It feels like there has been this recent surge in owner questions. And it's wild when our top rule is no asking medical questions. I've already seen two askvet cross posted to hear which makes even less sense to our rules.

I know there's not much that can be done. Mods can only do so much being a public subreddit. But it's just frustrating how many people come here for medical advice and don't read the rules and their typically the worst people who rather get free online advice than go to a vet and pay an exam fee. 😓

What jobs have you transitioned to that are still in the field? Specifically jobs that my RVT license is needed/wanted/respected. I’m 42 years old and can’t physically do the clinic jobs anymore. I also can’t justify the low pay and verbal abuse from clients that I once could in my 20s. I’d love to hear where you’ve transitioned to. Is the grass greener over there? Thanks!!

Hey guys!

I've been a VA for 2.5 years after many years in a different field. I started at a cat only clinic but I'm moving to a mixed species clinic very soon. This will be my first time working with dogs so what are some things I can expect? Also I'm moving from a 1 doctor practice to a 6 doctor practice so if you have any tips on working with multiple doctors, I'm all ears for that too!

I'm mostly just looking for bits of advice or things that you were kind of surprised to learn.

Thank you!

Can a Canadian RVT work in the US on a TN visa?

Unpopular opinion but I liked cornerstone. It could 100% be because I’ve used that for the last 4 years or my old practice utilized it well that things were integrated and the flow worked well. I just can’t find a love of instinct. I know it was developed by RVTs and DVMs but it just is not efficient to me. It could also be this Specialty practice isn’t using it to its full potential. It doesn’t talk to WebPacs with Idexx, it doesn’t have automatic calls backs for lab work, you can’t do anything unless the patient is OTW or checked in and if you do do something g it goes to the last exam date. Anyone have any pros about this or maybe I’m missing something?

"O" as in "hot" or "O" as in "boat"?

Hello, this should hopefully be my last post for a while about my dog that many of you have kindly answered since she has her next appointment on Tuesday which is where I intend to take all my medical/non-medical questions, but after my dog's first biopsy was inconclusive (it said no cancer was detected but the specialty vet and my primary vet seem to disagree with that) they're doing another one and I genuinely cannot take another week and a half of waiting especially if she seriously has cancer and that means I wasted all this time not treating it.

My primary vet seemed to believe that since the specialty vet has an oncologist within their practice that they could view the samples the same day or very quickly after. I really don't want to get my hopes up, but I also seriously cannot take another long wait. Does having an oncologist within the practice mean that they can help rush cancer diagnoses? Thank you!

Hello everyone! I am a future vet nursing student and wanted to get a head start on some studying. I got some ads for some vet notes that make it easier to understand. I tried one out but I’m starting to think it was a scam lol. I got the study guide but I was trying to get some add ons and the email I sent it to never responded. Has anyone else experience something like this?

I just got accepted into a 2 year vet tech program as a full time student. I am extremely nervous since I've been out of school now for about a decade. I'm in my 30s and don't have a degree but have experience in the animal field, as I was a supervisor for a doggy daycare/grooming/boarding facility, as well as currently an Animal Health Technician in a lab. What should I expect? Animals are my passion and I am a very driven person but I have ADHD, struggle in a school setting, and am HORRIBLE at test taking. Is the VTNE exam really difficult to pass? How about the classes? Is it a lot of studying? Any concepts that are especially hard to learn? Are there a lot of papers you have to write, what about giving presentations (something that also terrifies me)? The hands on work I am most excited for because I learn best by doing, but I heard it is a lot of book work. It would be great if all questions can be answered. Thank you!

😅

We use an industrial yellow mop bucket and mop and we switch the mop head every day and but the dirty one in the washing machine with bleach or vinegar. It still always smells like urine. We use D500 floor cleaner (canadjan brand made for pet safety) and it works really well so its not the cleaner. We go through so many mop heads it's crazy. Any tips to help reduce urine smell leaching on to the mop?

I really love this sub, it has opened my eyes about the vet tech career and vet medicine in general. At first I got scared and hesitant when reading so many complaints and horror stories about the profession but then I just realized I don’t want to leave this world without at least have tried to make my childhood dream of working with animals come true. I don’t know how the future would look like but I don’t want to regret not to try it at least. With that being said, I would love to know if while attending vet tech school would it be easier to apply to vet assistant part-time positions and get hired? What’s your experience with attending vet school while working in a vet clinic?

