Why You Need to Take Care of YourselfFebruary 11, 2016If I asked you, “do you take good care of yourself?” how would you answer? Probably a half-hearted “Sure I do…” OK, let’s try another, more direct, question. The last time you were sick, did you go to the doctor? Hmm, I sense a pause. It seems that since we're in the medical field, we would not need to have explained to us the benefit of seeing a trained professional when we are sick. However, being the TYPE of medical work we do, we also do not have a lot of extra cash lying around to go spend at the doctor — let’s face it, it’s expensive! In fact, MUCH more expensive than veterinary care! So why do it, especially if we think it’s a simple illness that will pass with time? I have a cousin, who felt much the same way about spending money at the doctor. So despite some bad headaches, she didn’t go. She tried all sorts of over-the-counter stuff, to no avail. Then, her eye became infected. She couldn’t avoid it any longer, she popped into one of those 24-hour care marts that you see everywhere …
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15 Tweets About the #VetTechLife You'll Understand IntimatelyFebruary 10, 20161) Not the worse thing you've gotten on you, let's be real. Just found a dog's crusty eye booger inside my bra. #vettechlife #vettech — ❁ Bambi ❁ (@mermaidpewp) February 3, 2016 2) Your life in six words. Vet Tech: bites, butts, shots, mutts, dishes, and poop. #specialtiesin6words #vettech — FutureMrsAdcock (@VetTechian) January 21, 2016 3) But can you spell it? I never imagined I would have a career in which the word "diarrhea" would be in my vocabulary. Daily. #vettech #RVT #veterinary — karen k (@ohh_kk) November 28, 2015 4) AKA PWNAGE. The feeling you get after 3 people try and fail to get blood from a cat, then you try and get it first try and perfect stick! ???????? #vettech — [DOLL] SaucyxLewis (@saucyxlewis) November 25, 2015 5) Just another day at the office.
Fear Factors: What Are You Afraid Of?February 4, 2016The popular TV show didn’t invent fear factors. Humans did. We struggle with fear of change, fear of failure, fear of success and many others. I understand fear of change — I observe it among colleagues and technicians almost daily. I understand fear of failure, it’s a common human trait. But I have a harder time understanding fear of success. Let’s explore these three fear factors.* Fear of Change People fear change for a number of reasons, yet they are rarely aware of it. Fear of having their old beliefs shattered. Fear of being proven wrong. Fear of having to learn a new skill. Fear of technology. Fear of leaving their comfort zone. Fear of having their authority questioned or challenged. For higher ups, the fear is often disguised as a medical (or business) decision. Some people stay in the same position for years or decades, and come up with all kinds of excuses. They rationalize and convince themselves why they cannot leave a job that is clearly making them (and everyone around them) miserable. People who embrace change recognize that medicine and technology (and business) keep evolving. Not everything has to change, not everything new is beneficial, but adaptable people are …
Studying Veterinary ScienceFebruary 3, 2016The first of the year is an anxious time for many hopeful veterinarians, as some of them will find out where and whether they have been accepted to one of the 30 veterinary schools in the United States. Some of those students have had vet school in mind from the beginning of their undergraduate careers, while others have arrived at the goal after a few years in the work force and perhaps even after getting a degree in a different field. While schools are open to both types of candidates, there are certain guidelines that hopeful veterinarians should follow to maximize their chances of getting a coveted spot in their school of choice. Pre-Veterinary Science Degree Not Always Required Perhaps surprisingly, admissions experts say that a major in pre-veterinary science, or even in the biology or agricultural science departments, is not necessary. As long as students have finished the necessary pre-requisites, they are equally qualified regardless of major. Requirements can vary slightly from school to school, but basically, vet schools are looking for one year each of chemistry, biology, and physics with associated laboratory classes, organic chemistry, biochemistry, calculus, and statistics. The American Veterinary Association …
7 Qualities of a Good Veterinary AssistantFebruary 3, 2016The standing joke in veterinary medicine is that veterinary technicians and veterinarians are only as good as the person restraining the animal. In other words, if we miss a vein with the catheter, it’s the fault of the restrainer. But all joking aside, a veterinary assistant who knows how to hold an animal is worth their weight in gold. What is a veterinary assistant? According to the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA): “While every position within the veterinary practice team is important, veterinary assistants play a pivotal role, literally ... In the course of a single day, an assistant provides help to veterinarians and veterinary technicians, which in turn allows those team members to perform the tasks and responsibilities of their positions. The next minute, the assistant may be helping a client understand why having their pet's teeth cleaned is so important or providing a receptionist with a second set of hands at the front desk. Helping to fill scripts, keeping exams rooms cleaned and prepped, setting up lab work, helping with inventory, updating …
