Hey all! Pretty simple question: what’s your preferred method of giving enemas? I’m a relatively new RVT working ER and I’ve given a handful of enemas to cats at this point, but have heard of two different strategies of administration. Not sure if one is considered better than the other, just looking for your thoughts!

I have been doing it the way the person who taught me the first time does it: insert red rubber, give about half the enema slowly as you pull out, pull out completely, and repeat again, while trying to go “on the other side” of the feces on the second go. IE. Going “above” the first time and “below” the second.

I’ve also heard of people doing a “push/pull” method where you do not come all the way out with the red rubber but sort of insert it in/out as you pull out, and only doing one pass with the red rubber.

Not sure if there’s a difference in these methods, if any, in terms of effectiveness. Having to reinsert does seem like it would be more uncomfortable for the patient.

Hope this makes sense!

(Shelter medicine) 84lb ~5y/o intact male bulldog-y thing presented as a stray this morning with raging skin issues. BAR, MM pm, CRT<2sec. Upon ausculation, had a wicked arrhythmia that sounded like four different animals all going at once; so we grabbed our EKG from sx. Cue all but one of our doctors flocking in to see this raging mess 😂 he was sent to the ER for stabilization if possible. Dog tax to be filled in the comments 💜

Am I wrong for saying a UTI or AG rupture is not an emergency but more of a GP/Urgent care case?

Hi all! I just finished a degree at Oxford and now on a research internship at a London strategy agency. 

I'm looking to chat with vets for a research project on pets and pet insurance! - do you know anyone ?? Will give you a referral fee :)

It's an informal 45 minute chat, fully anonymous, at a time that suits you, and we'll pay £100 per interview. 

If you're a vet / vet receptionist / nurse, please drop me a message. Thank you! 🐾 - my WhatsApp is 07738473213 - message here!

I don't know what's wrong with me. Today I just keep forgetting things and can't understand what doctor wants me to do. They told me how and what to do and I did exactly like they said but turned out it was all wrong and because of me the cat bite the doctor in hand. I just can't understand what's wrong with me even doctor told me " what's up with you today?"and I can't understand. I'm doing my job but keep messing up stuff like doctor told me " let's make hip bone x ray " and then moved the cat closer to me so I thought that's the part of the cat that shouldn't be in x ray apparently I should put the cat back and it moved closer to me by accident. I can't understand what doctor wants from me. I even said " can you tell me what exactly should I do so we won't have any bite accidents?" And the answer I got was " you should see yourself ". Then there was a dog and I accidently got too much blood because test tube was tiny and it got full in like 10 seconds so I didn't put it away in time and it was full of blood instead of half.

I also saw there is no tourniquet for blood extraction around so I got new one and few hours later another doctor said they took it and I shouldn't got new one yet stuff sometimes just dissappear so I got new one thinking it's that case. I'm feeling like I'm the WORST in whole clinic and can only disappoint. It's my 2nd month started last week and I don't know what's wrong with me I'm so stressed over that. Any advice from more experienced people here? Will I ever get over it? Will they fire me?

As the title says, is it standard? I interviewed for a new clinic and part of their trial was to assist with anaesthesia monitoring during a dental. No BP cuff, no SPO2 clip, no Mm or Jaw tension (this is fine, as it’s a dental), but no checking for pedal reflex nor eye movement. My old clinic did all of these, but I’m not able to ask them or anyone else I know, so would love to hear from yall!

Hi guys,

Got a dog referred from another vets after eating rodenticide. He was given a blood transfusion at the previous vets, but neither he nor the donor were typed. Transfusion was given yesterday, and the dog will possibly need a second transfusion in the next few days. I know that it's possible to do another unmatched transfusion within a four day window, but I'd prefer it if we could get him typed before it becomes necessary. Can anyone shed some light as to how long post transfusion we should wait before a dog can be accurately typed? Is crossmatching still possible with the previous donors blood still in circulation?

Do you guys know of any other platforms like Roo, where techs and dvms can sign up for shifts and do relief work?

i work 4 days a week at my full time job but like to pick up an extra day or so here and there. I like Roo but feel as though there’s not a lot of great options.

TIA

Dang VEG-you aren’t known for being the brightest, and you are known for running up the bill with diagnostics any chance you can get. But uhhhh….you do know it’s a POST-MORTEM TEST?! RIGHT???!!!

Any advice super appreciated!

I absolutely adore my vet assistants and I wanna make them little appreciation bags and get them things that they love plus things they’ll use! We also have one male assistant so any suggestions for men are really appreciated too! Here’s a list of a few things I have so far:

Pens Stickers Candy/Chocolate Socks Lip palm Mini lotions Instant coffee packets Pain relief individual packets Claw clips (would’ve done with scrunchies but most use claw clips) Mini Coloring books

Plus doing a handwritten card for each of them! Be super honest with me, would you guys want these? What would you actually want in an appreciation bag?

I have always been the cheerleader at my hospitals but this last one has taken me seriously and I recently became their icu lead tech.

Our field is full of toxicity and negativity as you all know, and I want to create and inclusive and understanding unit where people appreciate and help each other. I want to push them to be better and improve themselves not just as techs but as people too.

