learning,” this philosophy apparently doesn’t apply to them. And even though it is not the job of an “animal protection” group to teach people how to kill, at this workshop, not only will AHA teach you how to kill real animals, not only will they “catch you up” on the “latest techniques and drugs,” they’ll teach you how to kill animals in a variety of ways, too.

They’ll teach you how to inject animals with poison in the vein. They will teach you how to inject animals with poison in the gut. And they will teach you how to inject animals with poison straight into the heart.  And in case the animals you are killing realize that you are in fact trying to kill them and fight back, AHA will show you how to restrain them so you can get the job done. And then, when you think it’s all over and that the animal you just poisoned is dead, they will teach you how to verify that you did, in fact, kill him, just to make sure more poison isn’t required.

And what happens if you have a moment of clarity about what is actually happening—about how an organization that claims to be about helping animals is teaching you with precise detail how to kill them—and your conscience protests? What then? Not to worry. AHA will soothe your guilt by teaching you how to smother your compassion. With “an entire section” of the conference devoted to dealing with “the unique stress felt by those who perform euthanasia,” they’ll lull you back into a state of complacency and assure you that you are, in fact, a hero for helping create that pile of dead dogs and cats. They’ll teach you to regard any empathy you might have felt for your victims not as a plea from your better nature to reject killing, but as a pesky case of what they call “compassion stress.”

And when the weekend draws to a close and the two days of poisoning animals is nearing its end, when you’ve successfully watched other people kill animals without trying to stop them and you’ve even proven that you have what it takes to kill animals yourself, you won’t leave empty handed. AHA will make sure that your memories of their conference—of that horrifying weekend when you and other people from across the country came together in a hall to kill innocent animals behind closed doors—will last a lifetime. You will get a certificate that proves you are an AHA-certified killer so that everyone who sees it will know exactly what you are capable of doing.

It is true; No Kill shelter employees must also learn how to kill, even if it is just for irremediably suffering and non-rehabilitatable animals. When I ran the No Kill animal control shelter in Tompkins County, New York, I refused to send employees to similar workshops because they used healthy and treatable animals. And they were trained on the job with animals who were suffering, the way those who learn about human medicine are taught at teaching hospitals. Because it was a No Kill shelter saving 93 percent of all animals, what AHA promises to teach in a weekend took months, in some cases a year. But no one complained or would have had it any other way. And why would they? They were specifically hired for their love animals and because of that, it simply would not have occurred to them that it should be any other way. Moreover, unlike AHA, I would never have trained someone who would use that knowledge to kill healthy and treatable animals.

——————--

Recognizing Valued Members of the Veterinary Health Care TeamIn the United States and Canada, veterinary technicians and animal health technologists are being recognized the week of October 14–20, 2012, as important members of the animal health care team. These dedicated individuals work in veterinary medicine throughout both countries, and are extremely important to providing high-quality patient care.




During this week, we express our appreciation and acknowledge and congratulate all veterinary technicians and animal health technologists for all they do to enhance the health and well-being of animals.

“Veterinary technicians are becoming more and more integral to the veterinary health care team,” says Dr. Kelly Black, director of Distance Education for the Veterinary Technology Program (DEVTP) at Cedar Valley College in Lancaster, Texas.

United States Veterinary Technician’s Oath

I solemnly dedicate myself to aiding animals and society by providing excellent care and services for animals, by alleviating animal suffering, and promoting public health. I accept my obligations to practice my profession conscientiously and with sensitivity, adhering to the profession’s Code of Ethics, and furthering my knowledge and competence through a commitment to lifelong learning.

“While the veterinarians are the ones making decisions on what treatments or diagnostics each patient needs, the technicians are the ones that are performing these tasks. Veterinary technicians’ responsibilities can range from a basic physical exam to administering and monitoring anesthesia,” Black notes.

Veterinary and animal health technicians are taught the basic principles of normal and abnormal health parameters needed to handle and care for all kinds of animals. Tasks they perform include drawing blood and running blood tests, analyzing biological samples like skin scrapings and urinalysis, cleaning teeth, giving medications, dressing wounds, applying splints and performing ear flushes.

“Technicians are frequently the first point of contact for clients and a major source of high-quality client education. They are trained to give information in preventative health care and recommendations that will help keep pets healthy.

“They increase the health care of pets in the hospital that are sick or undergoing surgery, by being able to monitor each pet for problems while the veterinarian is seeing other patients or doing procedures,” Black says.

Technicians also assist veterinarians during surgical procedures by placing catheters, providing equipment and instruments, and making sure the monitoring and support equipment is working properly.

They’re trained to run anesthesia and to monitor patients, recording multiple parameters including pulse, temperature, respiration and blood pressure. They maintain treatment and medical records, drug inventory, equipment and supplies, and help with many other tasks in the veterinary practice.