hi guys, i recently left a clinic job for one that’s closer to me and would push me to learn more with exotics. as i spend more time with the owner/doctor i’m thinking she’s not happy with my hiring. although the way they work is different from some of the clinics i’ve worked at, i get better and understand their doctor’s preferences by the day. as an end of my first week, she stops me before leaving and tells me “obviously as you might’ve noticed, there’s a lot of things to work on… i expected for you to be in a higher level and be able to read gram stains” she was frank told me that even the lead tech needs a refresher on how to do gram stains and that she’d “work with me” so i can be ready by spring. the frustrating part of this is that i left a clinic that gave really great benefits for a 50 cent pay cut and constant criticism. i have been working in clinics for 6 years, i’ve done emergency and multiple clinics where they saw exotics. i wanted to learn more and improve but the constant nitpicking is getting to me. she got upset for pulling up medication in individual syringes instead of a bottle saying i wasted half of her stock, yet she gives services and medication for free. yesterday, i had to do 3 heartworm treatments and when she asked if i given the first dose of a medication i told her didn’t know but i’ll do it now, she followed me into a room and asks me if i remember her saying this and that, making me feel dumb. i know i had to do it but there was multiple people in the room. i’m okay with criticism but after leaving a shitty job to another one is just making me want to give up on this field. i just want to be respected and supported. i’m taking most if not all the rooms, it’s not fair that she isn’t seeing that and the years of work i’ve collected.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks to get blood from a super low bp / super dehydrated paitent ? Watching multiple pokes and fishing makes me feel bad for the paitent, who is clearly already distressed.. I know it's not the Dr / Techs fault.

I'm still at fresh student. Is there anything I can suggest that might help in this situation ? Thanks in advance !

hey! i do this monthly client awareness sign and it’s mostly related to the season or month (ie last month’s attached). looking for a clever tag line and maybe some ideas for the awareness. i was thinking pancreatitis an/or foreign bodies. TIA :)

What’s everyone using for surgical clippers? Cordless would be preferred but we’re really looking for some good clippers that are less likely to give clipper burn

I’m just laughing/crying over this new policy for callouts my manager just gave us.

If you call out: unless you’re in the hospital, you have a major life/death emergency, or have proof you have a contagious disease, you get a warning. Three warnings and the next one you’re just terminated. Doctor’s notes no longer count- unless it’s one of the reasons above.

It was implemented because of one person. A dude who calls out every other shift like 30 mins beforehand. JUST FIRE HIM! Why does everyone else have to be scared to get fired if they’re sick?? I don’t get it.

My coworker’s kid broke her arm, and she called out to take care of it because she’s a single mom. She told me she got a very stern talking to about “inconveniencing the team” The fuck was she supposed to do??? Have her 5 year old drive herself to the hospital? “Your arm dangling in the air def sucks honey but just figure it out I gotta work”

Another girl I work with has a disability that sometimes affects her physically. She woke up feeling sick, but tested negative for Covid so she got a talking to as well. She was like “I’m not going to go spend $300 at an urgent care when I know it’s related to my condition” which makes perfect logical sense. Apparently not to management. It’s like they’re just asking people to quit.

I’m complaining mainly because I’m not one of the “favorites” of the hospital who get no consequences for their actions. The girl who left 5 hours early the other day because she was “a little tired” (who’s also bffs with one of the nurse managers) will probably be fine 🙃

Hello,

Im an RVT (7 years) andI recently accepted a new job in pet insurance claims, which i am excited about. However i am so sad to leave my current clinical job (unicorn clinic). Leaving just because benefits/lack of advancement Etc. WfH would be amazing for me right now for multiple reasons. I dobt think the pay/benefits can be matched by any clinic in my region. Also ready for a new challenge, as i feel even though i thrive in this hospital, i think i'm at my peak there.

All in all I think this is the right decision, and im very excited about it. People who have done the career change, any words of wisdom? If youve worked in this sector,, how do you like it?

Hello! I’m currently in the US and have been a credentialed veterinary technician for 6 years. I’ve been at the same job and work with small animals (cats/dogs).

Just wondered what it would be like to work in other parts of the world. For those of you that have or currently do.. what are your experiences like? What country do or have you lived and worked? What’s pay like? Can you support yourself? How do you think animal care compares to the US?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer!!

Hi, my name is Darren and I do a little tinkering and building stuff in my garage.

If you had a pet water fountain with no pump, but used a water wheel instead. Super easy to clean in the dishwasher. Which 3 of the following resonate most for you about this new type of pet water fountain?

1. Increases water intake
2. Reduces bacteria growth
3. Easiest to clean
4. Reduces risk of waterborne disease
5. Best for kidney health
6. Longest-lasting motor
7. All parts dishwasher-safe
8. Keeps water pure
9. Keeps water clean
10. Keeps water fresh

I’m new to this field, no experience at all. I’ve started working at a shelter but it’s only been a week and I’m making so many mistakes. What’s worse is they’re the SAME mistakes on the same day. The head vet once told me that medications administered at night can be administered in the morning because it’s past the 12+ hour cycle. Or at least I heard that, I remember badgering him if I really can do that and he said yes.

By the next morning, I administered medication to three cats (transdermal ear cream for one cat, a pain relief injection for the second, and half an antifungal tab for the third cat) but I was wrong and shouldn’t have done that.

I really upset him and the face he made nearly made me burst into tears. He told me I can’t keep doing this, which is ofc reasonable. I still hate how sad I got.