One Veterinarian's Adventures in ChinaFebruary 2, 2016Originally published in the December 2015 issue of Veterinary Practice News. Did you enjoy this article? Then subscribe today! Veterinary Practice News "Surgical Insights" columnist Phil Zeltzman, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, and Greg Leck, DVM, of Leck Veterinary Hospital in Pen Argyl, Pa., were invited to lecture at a conference dedicated to small-animal surgery in Shanghai. With over 24 million inhabitants, Shanghai is one of the largest cities in the world. It is a city of never-ending contrasts, from the ultramodern financial skyscrapers of Pudong to the traditional, maze-like lilongs in the Bund. A lilong is a community of narrow, three-story rowhouses organized around gridlike lanes. Older lilongs are being destroyed to make room for modern buildings. Drs. Zeltzman and Leck then traveled to Beijing, the capital of China. Home to 20 million inhabitants, Beijing was the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics. They visited with colleagues in private and government-owned practices and stopped at the Beijing veterinary school. The vast majority of Chinese clinics are owned by the government or privately by a veterinarian. But a surprising phenomenon is starting to occur in communist China: clinic chains. Western investors, mostly from the United …
18 Whisper Confessions Every Vet Tech Will UnderstandFebruary 1, 2016All confessions courtesy of Whisper. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) With this great response. 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18)
17 Times Tumblr Perfectly Captured Your Feelings About Vet SchoolJanuary 26, 20161) When you have to sacrifice beauty for practicality. http://wineingvetstudent.tumblr.com/post/137848059071/3rd-year-woes 2) For all those in radiology... http://soontobedvm.tumblr.com/post/137777447030/meanwhile-in-radiology 3) No seriously: Radiology. http://soontobedvm.tumblr.com/post/136629062815/radiology-the-study-of-pretending-to-see-an-organ 4) When you know med school would have been easier... http://getyourveton.tumblr.com/post/131285241550/i-wish-i-was-a-med-student 5) You never know when that mollusk info might come in handy. http://vetstudent-life.tumblr.com/post/102170627278/when-people-ask-if-we-have-to-learn-about-all 6) Meanwhile, cats... http://hopeless-scientist-club.tumblr.com/post/116925139521/but-of-course 7) When you regret going to vet school again. http://getyourveton.tumblr.com/post/118313716425/i-couldve-been-a-trophy-wife-of-a-visually 8) Though you might not be as hopeless in that area as you think... http://ausvetstudent.tumblr.com/post/137187846000/conversations-with-vet-students-30 9) You learned something that isn't quite as valuable as what you were supposed to learn. http://soontobedvm.tumblr.com/post/129307558199/the-amazing-knowledge-learned-at-vet-school 10) You should just invest in the highlighter market. http://vet-student.tumblr.com/post/137814914038/is-it-just-me-or 11) Oops. http://shouldersdeepinvetschool.tumblr.com/post/101623177928/when-you-accidentally-poke-yourself-with-an-18g 12) When you didn't sign up for the exotic side of veterinary medicine. http://lifeofavetstudent.tumblr.com/post/115182465954/when-a-large-animal-focused-student-takes-an …
Sexiest Veterinarian Still Pretty Damn SexyJanuary 26, 2016Meet Evan Antin, DVM. Yep. This actually happened. Northern breeds def make some of the most ridiculously cute puppies EVER! Right!? #pelfiewednesday #pelfie #puppyvet #puppy #malamute #malamutepuppy #sillfloofbundle #puppybelly A photo posted by Evan Antin ???????????????????????????????????????????? (@dr.evanantin) on Jan 20, 2016 at 12:57pm PST He's a DVM at Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Sometimes a hug is necessary....i just love awkward cats ???? Who else is a cat person? #CatLover #Veterinary #Medicine #ILoveMyJob A photo posted by Evan Antin ???????????????????????????????????????????? (@dr.evanantin) on Dec 10, 2015 at 10:12am PST Back in late 2014, he was named "Sexiest Beast Charmer” in the annual People's magazine “Sexiest Man Alive” issue.
Why You Should Watch "Inside Out"January 21, 2016This New Year, I recommend you watch the Pixar movie, Inside Out. It is a masterpiece! Not only is it humorous and touching like most all Pixar movies, but it contains some extremely valuable lessons about life — also a part of many Pixar movies! But this one, well, it goes above and beyond. Watch it once for the laughs and the storyline, and then watch it again for the messages that I am about to share. I think you will find this movie intriguing and insightful. So what is Inside Out about? According to the movie description from IMDb: "After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions — Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness — conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school." If you are looking close enough, here is what you will discover: Sadness (both the feeling and character) can be the source of good change in your life. While trying to not make this blog a big ‘ole Spoiler Alert, let’s just say that during the climax of the film, Sadness swoops in and saves the day. She helps to override …