Some of the only things they can’t do are diagnose, perform surgery and prescribe medications. “Technicians are involved in some way in every aspect of veterinary care for every procedure performed in a veterinary hospital,” says Black.

Before veterinary technician training programs were created in the 1960s, veterinarians did most of the work themselves or hired students and office workers to feed the animals, clean cages, help answer phones and run the office. As animal health care and technology has evolved, there’s been an increased need for well-educated and trained technicians to take on greater responsibilities in the veterinary hospital.

“I have seen the role of technicians expand greatly in the last 10–15 years,” Black says. “In the last 2 decades, there has been a great expansion of not only the duties of technicians, but their education as well.”

A desire to work with animals is what draws individuals to become veterinary technicians. And getting an education and training is an important part of becoming a veterinary technician. Credentialed veterinary and animal health technicians must earn a 2-year associate’s or higher degree in veterinary technology from an accredited school.

Courses include intensive study in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, clinical techniques, pharmacology, anesthesiology, surgical and medical nursing, radiology, parasitology and clinical pathology.

Students must also pass an in-depth national or state examination, and demonstrate specific knowledge and skills competency to become credentialed.

In the United States, credentialed veterinary technicians are registered (RVT), licensed (LVT) or certified (CVT), depending on their state’s requirements. In Canada, a veterinary technician is called an animal health technician (AHT), and some provinces require technicians to be registered (RAHT).

To maintain their credentialed status, technicians are also required to practice lifelong learning through continuing education and to uphold high ethical standards.

Veterinary medicine has evolved to the point where the same high-tech options for testing and treating illnesses and diseases for people are available for our pets. Depending on their scope of practice and training, veterinary technicians may operate diagnostic screening equipment, including electrocardiographic (ECG), radiographic (X-ray) and ultrasonographic instruments, and even more advanced diagnostic machines like computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imagers (MRI) and gamma cameras.

Credentialed veterinary technicians can work in a variety of areas, including animal hospitals, laboratories, universities, animal shelters, research facilities and corporations, like drug companies and animal food firms.

“We have seen the rise of specialties within the profession where technicians can gain advanced knowledge and training in more specialized areas such as behavior, anesthesia or a species specialty,” says Black.

Advanced training is available for a veterinary technician who wants to become a veterinary technician specialist (VTS). Becoming a VTS requires additional training to receive credentials in one of the 10 specialties recognized by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (navta.net) and described by the Veterinary Technician website (veterinarytechnician.com/specialties):

• Anesthesia specialty technicians use anesthesia and pain medications to lessen or eliminate discomfort during medical procedures. Their duties include preparing and administering anesthesia under the veterinarian’s supervision, adjusting drug dosages as necessary during surgery and assisting animals with recovery from anesthesia.
• Surgical specialty technicians assist with common surgical procedures such as orthopedic or soft-tissue surgeries and maintain the operating and recovery areas, clean and prepare surgical instruments and medical equipment, administer anesthesia or other presurgery medications, and perform postsurgical care.
• Internal medicine specialty technicians usually pursue a subspecialty, such as cardiology, neurology or oncology, or focus specifically on large or small animals.
• Dental specialty technicians provide dental services to all types of animals, usually under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
• Emergency and critical care specialty technicians work in hospitals or urgent care settings addressing emergencies, and observe and treat animals with critical illnesses.
• Behavior specialty technicians facilitate human–animal cooperation and bonding, from domestic pet training to working with zoos and wildlife. Specialists can also focus on animal therapy, behavior modification, or research and education.
• Zoo specialty technicians are trained in all aspects of zoological medicine, from basic health care to dentistry and diagnostic work.
• Equine specialty technicians focus on horse health and wellness, which usually requires certain physical abilities to handle and treat horses.
• Clinical practice specialty technicians typically work in private practice, specializing in canines and felines, exotic companion animals or farm animals.
• Nutrition specialty technicians specialize in basic animal nutrition, along with providing additional care related to food allergies and special nutritional needs.

“I think the future for veterinary technicians looks very bright. Most states (and provinces) either have, or are moving toward recognizing veterinary technicians as the professionals they are and requiring licensure or certification for them,” says Black.

“The veterinary profession as a whole is just starting to realize the benefits of having highly trained technicians and seeing that those veterinary practices that employ technicians have higher productivity and higher client satisfaction.

“Because this is a relatively young profession, there is a great vacuum that needs to be filled by capable professionals. Clients are demanding higher-quality health care for their pets, and technicians are the key to that. There are so many areas that technicians contribute to in the veterinary industry that the job possibilities are quite varied and extensive.”