Registered vs Unregistered Technicians

Veterinary Technicians, to clarify.

I know you can be an "understudy" to be a technician but you are NOT a certified technician unless you take and pass your boards.

My question is... would you, as a pet owner, want an unregistered technician working on or with your animal?

Technicians are NOT legally supposed to diagnose, prognose, operate or prescribe. I read about some vet techs who never had any schooling and regularly perform routine surgeries such as spays, neuters, and declaws.

How comfortable are you with this???

Would you want an unregistered nurse doing "routine" operations on your child???

Not only that, but I'm not sure if it's technically illegal or not but having unregistered technicians working at a practice is a HUGE legal liability because if that technician does something wrong and hurts an animal and the practice gets sued, guess who is gonna be liable and lose in court? The Dr.

I just never understood how this poses such a humongous insurance liability yet some practices still allow unregistered technicians to do stuff like that! It makes me wonder now if the vets I've brought my pets to before, if I've been dealing with licensed techs or not. It's really kinda scary actually.

I WILL be registered, and I STILL won't be able to perform operations! Assist, yes, but perform, NO WAY!

PS: Sorry if this belongs in the dog house instead... wasn't quite sure where it would fit.

My Aunt is not certified and she gets to do all the stuff you mentioned. I am studying to become a vet tech as well, and she wants me to work at the same place she is, but honestly, I'm not all too comfortable working at a place that let's uncertified vet techs do stuff like that. I really don't agree with it. And my Aunt only had 3 months of schooling and then she quit! :eek: I really don't want someone like that working on my animals. I totally believe in on-the-job experience but c'mon people have at LEAST a couple years of schooling first! Then at least you might have a clue as to what you're doing when you are ASSISTING with surgeries. I think it should be mandatory that all vet techs become certified before doing any kind of vet tech jobs.

I am going to become certified as well.

To the best of my knowledge my vet does not allow the vet techs to do any of the things you mentioned. Obviously I do not know what goes on behind the closed doors, but outwardly it appears that the vet techs are there to assist and support only. As you said, ultimately, it is the doctor who is and should be held responsible for the care that the animal receives at his/her office. It all comes down to how much you trust your vet.

It actually kind of angers me to think about it, because I'm payin thousands and thousands of dollars for my schooling and then you have people who just think "Oh I'll work at a clinic and get to play with dogs and cats and help the vet!" and don't ever pay a dime for schooling, and yet do stuff like perform routine surgeries! I'm not even talking about performing surgeries with the vet there, I'm talking about on their own!!!!! That absolutely APPALLS me that a veterinarian would allow something like that to happen in their clinic when THEY will be held responsible!!

So just as a warning to all you pet lovers and owners out there (well, all of us... lol) to maybe ask your vet about their technicians, make sure they're certified and make sure they are NOT performing any duties they are not legally allowed to be doing. If anything goes wrong, you can sue the living bejesus out of that vet for... well, malpractice.

Well, I don't know about your state laws but, Techs can not prescribe
or dispense meds let alone perform operations in Indiana. My Vets even
display the Vet Techs licenses on the wall of the office.

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Originally Posted by lizbud

Well, I don't know about your state laws but, Techs can not prescribe
or dispense meds let alone perform operations in Indiana. My Vets even
display the Vet Techs licenses on the wall of the office.

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I'm pretty sure it's illegal throughout the entire US... since it's regulated by a nation-wide program/association. Can't remember the name off-hand. Can look it up...

OK, it's the AVMA, American Veterinary Medical Association. Each state writes its own act, BUT the AVMA writes the Veterinary Practice Act, which basically helps to standardize the roles of the veterinarian, veterinarian technician and veterinary assistant.

The Veterinary Practice Act defines a technician's role as:

Veterinary Technicians may perform all duties of animal care and treatment EXCEPT:
1) Prescribe
2) Operate/Perform Surgery
3) Diagnose
4) Prognose

EDIT: The Veterinary Practice Act for Utah, I'm assuming: http://www.dopl.utah.gov/laws/58-28.pdf

That's crazy. I didn't know you can legally become a vet technician if you aren't certified. :eek: I would NOT be comfortable with this at all. I'd much rather have a Veterinarian preform an operation on my animal then even a certified Vet tech. To my knowledge Vets go to school for 8 years, and Vet tech go to school for 4 years. I can't understand why someone would let someone who had no schooling operate on an animal, especially a pet, know matter how minor the surgery. :eek:

I'm not positive, but I think there are some states that a tech has to pass an exam to be certified (even without schooling) but does not have to be licensed. As far as I know even they are not allowed to do surgery, prescribe meds, or diagnose.

