5 Vet Techs On What They Want Dog Owners To Know About Their Job

We know that vet techs are an important part of our dogs veterinary experience, but what exactly do vet techs do?

Registered Vet Technicians are a crucial part of your dog’s well being, but just what exactly do they do? It’s likely a more complex job than you had imagined. RVT’s encompass a wide array of complex tasks. Most people seem to assume that they just walk the dogs back into the treatment room and trim their toenails. That is definitely not the case and these 5 RVT’s want you to know what people aren’t quite understanding about their job.

“In general, people have no idea what we do. Either they think we’re doctors or totally unskilled support staff. There is no in-between. There’s an assumption that we just play with puppies and kittens all day.” – Kym

“The most misunderstood thing about being an RVT is people think we just ‘help’ vets, but don’t realize that in human medicine you have nurses, anesthesia technicians, x-ray technicians, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, physiotherapy, etc. Each profession requires three or more years of school, but as an RVT you are expected to do all of the above, all at the same time. If you mess up juggling any of the above, an animal could literally die. It’s a very challenging career, and seriously underpaid considering how many professions are squeezed into one. Not to mention I only know maybe 2-3 technicians that haven’t (yet) herniated a disk/have life long damage in their back. Whereas in human medicine you can do just ONE of the above and get paid double to triple what an RVT makes.” – Caroline

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“Vet techs are some of the hardest working people in the industry. You have no idea how many times a vet will step in and do a consult only to have all the technical stuff done by a tech who the owner barely knows exists. Vet Techs are super underpaid and super under acknowledged” – Ming-Ming

“I believe that one of the most misunderstood things about technicians is how much we do in a given day AND that behind every great veterinarian there is at least one and likely more fantastic technicians. We have to be trained in everything from collecting blood and taking X-rays to inducing and monitoring anesthesia, and we learn to do it while being abused by clients, pooped on, peed on, having anal gland secretions expressed on us, vomited on, you name it. We work under pressure to do everything quickly and perfectly and for very little pay. Luckily, we are never in it for the money! In essence, the most misunderstood thing is that we do NOT just play with puppies and kitties all day… But that is the most fun part.” – Sarah

“As an RVT you make a ridiculously low wage and yet are tasked with the majority of the workload to keep a clinic functioning. RVT dues are several hundred dollars a year and continuing education credits are necessary each year to maintain your registration.” – Cassandra

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