The Veterinary Technology Blog

The Veterinary Nurse Initiative (VNI) is championing a comprehensive update—one that would unite the profession under a single title, a standardized set of credentialing requirements, and a universal scope of practice.

Marissa Martino of Boulder, CO began working with dogs 10 years ago, and she hasn’t looked back since. She was enjoying a successful career as a designer for Martha Stewart but yearning for a change, she decided to attend San Francisco’s Academy of Dog Trainers.

Pets play a vital role in the homes and lives of people across the country. Often treated as family members, animals can not only provide love and affection, but they’ve also been found to improve people’s health by decreasing stress levels, lowering blood pressure, and even boosting babies’ immune systems.

The key requirement to become a veterinary technician or technologist is the successful completion of a veterinary technology program. And when researching programs to determine which is the right fit, consider not only the reputation of the institution, but also the experience and skill of the educators who teach within. Come meet these top professors of veterinary technology.

These professors are strong influences in the farm animal world. As they develop new ways to monitor disease, support muscle growth, and increase the birth rates of producing herds and flocks, they help to guarantee a strong food supply for decades to come.

These professors are the groundbreakers that are developing bridges between the animal and human psyche. While some specialize in animal-human bonds, others are finding new ways to map the most fundamental behaviors common to all living beings.

Whether you're interested in new ways to make better beef or how to grow bigger chickens, animal Science is the unique program that will allow you to feed the world. Still, you need to find your perfect professor match in order to be successful. These are the 20 best animal science instructors from across the US, with interests as unique and innovative as your own.

As healthcare research has surged ahead for humans, veterinary research has managed to adapt to and expand on these practices for our animal friends. Veterinary research has become a vital and exciting field, with components like robotics, bioengineering, and genetic study. These 10 schools with exceptional research facilities give you the opportunity to participate in research that may change the face of animal healthcare.

Want to work with professors who encourage students toward success in exotic animal care? Look at our list of top exotic animal & wildlife veterinary professors to discover leading educators and researchers in the field.

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is known for its annual unveiling of gadgets. While these products generally are made to facilitate human existence, in recent years there has been no shortage of electronics for pets as well. CES 2015 showcased a number of inventions, some with overlapping faculties, which promise to forever change the lives of pet owners. Many of these gadgets offer GPS pet-monitoring, but there were two products in particular that brought something new to the realm of pet tech.

Read about Megan Brashaer, the 2014 Petplan Pet Insurance vet tech of the year, who is based out of DoveLewis Emergency Animal Hospital in Portland, Oregon. Here, Megan shares career and educational advice for current and prospective vet techs.

Students in Washington DC interested in vet tech education need to look for programs in Virginia, Maryland and other nearby states. Some may be accessible through public transportation or car, but others may have commutes of two hours or longer, making distance education another, possibly more convenient, option.

You know you want to work with animals, but you’re not sure what field to enter. Our guide to animal care careers lets you learn about the educational requirements and salary potential for each of seven fields, as well as gives you links so that you can investigate careers further on your own.

Avian and exotic animal care classes allow students in vet tech programs to learn more about diseases, treatment and care. Handling and restraint is often an important part of the learning and may be critical to successfully treating birds and exotic animals.

Student loans are one way to help cover the costs of a vet school education, but students need to repay these upon completion of their program. Scholarships are an actual way that veterinary schools students can save money and defray tuition and other costs up to potential amounts of several thousand dollars.