Chocolate
for Vet Techs: Unsung Heroes
National
Association of Veterinary Technicians in America Week, October
12 through 18.
By
Steve Dale
With as many lives as veterinarians
save, it could be veterinary technicians save more lives. That’s
because bad behavior likely kills more pets than kidney or heart
disease, or cancer. When an animal behaves badly the consequence
might be checking into a local shelter. Behavior counseling may
be a life and death matter, and increasingly it’s the veterinary
technicians who offer that advice.
Of course, no one is auditing who’s
saving lives. The point is that veterinary technicians are the
unsung heroes of veterinary medicine. In an effort to create awareness,
the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America
(NAVTA) has declared October 12 through 18 is National Veterinary
Technician Week.
“Technicians can do pretty
much anything a vet can do, except diagnose, prescribe and perform
surgery,” says Dean Knoll, president of NAVTA and a technician
at Surgi-Vet Inc. in Waukesha, WI (a company that manufactures
anesthetics). While most technicians work in private practices,
some techs work in private industry, at veterinary colleges and
even for the government. Wherever you find veterinarians, you’ll
find technicians. Knoll, who is 38, worked in private practice
for five years, for ten more years at various veterinary colleges
as an instructor and anesthesia supervisor.
Knoll says whenever there’s
a surgery – from a routine dental to cancer surgery –
it’s the technician who administers anesthetics under the
watchful eye of the vet. “Applying and monitoring anesthesia
is a life and death deal,” says Knoll. “In the right
hands, the right anesthetics are very safe. But here is where
proper knowledge and training can make a difference.”
Knoll is referring to the lack of
training of many technicians. These technicians without formal
training can still be called technicians. Historically, technicians’
only had on the job training. There was no certification available.
So, it wasn’t unusual for a local dog groomer or even a
person who attended cosmetology school with no animal background
to get a job as an office receptionist. When the vet tech left
the practice, the veterinarian promoted the receptionist to technician
with only on the job training.
However, today, there is available
certification for technicians, which follows formal education,
and in many states passing a required technician exam. However,
some vets continue to hire their technicians the old-fashioned
way, without any formal training or requirement to attend continuing
education.
Why would a veterinarian want uncertified
technicians? “Well, for one thing they typically don’t
make as much money,” says Linda Chase, a veterinary technician
in Atlanta. “But these people (uncertified technicians)
drag the entire industry down. Veterinary medicine is always changing,
new medications, new equipment, new ideas, and that’s what
we learn about through continuing education – which isn’t
a requirement for uncertified technicians.”
According to Patrick Navarre, executive
director of NAVTA and technician educator at Purdue University
School of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, says according
to a recent survey of technicians in Indiana and Illinois, the
average salary for certified technicians is $23,000 to $27,000.
He says that’s higher than the national average (which has
not been tabulated for several years). Many technicians don’t
enjoy insurance coverage either. These facts may contribute to
why the field remains dominated by women. Navarre says only two
per cent of technicians are men.
Getting into vet school is not an
easy task, and some techs simply weren’t able to get in,
so they’ve chosen an alternative that still allows them
to work with animals. Many techs are women who just didn’t
want the 24/7 career and responsibility of veterinary medicine.
Technicians can have more flexible hours, so many techs work part
time while also raising a family.
Chase, who is 30, says, “I
love animals and really wanted to make a difference in their lives.”
Her favorite part of the job is talking to people. “Veterinarians
sometimes talk in medical jargon, they’re very busy, and
people respect them so much they they’re up on a pedestal,
so very often clients are more comfortable talking to me, and
more able to communicate with me.”
Chase and most technicians are your
pet’s dental hygienist, they also run laboratory tests (including
heartworm, fecal and urinalysis tests), they help to position
pets for X-rays and develop the X-rays, and, of course can take
your pet’s temperature, blood pressure and other vital information.
Knoll says when animals stay at a
clinic post-surgery or for observation, it’s the technicians
are who their advocates. The techs monitor for symptoms, give
medications, and essentially watch over them.
Also, at increasing number of practices,
whether it’s an issue of Fido swiping food from the garbage
or a cat who’s missing the litter box, it’s the technicians
who provide behavior advice. “The veterinarian is always
made aware of the advice given,” says Chase. “And
the vet is involved if drugs are suggested. But increasingly,
certified technicians are learning more and more about behavior
consultation through continuing education.” Indeed technicians
can attend the same sessions as veterinarians at veterinary conferences
for continuing education.
Chase says when choosing a veterinarian,
one factor to consider may be whether the technicians are certified
or not. “Listen, it depends on the standard of care you
want for your pet. It does matter.”
You’re not likely to find Hallmark
Cards to celebrate the NAVTA veterinary technician’s week.
“That’s fine,” says Chase. “Chocolates
will do, or even just a thank you.”