In my state techs have to be licensed and board certified then they can do dental cleanings with vet on site (but not pull teeth), give vaccinations (except for Rabies), and draw bloods but no surgeries or stuff like that. I know there's other things they do, but that's the biggies off the top of my head.

I'm not a tech, I'm an assistant so I don't even have the liberties that a tech does. I'm not allowed to do dentistries at all, give any shots or draw bloods. I do get to do alot of things that a plain kennel help person doesn't get to do though.

I wouldn't mind a certified vet tech helping within the law on my animals, however whether certified/licensed or not I wouldn't want a tech operating on my kitties!! :eek:

I agree with cat lady... I was a vet tech assistant and vet assistant. I was allowed to draw blood, give shots, x rays, HELP in surgery,prescribe drugs, assist in dentals, BUT NEVER EVER EVER allowed to operate! I think that is irresponsible on the vets part. Legal or not!

I'm speaking more in terms of insurance liability -- I understand some states you aren't allowed to become a tech without passing your boards or some sort of equivalent exam, but my point is that eventhough THIS IS THE LAW, some clinics STILL hire people on as "understudies" to the vet where the vet "Trains" them to become a tech with hands-on training, then "calls" them a tech, eventhough they have no former schooling OR certification. These techs then may or may not perform surgeries, but if you aren't licensed you shouldn't even be able to do stuff with animals such as give shots or draw blood because it's a HUGE insurance liability.

I dunno... there's a lot of vets out there that I wouldn't let touch my pets. I wouldn't have a problem with a tech doing some things to my pets if they weren't certified, as long as they had been taught how to do said things by a vet I trusted. I do understand how you are appalled at the leagalities behind it all though.
When I worked at a vet clinic, quite a few years ago, the techs were allowed to do the cat neuters with a vet near by. I always thought that was kinda cool.

I'm actually trying to get into a school to be a VT.

I'm not positive but isn't the only difference between a reg'd tech and not is that you need to write an exam to become registered? I think none registered techs still have all the same training???

Also, I don't know how legal it is for a tech to preform those surgeries...unless it's a rat possibly.

(edit) Read some of the other posts...I see what you mean about vets hiring people off the streets and train as Techs...although I don't think they can be called a Tech until they have training? I know a girl who has done that. She is working in a clinic and does Tech work but has no training. She is still going for the course so she can be labeled as a Tech and be able to be hired by other practices if needed. You can go through the course (I think) and still be unregistered

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Originally Posted by slleipnir

I'm actually trying to get into a school to be a VT.

I'm not positive but isn't the only difference between a reg'd tech and not is that you need to write an exam to become registered? I think none registered techs still have all the same training???

Also, I don't know how legal it is for a tech to preform those surgeries...unless it's a rat possibly.

(edit) Read some of the other posts...I see what you mean about vets hiring people off the streets and train as Techs...although I don't think they can be called a Tech until they have training? I know a girl who has done that. She is working in a clinic and does Tech work but has no training. She is still going for the course so she can be labeled as a Tech and be able to be hired by other practices if needed. You can go through the course (I think) and still be unregistered

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I am going through training, but graduating alone won't get me certified. Like with a nurse, you have to pass your boards exam. I believe you can take the boards whether you've gone through school or not, but the boards is the ONLY determining factor on whether or not you become certified. Each state's is different, too, so if I want to become licensed in Missouri and Illinois, I will have to take and pass both Missouri's AND Illinois' boards.

I do not feel comfortable with an unregistered nurse working on or performing surgery on a family member, which is completely illegal, and likewise feel the same about unregistered techs and my pets (which may or may not be illegal).

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Originally Posted by Jessika

I'm speaking more in terms of insurance liability -- I understand some states you aren't allowed to become a tech without passing your boards or some sort of equivalent exam, but my point is that eventhough THIS IS THE LAW, some clinics STILL hire people on as "understudies" to the vet where the vet "Trains" them to become a tech with hands-on training, then "calls" them a tech, eventhough they have no former schooling OR certification. These techs then may or may not perform surgeries, but if you aren't licensed you shouldn't even be able to do stuff with animals such as give shots or draw blood because it's a HUGE insurance liability.

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Giving vaccines and drawing blood is not a huge liability. Performing surgeries yes, but giving routine vaccinations is not. For instance, say a non licensed tech gives a dog a vaccine and they have a reaction. The dog swells in the face and requires a longer stay to monitor his allergy, and the owners have to fork out more money for hospitalization, benadryl shots etc. Is that the non licensed vets fault? No. Any dog, no matter who gives a vaccine, can have a reaction.

