Vet vs. Vet Tech
 

This thread was inspired by a thread in General Discussion about a vet tech giving two shots and both causing problems while the vet does it with no problems whatsoever.

I'm sure most vet techs do a great job and vets would have tons more work to do without them, so I am not against techs. I just want opinions.:)

At Ellie's vet office the techs weigh, take temps, take history, swab ears for cytology if infection is suspected, take blood, do cystocenteses (I think), assist in surgery, give injections and vaccines (if vet has examined the animal and the vaccines are being split up or whatever...it is the difference between a $25 or so vet visit or a free tech visit), remove staples (from incisions)...

Now, I think a WELL TRAINED tech could do any of this but I don't know the techs nearly as well as I know Ellie's vet, so I really have no reason to trust them. Taking temps and weighing is fine but what about blood work and staple removal? I just don't think I'm comfortable because again they may be great, but I don't know them. Ellie's vet is more than accommodating and she has done a couple things before that were "tech jobs" for me, so I know if I ask for her to do certain things, she would. I just don't want to stop good techs from doing things that they are perfectly capable of doing and making the vet busier.

I have had a couple issues with techs before where I just think the vet (with more experience) could've done things better...

So, my question is, what do you let the tech do and would you be comfortable with an average, possibly just out of school tech drawing blood (from the jugular...that is where Ellie's is taken), removing staples..? Would you ask that the vet do some of these things instead?

There is a huge difference between drawing blood from the jugular and removing a staple. You remove staples with a tweezer-like instrument, and very little skill is involved. Drawing blood from the jugular, is a much more difficult procedure, and I wouldn't even want the on-call vet to do this. Injections could be given by techs as well.

The tech does not give my little ones shots all I have seen them do is take weight and temp.

Removing staples may be easy but a couple of Ellie's got twisted and I heard her screaming. I think the tech did it but I'm not sure the vet could've prevented the pain. That is why I put that on the list.

Maybe I should have the vet draw blood everytime then.
Techs seem to bruise Ellie easily because she wiggles but the vet did a nice job, so I am thinking maybe she should do it all the time.

From the replies so far it seems that the techs around here are expected to do more.:confused:

Around here the vet techs only take the weight & hold the dog for the vet. They don't even take the dogs temperature.

Same here. I wonder if it is because of any Indiana laws.

Ours does the above but did remove Reggie's stitches. Ramsey had staples...the vet removed those. I am clueless to what their duties consist of during surgeries though.

That being said..I could've removed Reggie's stitches if every pair of small scissors in my house wouldn't go...wherever it is they go. :rolleyes:

ETA - Sometimes it depends on the person giving the injections. I've gotten injections which didn't hurt at ALL...and I've received them from Nurse Ratchet. OUCH!

That is totally foreign to me.:confused:
Only weights?:confused::confused::confused:

They even clean teeth here if more than one procedure is being done and on the same dog and the vet is busy (she is right there though).

Anyway, Ellie went to the vet not long ago and the tech tried to take her temp but couldn't get it because Ellie wouldn't let her. The tech said Ellie wouldn't let her put it in. The thing is, I was holding her for the tech and I take Ellie's temp by myself. It isn't that hard, especially with a restrainer.:confused: I don't know it just makes me wonder.

Wouldn't it depend on the vet, and his staff, some techs may be in training, while others could have years of experience. Hopefully you can trust your vet to select which procedures should be done by which tech. I had to see the on-call vet once, and while she was a very nice person, she just didn't seem to have the experience or confidence our regular vet has, I just love the way he calms Joey.

Perhaps what the vet tech does...is dependent on education or training. I don't mean trained at the office...I mean some type of formal training.

I would trust the vet to have the techs do only what they are capable of doing but her vet doesn't own the office, so I don't know if she has any say in it. The only way around it is probably just asking the vet to do what I wouldn't be comfortable with a new tech doing. Ellie's vet does have her own tech (for surgeries) but she doesn't do all of Ellie's vet's appointment preps...

There are soooooo many techs at this place and you don't always get the same one. I don't know the rules but I think if they are a tech, they can draw blood, etc. I also know they have assistant (no school) and I think they are trained to do things like blood draws too. A huge vet office with 24/7 staff is great but you can't just get to know one tech and understand what they are capable of.

There may be a system there to only allow certain techs to do certain things but I really don't know.

