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On the Front Lines of Pet Care

Hillside Animal Hospital's Female Staff Member smiling for the camera in the lab room

In honor of National Veterinary Technician Week, we’d like to highlight just what it takes to be a vet tech and all the hard work they put in every day to ensure the comfort and health of your pet.

As a member of the veterinary healthcare team, Hillside vet techs are educated in the latest medical advances and are skilled at working alongside veterinarians to give your pets the best medical care possible. They work closely with our entire Hillside staff to provide essential care to all species of animals; pets with fur, scales, shells and skin. Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician include gathering patient history, creating charts for patients, monitoring anesthesia during procedures, phlebotomy, filling and calling in prescriptions, caring for hospitalized patients, and educating pet owners on keeping pets healthy at home.

For a tech to be certified, they must attend an accredited Veterinary Technician program and pass the VTNE, the Veterinary Technician National Exam and a state exam. For a program to be accredited, it must be approved by the AVMA, the American Veterinary Medicine Association. The Veterinary Technician program is an Associate’s program consisting of anatomy, physiology, microbiology, clinical techniques, pharmacology, anesthesiology, surgical and medical nursing, radiology, and clinical pathology training. Throughout the program, Vet Tech students will be trained and exposed to the latest in veterinary medicine and prepared for their VTNE. They are also required to attend clinical externship programs, which can provide training in general and specialty medicine, emergency training, as well as areas of special interest such as exotics and large animal.

Throughout their career, Veterinary Technicians can further their knowledge through Continued Education programs. These programs are required for a Vet Tech to maintain licensure and can be in small classes, seminars, webinars, conventions, and more. Techs can use these programs to refine their skills and new learn trades, such as advanced dental practices or updated CPR training.

From all their experience, we’ve gathered advice from our top Hillside techs:

  • Bring your pet in every 6 months for wellness. A year is a long time in the life of a pet and a lot can change.

  • Bringing them in for a wellness exam every six months ensures good health and allows your vet to monitor or treat any concerning issues.

  • Preform annual bloodwork. This further ensures a pet’s health and helps your vet to detect any underlying issues.

  • When in doubt, bring your pet in. No one knows your pet like you, if you have any concerns, your Hillside team is here to help.

As a Hillside Veterinary Technician, a typical day of work is more than just drawing blood and making charts. A love for animals and a passion for being the best caretakers make Hillside Vet Techs stand out among the rest. This week, we honor our Veterinary Technicians for all the hard work they do, for it’s through them that pets and their owners can find comfort and peace of mind during every visit.

By: Daphne Graf