The Veterinary Technology Blog

Care of domestic animals varies from general day-to-day maintenance to acute care in times of illness and injury. Common sense in attending to pets’ needs goes a long way. We feed, walk, pet, and groom our animal charges with love and devotion. However, important aspects of our animals’ wellbeing can go unnoticed, and therefore unattended to, simply for lack of knowledge.

If an emerging veterinary professional determines that animal nursing is their pathway, they have to decide whether they wish to become a veterinary technician or a veterinary technologist. This article will discuss the ways in which the two roles are the same, the ways they are different, and the reasons why a future veterinary nurse would choose one over the other.

Accredited vet tech programs that prepare students to get their vet tech licenses are available both online and all over the United States. However, it’s often the case that prospective vet techs want to find something close to home - or something in a specific and exciting new region. Northern California is home to San Francisco, the Muir Woods, Yosemite, hundreds of miles of oceanic coastlines, and more. For those wishing to experience all that Northern California has to offer while training to enter the veterinary field as a tech,...

In addition to the burgeoning of spring and new life, April honors our animal friends with Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month. The annual 30-day campaign is hosted by the American Society of the Prevention of Animal Cruelty (ASPCA) and offers opportunities for the public to become involved in safeguarding the wellbeing of animals. Two experts generously offered their knowledge on the topic of preventing animal cruelty: the executive director of the HSVMA, Pam Runquist, and Laura Link, public information manager of the Oregon Humane Society.

Students interested in why animals do what they do or how they mate, reproduce and even find their food may be interested in the field of animal psychology, often referred to as animal behavior. Degrees from the bachelor's level to the doctoral are available for those interested in applied science or research.

As the nurses of the animal medicine world, veterinary technicians are an essential part of the animal healthcare team. By taking on administrative, customer-facing, and routine clinical tasks, vet techs extend the capacity of a veterinarian to focus on diagnosis, surgery, and treatment planning. While many vet techs enjoy fulfilling careers working as generalists, some find that there is a specific arm of animal medicine in which they’re particularly interested and skilled. Vet techs who wish to follow their passion into a specialization will find that they can level up...

A study from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) found that meat consumed by cats and dogs is equivalent to 64 million tons of carbon dioxide—the same amount of carbon dioxide produced by almost 14 million cars in one year. For a Toyota Prius owner who eats mostly a plant-based diet and has cats and dogs, this may seem like a huge setback in the intention to reduce one’s carbon footprint. The results from this study have eco-conscious pet owners wondering: is it possible to provide for my pet’s...

In December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly decided to proclaim March 3 the international day of the adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, World Wildlife Day. In honor of the annual day of awareness, we are highlighting one of the major ways that wildlife is affected in the U.S.—roadways—and diving into how individuals can promote the wellness of their local wildlife.

Most state regulatory boards accept RACE-approved and CVTEA-accredited continuing education credits. However, continuing education acceptance is not standardized. States reserve the right to refuse credits from certain classes or providers. Students are advised to confirm that their state will accept credits before registering for any program.

Along with being enrolled in an accredited veterinary technology program, it is equally important for veterinary assistants and technicians to have adequate hands-on experience with animals. Many internship and externship programs let students spend some time in specialized departments such as radiology, hematology, oncology, cardiology, and surgery.

Just as the human body needs specialists for different injuries, animals often require a wide range of medical attention. Additional expertise on the anatomy, pathology, behavior, and even nutrition of our pets is learned by becoming specialized in one of 12 veterinary technician careers. We’ll break down the five top-earning jobs among these, outlining areas of expertise and salary.

While most Republicans and Democrats are busy barking at one another, Representative Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Representative Angie Criag (D-MN) have teamed up for a new initiative that has animal lovers purring. The bipartisan Congressional Pet Caucus will focus on the health and nutritional wellbeing of companion animals, on legislation that supports pet ownership, and on science-based and transparent regulations regarding the animal community.

Scholarships are, most simply put, free money. Students pay them back figuratively, with their service to society—at no interest, and without obligation. While good scholarships can be hard to find and win, they do exist, specifically for motivated individuals who need them most.

The math is simple: pet owners live healthier and happier and millions of pets need homes. Whether you adopt, foster, or volunteer at a local animal shelter, statistics show investments of time and energy with pets pays out well in long-term health and happiness benefits.

Many veterinary potentials are intrigued by the care, biology, and future of animals like zebras, ocelots, and lemurs. And, while many colleges provide excellent veterinary courses that define and familiarize students with these creatures, only a small number of schools provide on-site zoo animal experience.