A question for all you US folk

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Sue484

Sue484

Member Since 2015
Hi. I see you all talk about seeing a "vet tech" when you go to the vet. Do you not see the vet personally? What is a vet tech? Like a nurse? I don't think I would like that I they bought that system in over here.
 
Vet techs are assistants to the vets...they have to go through special schooling to learn things like how to do blood draws, a lot of the testing, x-rays, learn how to assist in surgery, pre-op preperation....all kinds of things

The vets time is more valuable, and used more for the actual diagnosis and surgery...the vet techs save them time by doing the stuff that's more "busywork" but still very important to the treatment and diagnosis of patients
 
That sounds very much what our nurses do, with the exception that if you book an appointment, you actually see the vet.
 
We have vet techs in Canada too. They do special training and are accredited. Most of the time we see the vet, but you can book yourself in for slightly less expensive services with the vet tech. But sometimes, depending on the patient (like with Neko), the vet insists on being the one to do blood/urine draws. I would think of them as being like a nurse too.
 
Vet techs are not assistants. Vet techs (veterinarian technicians) require an associated degree in schools that offer that program. Vet assistants are trained by the vet and there are not special educational requirements.
 
When you make an appointment to see the vet, you do see the vet. The tech will come in first usually and get a temperature, weigh the pet, things like that. Then you consult with the vet. If he/she orders blood work or wants to give a shot, the tech will come back for those things.

In some vet offices, you can make an appointment just to see the tech if you don't need to see the vet. When I needed to learn how to give fluids at home, it was a tech who taught me.
 
In addition to handling nursing duties and basic-intemediate evaluations, a vet tech is also a surgery assistant, and in some states(ex Ohio, in the USA) and certain cases, may even do neuter surgeries.
 
So our vet nurses do exactly what your techs do apart from see animals on appointments. They do not get involved in appointments unless the vet needs them to hold an animal while they take blood etc. At least I understand now.
 
One thing I like about our practice is that, as a rule, our vet and one of the nursing staff both participate in the consult (even when hands-on support isn't necessary).
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