The Veterinary Technology Blog

To prepare in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, Ready advises having emergency kits on hand not only for the human members of your family but for your pets, too.

Whether you are a veterinarian or vet tech in training, or simply a pet owner who wants to stay up on the latest in animal care news, reading blogs is one of the easiest ways to do it. Because blogs are updated regularly they can take a more nuanced and informative approach to animal care issues. The blogs included in this list are among the best—at times educational, heartwarming, personal, and funny.

A degree in animal behavior can give aspiring animal psychologists the opportunity to explore many things of interest about animals: how they avoid predators, choose their mates, find their food, and reproduce and care for their young.

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.

Although animals were purely functional for much of human existence, now they play a huge part in our social and emotional well-being. Instead of just being animals we keep for safety and transportation, animals have become like family members to many.

Veterinary technician anesthetists—also called vet tech specialists in anesthesia (VTSA)—occupy a growing specialty in animal healthcare careers as more people invest in life-saving surgeries and procedures for animals.

Established by Congress in 1961, its goal is to raise awareness, reduce unintentional poisonings, and promote poison prevention. Poison prevention is particularly important when it comes to our animal companions: in addition to the dangers of stray medications and household cleaners, several substances which are non-harmful to humans pose a significant threat to pets.

Pet dental care is as important (and should be as routine) as dental care in people. Both cats and dogs face many of the same dental issues that people face, including periodontal disease, broken teeth, and gingivitis. To help keep pets healthy experts are working hard to change the way pet owners think about dental health.

Clinical obesity in pets can lead to a series of secondary health concerns, and contribute to a reduced quality of life and a shorter life expectancy. For humans and dogs alike, regular exercise, along with a healthy diet, is the answer. But the responsibility rests primarily on dogs’ human companions to set up healthy habits that both can enjoy and benefit from. And veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and other veterinary professionals can play a vital role in helping those pet lovers keep their pets happy and healthy.

Often, it can feel possible to carry on a conversation with the furry members of the household. But is that what is really happening? Dr. Leslie Sinn, a veterinarian and animal behavior expert, says it’s a little more complicated than one might think.

About three million cats and three million dogs go into U.S. shelters each year; however, 71 percent of these cats are euthanized as opposed to 56 percent of dogs. This amounts to the euthanization of about 850,000 cats annually.

Overpopulation is the main driver behind early spay-neuter programs which, over the past 30 years, have become routine throughout the United States. In fact, since the 1970s, the “ultra-early” neutering of puppies and kittens has been the custom in many veterinarian offices due to the abundance of feral and abandoned animals being euthanized in shelters.

In the following interview, integrative veterinarian Dr. Richard Palmquist generously spoke to us about his journey to holistic practice and what his work entails, as well as what pet owners should know about holistic vet care and advice for aspiring veterinary professionals.

As in human health, medical expenses for pets can be costly and come at the most inopportune times. The is when pet health insurance may help ease the burden of caring for a pet and make prioritizing a pet’s health and wellbeing more financially feasible.

August is Pet Immunizations awareness month and what better time to benefit from the knowledge of a veterinary medical professional with over 50 years of experience. World-renowned veterinarian Dr. Jean Dodds graciously lent her expertise in the following interview on pet immunizations.