A non licensed tech gives the vaccine in the wrong area of the body. So. A licensed tech can do the same thing. It doesn't matter if the person has a license or not, and to me it makes no difference. These people are trained to give vaccines. They just don't stick animals. They are trained the same way you could be trained if you went to school. There is no difference, except you are paying for something or getting something for free. Plain and simple.

A non licensed tech does a blood draw. The vein blows and the dog bleeds for a minute. Same can happen to a licensed vet, and it does happen, all the time.

Here in Oregon you do not have to go to school to become a tech. It's pointless really. Oregon state is a great school, but everything you learn in school you can learn in your free time studying the recommended books and working under a veterinarian who will do all your training. Why pay for school? It is a lot better to get hands on training then wait until you are out of school and pushed into the world of veterinary medicine, and a doctor calls on you to perform a duty you were NEVER taught in school, and wants it done stat, and you just stand there wanting to cry. All you need here to take the state board exam is the 4 years of working in the back (as a tech, doing tech work) under a licensed veterinarian who then verifies your employment for that four years as well as your studies and things you were taught. Then you go off and take the exam and become licensed. The same as going to school, except you are already used to being in that setting. If you do the work without a license you should be referred to as a technician's assistant, with license, LVT. We are not licensed, and referr to ourselves as "pet nurses".

I feel very comfortable with assistants and non licensed techs working on my animals. In fact, every clinic I've worked at since the age of 18 (I'm now 28) has only had about two licensed techs at the hospital, and where I work now, Banfield Pet Hospital, none of us our licensed. However, we have had EXTENSIVE training, both online in studies that have to be passed and reviewed by our corporate office, and at the hospital. Certain criteria needs to be met before we can draw blood, prep for surgery etc. Veterinary assistants draw blood, give vaccines, give exams everyday. We would NEVER be allowed to do a surgery ever. That is unethical, unsafe, and just plain stupid on the clinics part. I don't know what clinics you've been to or heard of, but I have never heard of any technician being allowed to do surgeries.

At Banfield our job as petnurses (we do not refer to ourselves as technicians) is to gather information from the client before the exam is performed by the veterinarian, draw blood and run blood on the CBC machine etc so blood work is ready when the doctor arrives for surgery in the morning, get the tono on dogs, fecal exams, temp, etc. During surgery we monitor patients anesthesia, blood pressure, pulse etc while the doctor does the work. We do generalized prep for surgery, like scrubbing the spay patient etc. One thing we are not allowed to do? Insert catheters. We used to be able to, but Banfield changed their policy as well as Oregon law, and we no longer put the catheters in.

When I started going to vet school I actually stopped. It was a waste of my money as I pretty much new most of everything already. Going to school for something I already know? Nope. Not gonna waste money on that, that's for sure! I do plan on going to vet school at Oregon State soon, but that's completely different territory. That is going to be extensive training. Heck, in all honesty I do not know if I'll be able to get through it. :p

People give vaccines to their pets themselves all the time. You can buy them at any feed or pet supply store that sells them. It's not regulated at all, and people do this every day. I vaccinate all my rescue kittens myself. There's no way I'm going to fork out 100 bucks for each pet when the routine care can be done for 20. I know all too well the ways in which clinics overcharge their clients, as I've been doing this for 10 years. As much as people don't want to believe this, 90% of vets are in it for the money, not to help the animals. It's horrible.

At Banfield we cannot take rediographs without a trip up to Portland for schooling on how to do so, and then we recieve a certificate through the state saying we are competent enough to do this.

The same as dental cleanings. We have to go to Portland again and take a class on how to do this, with massive training before we are allowed to do this, unless of course, we can prove we've been doing this for ages. We don't just throw people into it, that's horrible. However, some clinics do, and that's the sad part.

The first clinic I worked at was the worst. We had a non licensed vet there performing surgeries on animals every day. He was from Pakistan and licensed there, but not in the US. AND, the doctor who works with him now works for Banfield! :eek: I hated that place. They made me assist in surgeries all the time, when I knew absolutely nothing about what they were doing. I was basically a slave to them. These are the clinics you are talking about. A few years after I quit, the practice shut down. I wonder why. :rolleyes:

I remember them doing an abscess surgery on my cat and she started to wake up during the surgery. They just kept going! :( That is what made me quit. I didn't want to be involved with people like that. Plus, Dr. Goraya pretty much just gave me his cat as he didn't want it. The cat was used as a blood donor for the cats who needed blood, and when he wasn't good enough to be used anymore they basically kicked him out the door. :( It's not only the techs and assistants you need to watch out for, it's also the veterinarians.

