Veterinary Technicians and Your Pet

It is National Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week this week, and we thought it would be a great opportunity for you to get to know a little more about these people who are so vital to Oakland Veterinary Referral Services. 

These “nurses” are licensed professionals who are here to help keep our patients happy and well-cared for. Here are some things you might not know about veterinary technicians:

• Veterinary technicians are well-educated individuals. They must earn a 2- or 4-year degree in veterinary technology before taking their national board examination to become registered. After that they must earn continuing education hours to maintain their licensure.
• Vet techs are busy. They perform a wide variety of tasks under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Some of their responsibilities include preparing and administering medications or treatments, taking radiographs (X-rays), inducing and monitoring anesthesia, assisting with medical and surgical procedures, and caring for sick or injured patients.
• Don’t forget that veterinary technicians are a great resource. They are educated and experienced and can often answer questions you may have or help you to understand your pet’s hospital experience.
• Veterinary technicians can earn specialization credentials in certain areas of veterinary medicine. Oakland Veterinary Referral Services has technicians who have specialized in emergency and critical care, behavior, and surgery/anesthesia.
• Veterinary technicians are the vital part of the caring presence in our hospital. They are the people that comfort sick pets, carefully insert intravenous catheters, and make sure that your pet is doing well under anesthesia. They help to calm nervous patients in the exam room  and can impart their logic to pet owners. They are a valuable part of our team.

This week, during Veterinary Technician Appreciation Week, we want to say thank you to our vet techs. You are a skilled and dedicated group that we could not function without. To our technicians Insert names of technicians, we appreciate you each and every week of the year.