I still struggle with pilling by hand especially with angrier cats, and I’m so slow at wards that I once took a whole 3 hours to clear out infectious and general wards with just 24 cats instead of the allocated one hour to clear both. I take so LONG to administer medication and IVs by myself and clean out each kennel during these rounds. It’s so embarrassing. I keep forgetting how to draw from bottles with bottle adapters, and I still struggle with acronyms and the handwriting of different vets. We all use 3 shared iPads for the treatment sheets and my notes keeps disappearing when it glitches. I have to keep checking it once every while. Just when I think I finally got the file to save what I wrote, I check again and it’s disappeared. I check a third time and it’s gone again. I even forget which side of the kennel the litter box goes. Everyone else says they do it on one side then the other but my head vet only likes it done a certain way. But I overthink it and forget then ask another tech bc the vet is out and they say anywhere and I’m like fuck!! Shit!! I keep forgetting. I write it down but I still overthink it and doubt myself.

I even keep getting confused at simple ratios for ONE LITRE chemical sprays because the ratio on the bottle says e.g, 1:100 but one tech says to only go by 900 but another says she goes by 700. When I go in between 800, different people get disappointed.

My hands shake when my vet watches me (as he should because he’s guiding me) administer injections, and he sighed and took over many times. I can’t even flip through the drug log fast enough and keep freezing up when I have to take some time to decode their handwriting.

I took a/d wet food when the chart said wet food but they meant the non-prescription wet food, but the cats have already eaten the a/d. I even forget to wash out the sinks??! I have to take pictures of the cats’ ID numbers and kennel because I can’t memorise which kennel has who (the kennels only have the kennel number and no ID number)!

I take so fucking long to do things! It’s actually crazy how long I need to do things. I haven’t even started on blood draws or assisting the vet in surgery and I’m already so shit. I’m so scared because I know mistakes are inevitable, but I’m already screwing up so badly. I KNOW this field is mistake-sensitive but with the way I’m performing rn, it scares me even more.

The only issue I think I can somehow be upset about is when I ask questions, I get different answers or they don’t answer the question, I think I really am the problem bc it keeps happening. I try to repeat the question or rephrase myself to help them understand, but I can tell I’m wasting their time because they’re always needed somewhere. I even ask the same questions over and over again because I’m not confident in myself, and it must be so annoying for them, like one of them even said, “Why do you keep asking that?” Another issue is the fact that 2 iPads are shared between 6 rooms. I have to run around like a headless chicken asking if there are any iPads I can use. If there aren’t any, I have to stand there and wait until one frees up, which eats into my time to make ward rounds.

I try to write everything down, but everything is too fast for me, and when I ask them to slow down, I eventually end up asking to slow them even more but they don’t have the time. I write information on masking tape and stick it on non-ward walls, then it disappears because someone took it off. I try to tell them it’s for me to remember but they all asked me to refer to the treatment sheets on glitchy iPads. I just can’t remember shit. I’ve worked with exotic rescues and even horses, but I struggle with cats and dogs? What the hell. I actually feel sick with myself. I really am my worst enemy, and it’s affecting other people. I don’t think I can do this anymore.

Hey, does anyone know a good joke about/from vet med?

We have a psychiatrist as a client who recently started telling us jokes about his profession and now he wants to hear some from us, the next time he comes for his appointment. We quite like him, so we really thought about it, but there wasn't really much that came to mind. We could only think about funny stories that happened at work, but jokes? Not really

So if you know a good one, I would appreciate it

I'm in no way a vet or vet nurse, I pet sit currently and I want to be a vet nurse in the future. I've done work experience in vet clinics and seen Surgery's euthanasia and consults etc. But the smell of death I guess? Really bothers me its the same in every clinic and I can smell it whether the animal is still alive or not. We had a cavalier spaniel come in and I smelt it. The dog clearly had heart problems and it had the same smell and not 10 minutes later it became clear it was dying. It smells like passionfruit and mango? I smell it not just in the vets but it makes me feel so sick, not because it's a bad smell but I know what it means. I smell it after euthanasia but sometimes I can smell it before the animal has beem put down and they've always died if not that day the next. Does anyone else smell it? I tried to talk to a vet about it and they looked at me like I was abit crazy. If you do smell it how do you deal with it not just at work but in everyday life? It's so sweet it makes me sick and the best way to describe it is mango and Passion fruit mogu mogu drink (which I cannot stand because of all this) if anyone's had it lol.

Thanks

I anesthetized my cat for a dental. The docs I work with and I strongly suspected she had FORL lesions which ended up not being the case. We utilized Zorbium as part of the pre-med for pain control and she didn't need it. I feel bad for her cause she's currently spaced out.

We've started to use Zorbium more in my clinic over the last couple of years but it's still relatively new to me. And although I utilize it for many patients and advise owners, I'm nervous when it comes to my own :/

Is there any downside to using Zorbium in a cat that didn't clinically need pain control? Will she just be high and it gradually wear off?

Anyone have app recommendations that are for studying, flash cards, etc but that aren’t for the VTNE that cost money? Not in school currently but still would like to study here & there