I would never allow a tech to do surgery on my pet. I would be absolutely furious! I plan on taking the state exam some time or another, but it won't change anything for me. I already know all the information, and here, getting a job is so easy that it doesn't matter if you're licensed or not, and the pay still stays the same. The reason being is that it's cheaper for a clinic to hire someone who is unlicensed than someone who is. If I became licensed and left Banfield I would have a heck of a time finding a job at another clinic in town, because they'd be too afraid to hire me because of wage earnings. It's all about the money. Hopefully one day it will be all about the animals.

When I'm done with vet school I do not plan on hiring non licensed techs. Everyone of them will be licensed, and the assistants will not be allowed to do the techs work, just basic care, like kennel cleaning, assisting in restraining etc.

Sorry for such a long post, but I feel that people like us deserve respect for all the hard work we do. Most of us recieve most of if not more of the training that is received in school, and work very hard to get where we are. I would never do anything to put a animal in harms way, and I'm pretty sure neither would anyone I work with.

I'm sorry if my post has offended you in any way, as that obviously isn't my intention. However I have to be honest and say I'm just not comfortable with an unlicensed technician working on my animal. I KNOW you don't have to be licensed to draw blood or give vaccinations (if vaccinations were the case they wouldn't have the "DIY" kits being sold).

My point is just that there is a lot more technical aspects that go into being a technician that being an understudy just won't cover. That covers procedures but really nothing else... I'm sure you learn as you go, but I certainly wouldn't want someone learning on my dog as they go... do you kinda see what I'm saying?

Almost the same concept as, for example, anyone off the street is pulled into a hospital and follows around a doctor and calls themselves a nurse. Would you feel comfortable with your loved one in the care of that "nurse"?

I'm sorry that I just don't feel comfortable with it. I do know that many veterinarians/clinics are now hiring only certified technicians from schools because they get trained in how to perform blood work (not just draw blood samples and make smears) as well as touch base on dentistry and just... holy cow, after three weeks of material in school, I would never want to just "jump into" it without learning it beforehand.

Plus I'm not sure about other schools but with mine I know I will become certified to give anesthesia (not sure if that's all technicians or not or that you HAVE to be certified to give anesthesia, but again, I just wouldn't feel comfortable with doing it without prior training first).

I guess I'm looking at this from a pet-owner's view. I just wouldn't want my dog to be someone's practice on drawing blood or giving a vaccination or whatever, you know?

EDIT:Please don't think that I'm questioning your knowledge or ability, I'm just not comfortable with an unlicensed tech working on my animal.

I don't see the problem with an unregistered nurse or tech doing work so long as they have the training...

:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by luckies4me

As much as people don't want to believe this, 90% of vets are in it for the money, not to help the animals. It's horrible.

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I've seen similar comments like this all over the place and I've come to the conclusion that the area I live in must either have more than their share of good vets (cares for the animals) or everyone else has more than their share of bad vets (money grubbers).

Not having worked at all the other vet hospitals and clinics in our area, but just going by what me, my family, and our clients have experienced at other vet hospitals & clinics in our area...I'd have to say our ratio is more like 40-60% or better, meaning 40% that may be gouging prices with varying levels of care for the patients, and 60% that care for the animals and only charge what is necessary to stay in business and make a living, going above and beyond in patient care.

From all the bad vet things I've read around here, I hope I never have to move out of the area because I don't think I could handle the horror stories I hear about on here about vets. Not that we don't have a few of them in our area too, but not so many of them compared to the flip side of the coin.

On the vet tech thing...

I've only ever been called a tech by the big boss man when it comes to seminars. Some seminars I'm very interested in, or the boss thinks would be beneficial to me, but are limited to techs & vets only. So in those situations for a day I get to be a tech in name only. :D Once in a while some of the info is a bit over my head but mostly I understand the seminars and get alot of useful info from them.

On the job I'm often a 'jack of all trades' meaning I help out all over the hospital if we are short handed, someone is sick or on vacation or something like that.

Most of the time I'm just doing vet assistant stuff which does include helping in surgery. I can't operate on anything, I can't do dental cleanings, I can't do the anesthesia, I can't do blood draws. I can't do basically anything involving poking or cutting into an animal with anything, well except for nail clippers on toenails or the hair clipper on fur. I do get to clean out ears on anesthetized animals though, just the basic cleaning like you'd do at home, I can't do ear flushes or stuff like that. Other times I only assist in the exam rooms or the lab. On a good day I get to do all at some point during my shift.

Of course there are days I get the people who keep insisting I look at their animal for what they percieve is a 'simple' thing (which usually isn't) and I have to keep telling them, 'trust me you don't want ME diagnosing/treating your animal, I'm not qualified, you'll have to wait for an open appt. slot for the vet to see the pet'. :rolleyes:

Although I confess when I'm working the lab or exam room I like to guess what the problem is just to see if I'm right. Sometimes I'm dead on including which med to treat, sometimes I'm so far off it reinforces the reason I'm not a vet! LOL

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Originally Posted by slleipnir

I don't see the problem with an unregistered nurse or tech doing work so long as they have the training...

