Proud to be a Tech

"Are you going to go to vet school?" "Don't you want to be a veterinarian?"

"Why not?"

Okay people, this is my official rant on those of you who feel that being a vet tech isn't good enough. Why do you assume that someday I'll go to vet school? Why do you think that I even would want to be a vet? It infuriates me! What's worse is that on some occasions when this question is asked, I often forget that I love being a tech and feel inferior because I'm just a "lowly technician". I have had so many people ask me the above questions...Do you even know what I had to accomplish to become what I am today, people? Of course you don't, because keeping up with the Jones' has become such a sick part of our society today! Vet hospitals wouldn't have a chance in hell of running without technicians, receptionists, and kennel workers--they are the back bone of every hospital.

As most of my family/friends know, I am a veterinary technician at an animal hospital and I love my job. No, I will never be wealthy, and yes I often go home smelling like dog (among other unmentionable things), but I love it. I worked very hard to get where I am today- I have a Bachelors of Arts from the University of California, Irvine, an AA degree in Animal Health Technology from SD Mesa Community College, and I am a Registered Veterinary Technician. Most people don't really know what the difference between a vet tech and an RVT is. Here it is: RVTs have to take and pass the state board exam to obtain their license. In California (besides veterinarians) RVTS are the only employees legally allowed to perform the following five tasks:

1. Induce anesthesia

2. Apply casts and splints

3. Perform dental extractions

4. Suture cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues, gingiva, and oral mucous membranes.

5. Create a relief hole in the skin to facilitate placement of an intravascular catheter.

After I tell people that I do not want to be a vet they always ask why...as if I'm crazy.

Here are just a few reasons I don't want to be a vet:

1. After the vet does an initial physical exam, I get to do all the fun stuff: blood draws, IV catheter placement, dental extractions, suturing, cystocentesis (collecting a sterile urine sample by inserting a needle through the abdomen and into the bladder using an ultrasound machine), ear cleanings and cytologies, vaccinations, radiographs, therapy laser treatments......

2. I get to make animals feel better-yes the vet orders what procedures are to be done, but 9 times out of 10 I am the one performing them.

3. If a client is upset about pricing-I get to tell them that I am just a tech and have no sway regarding prices. If they become irate, I get to pawn this lovely client off on a vet :)

4. I get to play with the animals (especially all the cute little guys).

5. I don't have nearly as much student debt to pay back!

6. I don't have to worry about being sued (many vet hospitals, just like human hospitals are sued at one time or another).

7. I don't have to be on-call after I go home at night.

8. I am constantly learning new things.

So, the next time you take your fur-child to the vet, please take the time to realize everything vet techs do! Just because they aren't veterinarians, doesn't make them a less valuable asset to the veterinary team.