So I just wondered how much everybody else let the techs do.:)

This may sound absurd but, I pay for a vet visit, not a vet tech visit. I'd expect to see & talk to the "vet" not the vet tech. At our vet, the doc is very hands on, he does the taking of the temps, the blood work, the ear swabs, the stitch removal, the injections, all of it (oh no wait, the techs do weigh our furkids, but that's it). In all the years we've been with our vet, it's always been this way, I've only sent he vet techs holds the animals while he performs these procedures. Now as far as the vet techs doing these things so they can learn, I wouldn't mind if they took our furkids temp or swabbed the ears, but anything more than that, I'm sorry, I want the "vet" doing it. I know the techs have to learn somewhere, somehow on some living furkid, I just would rather it not be on ours. I know, that sounds terrible and maybe I'm absurd, but this is just how I feel. Now I'll roll up my sleeve and let a tech take blood from me at a hospital or doctors office no problem, but when it comes to my kids, (skin and fur) sorry, I'm very particular about who does what and I don't have a problem letting any doctor know that.

I know it is strange that different places do so differently. Our vet techs are very young so maybe thats why. I dont know I am just glad My Vet does it all

Nope, not absurd at all.:)
I totally agree. Thankfully we get more than our fair share of time with the vet. We talk and talk and talk and a lot of times it has nothing to do with Ellie.:rolleyes: She is a great vet. I am really starting to see that maybe I should request the techs do less though. I think I will only allow the vet to do blood draws from now on. The jugular thing makes me nervous if someone is just learning. I also don't want people practicing on Ellie. They have to start somewhere, but not with my dog they don't.;)

Sounds like you and I are a lot alike when it comes to our kids. I'm sure your vet would understand though, she sounds very nice and understanding.

hmm our vet techs just weigh Scooter and ask me all the questions, answer the phone etc. I always thought their training was kind of like receptionist training for animal lovers hehe. They really just fill out his file and take my money!

Then again I'm switching vets, so maybe the techs at the new one do more? But I've never heard of them taking blood, so I don't know...

In most states, vet techs get an associates degree. It is one year for general studies (math, english) and one for veterinary medicine (anesthesia, lab work, restraint techniques...).:)

Veterinary Technician and Veterinary Assistant are two different job titles. Each state has different laws but a Veterinary Technician is licensed, has to do continuing education every year, and has to pay to keep his/her license current. Veterinary Assistants do not. In some states, it is even illegal to call a Vet Assistant a Vet Tech.

:aimeeyork This got me thinking....whenever someone asks me what vet i use they immediately say .."oh, they are highway robbery they are so expensive". But you know, I would much rather pay a little more and get better care for my pets! My vet does everything (including calming and talking to them to make them comfy). the only thing the tech does is weigh them and ask questions. So if that is why my vet costs more then it is well worth the extra cost! :animal-pa

Vet techs are not required to go to school for that job (at least not in most places)...many receive "on the job training". There are some WONDERFUL, very well-trained techs out there, but that isn't true for all...it really depends on the individual clinic's requirments when hiring techs. So far as giving vaccines...it doesn't bother me that a tech does it because any petowner can buy their own vaccines and administer...it's a pretty easy procedure. But drawing blood...I don't know why but I just never even though about techs drawing blood. I guess I personally haven't seen it done and just never though about it! I suppose it does happen frequently though... I don't think I would personally trust a tech to draw blood...I just won't know how experienced that tech is. However, I know the vet has been through at least 4 years of vet school and I KNOW drawing blood gets practiced a LOT in vet school. Last time Lacy had her blood drawn, I had them draw it in front of me instead of take her to the back...I told them watching did not bother me (and honestly I'd rather watch..and it was super quick). I think I'll make a habit of making sure they only draw blood in front of me from now on...I want to make sure the vet is the one who does it. A blood draw really isn't risky, but it could be if you have someone drawing blood that doesn't have a clue..and how do you know how well trained that tech is??

:thumbup::thumbup: Toto's vet does all of that and clips her nails!! :rolleyes: Unless she is sick, he doesn't begin anything until he parades her all over the hospital and shows her off!! He adores her and is always amazed how good she is ... she will even dance for him and she only does that for a few people!! I don't mean standing on her back feet and jumping around, she actually dances using all four feet!! It's hysterically funny! ;) She has a wonderful, caring vet.

The vet tech's that are in The office only weigh, and take temp's. My vet does all the rest. Vaccines and even gives her the deworming pill. :aimeeyork

Awe, now that vet sounds like a keeper, AND has Toto's approval to boot:D

LOL.
I guess where Ellie goes is considered expensive (although I don't agree with that assessment;)) and the techs still do a lot.

Exactly.
It is NOT really a risky procedure unless someone that isn't trainer properly tries it. I'm sure the vet techs do get tons of training in school but the vet assistants only get it on the job and who knows if Ellie is only maybe their 10th patient to "try" it on.

The vet techs in MI have to go to school but the assistants do not.

Vaccines don't bother me either because anyone can read the instructions and do it. Blood is always drawn in the back. It doesn't really bother me because Ellie is so wiggly that I think they would have better control back there and it is safer for her that way. What I do care about is someone drawing it in the back, out of my sight, who isn't as experienced as the other people there.