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My question though is how do you KNOW they have the training if they've never taken classes and/or aren't certified to be doing what they're doing? For all you know they could be learning/practicing on your animals. What if they make a mistake? I'm aware that anyone, with or without training, can make a mistake, but it's less likely to happen to someone who's taken classes and had instruction versus someone just shadowing a vet. Does that make sense?

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Originally Posted by Jessika

If anything goes wrong, you can sue the living bejesus out of that vet for... well, malpractice.

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Actually, it is alot more than simply claiming something went wrong. You have to prove negligence, and that isn't a walk in the park. Second, in *most* states, the amount of your malpractice claim is directly linked to the cost of your animal. Nice, eh?

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Originally Posted by luckies4me

As much as people don't want to believe this, 90% of vets are in it for the money, not to help the animals. It's horrible.

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Most people that I know NEED to make money. Most people I know would prefer to make more money than less money. How does that make it 'horrible'? Frankly, with the cost of any advanced degree, how do you see vets, in particular, doing it for the money? My male cat, Dakota, just spent two whole nights, and three days, at the clinic. His bill? $389. Two weeks ago, he had major, life altering surgery, and was in the clinic for 5 days, with supportive care. His bill? $2000. Not exactly a ton of money, considering he was on oxygen, had surgery with a specialist and a support person, not to mention the nursing care he received pre and post op. I have known more than my fair share of vets, sadly. Not a single one of the ones I know were living the life of the rich and famous. I have lived in 3 states over the course of my 42 years, and frankly, don't see your claim that they are doing it for the money.

Even if they WERE doing it for the money, how is that wrong? Big secret- I work for the money! I want MORE money. I went to law school knowing I stood to make more money as a lawyer than I would as a claims adjuster (my former position). Why is that wrong? I have bills, vet bills included, just like everyone else.

You seem to run into some totally "unique" situations.

You do bring an interesting persepctive Johanna. Recently there was a thread on here about "do you work for the money or for the love of what you do?" Many people said "it's just a job."

I have a brother and a sister-in-law who are vets. Being a vet is not necessarily the road to riches. They went to college for seven plus years --...($$$!)... studying biology, chemistry, mathematics, anatomy etc...and have...like all of us...bills, mortgage, food, etc.

They went into the field because they love working with animals. But they still have to make a living. The average salary for a vet is not any higher than a professional with equivalent education and lower than many corporate jobs.

There are bad vets...doctors, dentist, lawyers and file clerks.

But to suggest that it is horrible that 90% of vets went into the field for money is silly at best.

As a registered nurse I think of it in terms of my job. Those nice girls at a doctors office are NOT nurses (for the most part), at best their medical assistants with some training. They know there basic skills (though many don't take blood pressures correctly IMO) but they don't know why they do the things they do. There is theory and research behind everything in the medical field, things you learn with a formal education. Just because you can perform the manual task doesn't mean you understand why your doing it or what your looking for. Would I want them doing much more than drawing blood from me? No.

I assume if a VT performs a spay (completely negligent and illegal on the vets part) they know the procedure but do they know all the rules of sterile technique (trust me there is quite a few) and the intricasies of anesthesia?
If a VT perscribes meds do they know about interactions with other meds, labs that need to be monitored, even how the drugs themselves work? I highly doubt it. These are things veterinarians go to school for 7+ years to learn not something on the job training is going to impart.

If I were going to a vet the allowed a tech to perscribe or perform surgeries I'd be finding a new vet and writing a letter to their state board.

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Originally Posted by Sparklecoon

As a registered nurse I think of it in terms of my job. Those nice girls at a doctors office are NOT nurses (for the most part), at best their medical assistants with some training. They know there basic skills (though many don't take blood pressures correctly IMO) but they don't know why they do the things they do. There is theory and research behind everything in the medical field, things you learn with a formal education. Just because you can perform the manual task doesn't mean you understand why your doing it or what your looking for. Would I want them doing much more than drawing blood from me? No.

I assume if a VT performs a spay (completely negligent and illegal on the vets part) they know the procedure but do they know all the rules of sterile technique (trust me there is quite a few) and the intricasies of anesthesia?
If a VT perscribes meds do they know about interactions with other meds, labs that need to be monitored, even how the drugs themselves work? I highly doubt it. These are things veterinarians go to school for 7+ years to learn not something on the job training is going to impart.