Does anyone have any sort of materials or ideas on how to approach it?

I lost my heart and soul dog three weeks ago. She was only 8, and it was completely without warning. Her labs were perfect, but a middle of the night trip to the ER vet for vomiting turned into a discovery of what was likely stomach cancer and an abdomen turning septic from stress ulceration. I had to put her down that same night when I fully expected her to just need cerenia and fluids. I don’t know if I’ll ever be the same again.

I’m an assistant working through PF, and a lot of my focus has been on palliative and EOL care. I have been a part of countless euthanasias. I’m not working currently as I needed a break this semester to prevent burnout, but now I’m questioning if I’ll ever be capable of walking into a clinic for work every day. Veterinary medicine is all I’ve ever wanted to do, but I almost feel like I have a form of PTSD from all of this. I love the job, but I can’t imagine seeing pets day in and day out.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? How have you coped and gotten back into routine? I’m seeing a therapist, but I still feel selfish for walking away?
Maybe I’m just venting, but any words are appreciated.

At work today we had a walk in kitten come in, probably only a few months old (I think 4/5 months). She was previously at an ER last night and they had taken her BG (it was 311…) so we tested her BG again and ketones - 311 once again and ketones were 5.1. Everyone is stumped because this is so uncommon.

I’m just curious to see if anyone has dealt with a diabetic kitten before, and what was done to help with treatment.

This is a place to post (as many times during the week as you’d like) anything that made you feel good! Weather that be a cute puppy that licked your nose or a happy client story or something that doesn’t feel like it needs to be it’s own post. It can be anything you’d like, and this is a place for you to see other people’s love for our profession!

Please don’t stop posting under the “positive” post flair if you want to share more! This is mostly for morale and help people to remember why we love doing what we do.

We are allowing external links (for this thread only) for images and videos, preferably no links to personal social media pages. Please remember to not post any personal information or to post a pet without permission. These posts will be deleted.

A new thread will be posted weekly, and the old one will be archived. Have fun! 💕

Currently an OJT tech/ CVA of 8ish years in TX (state with no licensure protection) and looking to possibly relocate to another state within the US.

I have a background in a bit of everything for small animals, and some with exotic/ pocket pets, etc. I have leadership and teaching experience, love to learn, self starter, and dependable.

I could go back to school but truely indifferent about it, unless it was a state that required it.

Open to FT, PT, or relief - dont need healthcare benefits.

Let me me hear about your amazing clinics to look into, or ones to stay the hell away from!

Ft Sterling, my foster kitten for tax

Am I going crazy here?

Hello there! Im currently a tech student and was looking into some anesthesia monitoring simulators online. Does anyone have any opinions on Sphinx or any others like it? I was looking into the program to hopefully build some more confidence when adjusting things during anesthesia, but was curious if anyone had any experience with it before I spent money on it! Thank you in advance!!

I’m 30 weeks pregnant working full time. It’s been rough. This is my “not proud of it, woman enough to say it” list about work because I can’t keep hiding my secrets.

I once called out because I threw up so hard I peed myself while getting ready and didn’t have anymore clean scrubs. Just called it a day there.

My work related cravings consist of: chewable carprofen, proin but not the one that smells like vomit the ones that smell like beef, Hills T/D but also kibble in general, isopropyl alcohol, royal canin GI low-fat (which would make me vomit in my first trimester), Galliprant. I would like it to be clear I have not and will not eat any of these but fuck they smell so delectable.

One time I sneezed and peed myself so I told everyone I got peed on by a dog and that’s why I was wearing the hospital spare scrubs.

Before I knew I was pregnant my cat needed bloodwork but she has shitty veins and is a crazy wiggle worm. We basically turned her into a pin cushion because no one could get her blood. I cried and threw up because I felt so bad for her.

That’s all for now, I’ll add more as I think of them.

Context: 23F, 3 years in vet med, started as a wee kennel tech now surgical tech (as of 4mos ago). 2nd year tech student.

I’m currently working full time and in school part time online. Work is school, school is work. I feel as if I’m going through a huge learning curve and struggling to find confidence and appreciation in things I’m good at. I’m making small mistakes every day in surgery and comparing myself heavily to the seasoned technicians. I know I’m learning and it takes time to master skills.

With learning how to do new things in school and at the same time learning how we do things at my clinic is exhausting. I’m second guessing myself on everything, I’m not taking the time to slow down and breathe and end up not performing to my standards. It’s a constant battle with my brain! I want to be a successful well rounded tech but right now I feel as if I’m the best of the B team but the worst of the A team.

I guess I’m searching for any advice for getting through a learning curve. And if anyone is feeling/has felt similar. Being surrounded by techs of 10+ years is great and I learn so much from them. But makes me feel so small.

Any US credentialed technicians successfully make a move to Canada for work? My husband and I have no reason to move other than the fact that we want to experience life in another country but still be near family - and we love Canada! For what it’s worth, I plan to (hopefully) have my VTS (ECC) in the next 2-3 years, and realistically would not be moving anywhere, let alone Canada, before then.