If I were going to a vet the allowed a tech to perscribe or perform surgeries I'd be finding a new vet and writing a letter to their state board.

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Yup, I agree with you 100%, both with the nurses and about the VTs hehe

I know that most clinics that hire unlicensed VTs won't let the VTs perform routine operations, but it's still unsettling to me to think that my dog could be that person's "practice dummy". I won't want someone to practice on my children medically, and I sure as heck wouldn't want someone practicing on my dog who already "claims" to be a VT. I don't care if it's something as small as a vaccine or blood draw or something big like an operation. I don't want them touching my dog period, and if I ever found out my vet employed unlicensed VTs, I would be out the door and finding a new vet pronto.

It's nothing personally against the individuals themselves, but moreso the vet for not taking all precautions in ensuring my pet's safety and health.

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Originally Posted by luckies4me

As much as people don't want to believe this, 90% of vets are in it for the money, not to help the animals. It's horrible.

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I will never believe this. I've seen too many good vets in my time. From my regular vets to vets at a veterinary clinic in Cleveland and at Ohio State University. Why on earth would someone even want to be a vet if they didn't want to help animals. :confused: There are plenty of other professions to choose from.

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Originally Posted by chocolatepuppy

Why on earth would someone even want to be a vet if they didn't want to help animals. :confused: There are plenty of other professions to choose from.

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Why on Earth would someone put themselves through the very difficult and EXPENSIVE schooling to become a veterinarian if they didn't truly and honestly love animals.

I am only in school to become a tech, and already this has taken over my personal life. I "work" 8-3, plus an additional 3-6 hours of homework and/or studying every night. This is not taking into account the weeks when I am on kennel duty when I have to arrive at 6:30am and stay as late after classes as 5:30pm. PLUS WEEKENDS.

I'm just training to be a tech...a vet has to go through more than double of what I'm going through... if you didn't honestly have that drive of loving animals, you would not subject yourself to such ridiculously hard schooling. You have NO personal life during school!!!

Plus, "there are plenty of other professions to choose from", there are also plenty of other higher-paying and EASIER professions to choose from than a vet.

So I do not agree with the "90%" statement. Maybe some percentage it's true, but I honestly believe in my heart that the majority of vets out there today do it because they love animals, even if they've become desensitized, they wouldn't be doing it if they didn't care.

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Originally Posted by Jessika

I guess I'm looking at this from a pet-owner's view. I just wouldn't want my dog to be someone's practice on drawing blood or giving a vaccination or whatever, you know?

EDIT:Please don't think that I'm questioning your knowledge or ability, I'm just not comfortable with an unlicensed tech working on my animal.

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I know what you mean. :) I guess I'm just used to the fact, as I've only worked with a few licensed techs. I definately understand where you're coming from. :)

I do plan on taking the state board exam. It's just going to be tough finding a job here. Oregon is one of the toughest places to find a job unfortunately.

Perhaps the 90% statement isn't true, but on most days it sure seems that way. We had a huge discussion at work about how vets "turn wrong". Most start out for the love of the animals, with good intentions, but once into it for a few years begin to think of things other than helping the animals. It's just my experience having done this for ten years.

For instance, where I work now we used to be co-owned by a doctor and the corporate office, however, because this veterinarian got a bad rap (people quit because of her), she sold the practice and now another doctor and our office manager are going to take it over. She has since moved onto another Banfield in another city here in Oregon, and having not been there only a year people were already wanting her gone. We all dread when she stops by.

I understand working to make a living, but when you suck all the money out of someone that's just wrong. People expect a caring, compassionate person to care for their pets, not someone who only is working for the money.

One of our new vets, who has been with us about a year or so, suggested we take rads on all animals before they receive their dental cleanings. She is constantly talking about money. Lets just say her "suggestion" didn't happen. We all thought she was ridiculous. People do not have the money to pay for uneccessary treatment.

That is why we have such a bad problem with sterlizing animals. We charge almost $300 bucks for a dog spay. That isn't including if the pet is in heat, over 6 months, over 50 pounds, or over 8 months. That's a huge chunk of change!

Cataholic, as far as how much you spent, you are very lucky. Here, where I work the bill would probably be twice as much as you spent! Hopefully, one day I will work in a better clinic, with people who know how to make a living without charging with needless bloodwork, presciption meds etc.

Not everyone who works at a clinic likes animals. There have been many times I've seen people treat animals with little or no respect. It makes me quite sick to my stomach. The way some people handle animals is just beyond me. Scared dogs being yelled at. They are already frieghtened. You really think yelling at them is going to make them behave better? Squirmy puppies...they are PUPPIES for heaven's sake. They are excited to see people. Just because they don't sit still for a blood draw doesn't mean they are bad animals. And then there is the whole, oh it's this breed so lets automatically assume it's going to be a biter. Things like that.

I do work with some amazing veterinarians though. Dr. Luna in particular is my favorite. :) Sadly, she doesn't plan on staying in Oregon for long, and I think a fair share of us will be looking for new jobs once she leaves.

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Originally Posted by Catlady711

Of course there are days I get the people who keep insisting I look at their animal for what they percieve is a 'simple' thing (which usually isn't) and I have to keep telling them, 'trust me you don't want ME diagnosing/treating your animal, I'm not qualified, you'll have to wait for an open appt. slot for the vet to see the pet'. :rolleyes:

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Don't you love those people? :rolleyes: We have people come in all the time that want us to tell them what is wrong with their pet. Our suggestion? SEE A VET! If your pet has diarrhea there are several things that can cause this. How the heck are we supposed to know?

And then you get the lovely people who know something is really wrong, but avoid treating the pet at all costs. Like today, we had a young woman come in with an 8 week old lab mix puppy. The dog was extremely bloated, and even vomited, much to my friends digust, roundworms into the trashcan. She got the dog for free outside of a Winco. She was telling me how tomorrow she is going to donate plasma to earn 45 bucks, as she has no money. If you have no money why would you adopt a puppy? It's just beyond me. Now, that poor dog is probably going to sit there for months with worms, or get some deadly disease like distemper or parvo all because she took the dog in knowing she couldn't care for it. In fact, earlier she tried taking the puppy to the pound, but she said the pound wouldn't take it because they were full. The truth is, she couldn't take the dog to the pound because they charge a $45 dollar fee to surrender an animal, as the shelters here are very full this time of year. It's very sad.

In all honesty it doesn't matter that much to me. I care more about my vet than I do the techs. I most certainly wouldn't want a tech doing anything that would be considered illegal such as performing surgery, but for most things I trust someone that has had the proper training. I do realize that a tech that has gone to school usually will have a better understanding of animal care, but I'm not sure that I think that makes them more capable of performing their duties. A registered tech can take the temperature or draw blood just as well as one that is unregistered, these are skills that are learned by practice and experience. When it comes to the important things I trust that my vet will be handling these procedures.

However I did leave my last vet because I didn't like his techs, I found them unfriendly and rude and did not enjoy dealing with them. They didn't seem like they cared about me or my animals so I found a new vet. I'm not sure if his techs are registered or unregistered, but they are friendly explain things to me so that I can understand what is going on. They also were great when Corkscrew was sick this past summer and I was in and out of the vet almost every week. They were very calm and patient with my little monster and I felt that they did a great job at performing their duties as a tech.

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Originally Posted by luckies4me

One of our new vets, who has been with us about a year or so, suggested we take rads on all animals before they receive their dental cleanings. She is constantly talking about money. Lets just say her "suggestion" didn't happen. We all thought she was ridiculous. People do not have the money to pay for uneccessary treatment.

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As far as I know, my dentist is a "registered" dentist..he he he, and he makes us sign a waiver if we elect NOT to have xrays done before our teeth cleaning. I go to the dentist twice a year! And, while he only does xrays on a yearly basis, it certainly makes sense to xray a pet's mouth before cleaning, when you consider the cleanings are done much further apart than ours.

How can an xray on a 4 year old dog's mouth, before the dog undergoes anesthesia for a dental cleaning be ridiculous? Sounds kind of good to me.

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Originally Posted by luckies4me

And then you get the lovely people who know something is really wrong, but avoid treating the pet at all costs. Like today, we had a young woman come in with an 8 week old lab mix puppy. The dog was extremely bloated, and even vomited, much to my friends digust, roundworms into the trashcan. She got the dog for free outside of a Winco. She was telling me how tomorrow she is going to donate plasma to earn 45 bucks, as she has no money. If you have no money why would you adopt a puppy? It's just beyond me. Now, that poor dog is probably going to sit there for months with worms, or get some deadly disease like distemper or parvo all because she took the dog in knowing she couldn't care for it. In fact, earlier she tried taking the puppy to the pound, but she said the pound wouldn't take it because they were full. The truth is, she couldn't take the dog to the pound because they charge a $45 dollar fee to surrender an animal, as the shelters here are very full this time of year. It's very sad.

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Yup, that's probably why she was donating blood for the $45, to give to the pound. We've had a rash of people lately who get a new puppy then gripe about the fact we have to charge for vacc. etc (we are reasonably priced!) then explain that one of the family is out of work, or they are on a fixed SS income. Uh, I noticed you said you got the puppy AFTER that happened. Doesn't make sense to me. There is no such thing as a 'free' pet.

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Originally Posted by Cataholic

As far as I know, my dentist is a "registered" dentist..he he he, and he makes us sign a waiver if we elect NOT to have xrays done before our teeth cleaning. I go to the dentist twice a year! And, while he only does xrays on a yearly basis, it certainly makes sense to xray a pet's mouth before cleaning, when you consider the cleanings are done much further apart than ours.

How can an xray on a 4 year old dog's mouth, before the dog undergoes anesthesia for a dental cleaning be ridiculous? Sounds kind of good to me.

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ALOT of people don't even understand the need for ANY dental cleanings etc. You and I understand the importance of it, and the benefits to the health of the animal but many people do not. Unfortunately some have to learn when their young pet dies from a massive infection from the teeth/gums, or some never learn at all and think that 5 years old is a long life for a dog/cat. I think I'll scream the next time I hear a client say 'well we've had dogs for 30 years and never had no dental cleaning done on them and they lived a long time, old Blue lived the longest and died at a ripe old age of 7 (not talking about no great dane either). :rolleyes:

I don't have a problem with xrays or lab work before surgery or dental work, but then again I understand why it's necessary, plus I get an employee discount. Even if I didn't have a discount if the vet thought something was necessary I'd go ahead and do it.

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Originally Posted by Cataholic

As far as I know, my dentist is a "registered" dentist..he he he, and he makes us sign a waiver if we elect NOT to have xrays done before our teeth cleaning. I go to the dentist twice a year! And, while he only does xrays on a yearly basis, it certainly makes sense to xray a pet's mouth before cleaning, when you consider the cleanings are done much further apart than ours.

How can an xray on a 4 year old dog's mouth, before the dog undergoes anesthesia for a dental cleaning be ridiculous? Sounds kind of good to me.

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On certain dogs it would be a great idea, but on every pet? It's absurd. Human dentistry and canine/feline dentistry is totally different. How often do you see dogs and cats getting cavities filled, or root canals? Dentists do x-rays on us to check for cavities, bone infection etc. This would make sense on a pet who has never had their teeth cleaned, with lots of tartar build up etc. but on an otherwise healthy 2 year old lab, it's uneccesary. If it made sense I'm sure her idea would have flyed, but it didn't.

Or for instance, dogs prone to dental disease, such as doxies, chis, etc. Thanksfully we have the new P3 vaccine, which is awesome in way of dental care for dogs! Now if we could only get a vaccine like that for cats, we'd be all set. :)

Off topic, but as far as the puppy goes the lady called me yesterday morning and about twenty minutes later brought the pup back in and gave her to my friend Stephanie. We dewormed her right away and about an hour later she had a nice lovely bowel movement full of roundworms. :) She's been put on a puppy plan and received her first set of vaccines yesterday.

Also, she failed to mention the pup fell from her two story balcony about a week ago because she left her sliding glass door open a nudge. Nice. But, she is in good hands now and being completely spoiled, and will be the sister to an overly friendly rottie named Jackson. :)

Here are a couple of pictures of her. Oh ya, they were feeding her Old Roy. :rolleyes: She has very dry skin, but hopefully after being on a more nutricious diet for awhile she will look better. These were taken with my cell phone so sorry if they are not all that great. And please forgive me for my ugly face. :o

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...ies4me/pup.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...es4me/pup2.jpg

I'm glad to hear the puppy was brought back in and now has people that will give him the proper care!!!

Your face isn't ugly at all!

BTW, I LOVE that smock pattern!! I have a hard time finding ones that fit me with animals on them instead of kids. The place I buy mine at are really cheap but they cater to human nurses in their patterns.

LOL, it's so funny, because people always say how much they love our smocks, but I think they are hideous. OK, well maybe not that bad, but they are made by Cintas and are Banfields scrubs, so we have to wear them. I really wish they would let us wear our own scrub tops, or at least come up with a better design. :p

Have you tried looking online for scrubs? :)

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Originally Posted by luckies4me

Have you tried looking online for scrubs? :)

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No actually I haven't. Where I go I usually can get mine for about $12-15, but I always assumed that with shipping, anyplace online would cost more total.

Do you tear your pockets alot when dogs like to stick their feet in them while squirming around alot? lol I either have that happen or I catch on the door jamb from walking too close to it to keep an animal from getting out the door and tear the side seams of my tops.

I used to tear them all the time, but now that I work mainly up front I don't do as much handling as I used to, so haven't torn in quite a bit. However, when I first started I would tear them constantly. I remember the first week working there I tore my pocket and they didn't want to get me another top, so I had to walk around with a torn pocket. :rolleyes: