Nezza's life...

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

mmm...a "Soul Bowl" for us all !!!

Sounds good to me!

I'm down with that, and I don't mean the flu! (Vague Tim McGraw refrerence )

Vanessa, the Cabin is lovely, and I'm sure once the reno's are completed, it will be a lovely little hideaway.

[nezza]

I came up with this when a manager said to me the other day that a vet tech doesn't really do anything but weigh a dog/cat! I was pretty upset, especially this coming from my favorite manager.....I miss my vet tech days, i haven't worked as one in 3 years now because there just aren't any animal hospitals in this area It is something i truely miss and something i was passionate about....Anywho....this is what i came up with....

A Day In The Life Of A Veterinary Technician

for all of those who think the "vet nurse" does nothing but hold the dog and weigh the dog....

Well, my day starts at 7:30 AM. The animal hospital doesn't open until 8 but i get there early because i have A LOT to do!

I work in a state of the art animal hospital...and so my day begins....

The first thing i do is check on the over night patients. Our hospital is equiped with cameras in the "treatment/surgery" area and the doctors can log in from their home computer to keep an eye on extra special/urgent care patients.

I check their temps, i check their fluids and give them more fluids if need be. I give them their meds. As a vet tech i must know what all the meds are and what they do. I'm also in charge of refilling meds for clients who call in needing more.

I call the doctor to give him an update on his patients.

As 8 o'clock approaches and we open, the receptionists begin to take in all "drop off" surgeries for the day. I admit these patients, make sure consent forms are signed, make sure everything is in order for the surgery to be performed on that particular pet that day. And, make no mistake, these pets are like children to the people who own them...

The doctors arrive at 8 and start seeing patients.

I weigh the pet, i take fecal samples, i am the one who reads the samples under a microscope and report to the doctor what i find. Depending on what is found, he will prescribe any necessary medications and i fill those prescriptions.

I'm the one who preps your furry little friend for surgery, who shaves his paw where the needle for the IV will go. I intubate him. I give him sedatives. I watch his breathing.

I'm the one who draws blood for a SuperChem/CBC blood count.

I assist the doctor in any and all surgeries....we have laser surgery at my animal hospital and i'm very proud of that.

I perform all dental procedures all animals!

I do ultrasounds and x-rays.

I give vaccinations.

Yes, the doctor oversees all of the patients....but i do a lot more work than most people give me credit for.

I've been doing this so long, i could probably perform most of the surgeries myself, i just can't because i am not a certified veterinarian.

All of this is done BEFORE i even go to lunch!

After lunch, it's more of a routine day.

We see patients that mostly are coming in for the standard exam and vaccinations.

My day winds down and before i leave i recheck all of the patients if their are any that are staying over night. All declaw surgeries stay over night so i check their bandages and make sure their is no bleeding.

For any other over night patients, i make sure they get their meds (if any are needed) and fluids (if they are needed).

Oh, in case i forgot to mention, i'm in charge of ordering all medications that we keep in stock at the animal hospital. I also send out all blood work to the lab every day. That's a lot of responsibility but i love it.

Do you know why i love it? Because i love animals. Your pet loves you unconditionally, no matter what kind of day you had, your pet is right there to cheer you up, they only know love,....they will never turn their back on you, they will never leave you, they will never hurt you...they don't know how to lie, they don't know how to let you down and never will. They are the purest of hearts. They deserve the best and i try to give them all the best.

[kian]

Vanessa for someone to say all you did was weigh dogs and cats is just plain nonsense. Your description is perfect! I too worked as a tech and while my duties were not as extensive as yours, it was a lot of work!!! I didn't work in a state of art hospital, I can imagine how busy you were and how tired you must of been at the end of the day. It's where I learned how to give injects, read the signs of a sick animal, show compassion to both the animal and the owner, cry when all medical resources have been exhausted not to mention the owners bank account and still lose that loved pet, get peed on, vomited on, never ever forget the smell of Parvo and yet the lessons learned there, are so valuable today.

I do hope you get to return to that one day, a good tech is hard to find.

[nezza]

Thank you, Kian

Yes, the lessons we have learned are so valuable. Thank you for adding those "unforgettable extras" that i forgot to put in...like the peeing on, vomiting on, etc and the sadder side, like when the owner of a very sick animal simply can't afford to do anything... The doctors i worked for were such hero's in my eyes...there were plenty of times when they would still perform a life saving, invasive, and EXPENSIVE surgery for an owner who couldn't afford it FOR FREE just because they loved the animals so much, they just couldn't see them die unnecessarily.

It saddens me that some people are just so ignorant...and angers me, too I was so tempted to print that out and give it to him...

[kian]

Print it out and mine to, hand it to the idiot.

If I had gone through Vet school, I could easily picture me doing much for free. It's great to work with wonderful Vets.

[nezza]

Kian, i think i will print it out....

and yes, i would have loved to have gone to vet school...unfortunately, my parents couldn't afford to send me and i never did anything great enough in high school to grant me a scholarship..but i'm grateful to have learned what i learned as a vet tech working for two of the greatest veterinarians i have ever met

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Vanessa, you are one of those angels that some of us are privileged enough to have touch our lives at a time when we need it the most.

I appreciate you!

Whether it be our human babies, or our fur babies, every once in a great while an angel comes along that literally is the difference between life and death. Your value is immeasurable, and your compassion when all else fails, is beyond words. On behalf of those of us who have been fortunate enough to be touched by people like you, THANK YOU! ♥

Unfortunately, you are one of the few who has this gift of compassion and caring. Something many of the much younger generation should learn along with a little humility as their carelessness nearly cost Oliver his foot when he had a Dew Claw removed and was bandaged too tightly by some "young thang" that thought she knew it all. Were it not for my own common sense, as Oliver was at home and it was now the weekend, Oliver would surely have needlessly lost his front paw. To my Vets' credit, I never saw her working there after that, and she was new at the time.

Currently, "Lorraine" who has been with my Vets' since they opened their Practice is still there, and is amazing, much like you. They also have another woman who is not a "youngster" who again is full of compassion and common sense. Whether it be a Veterinarian, an Accountant, a Physician, or a Lawyer, they are only as good as their SUPPORT staff.

Print this out and give it to the one who had the audacity to make such a callous and uninformed remark. Shame on that "Manager"!

[nezza]

wow, Deb, you don't know how much i appreciate what you said about me. It brought tears to my eyes. Thank YOU for being you, you have a real way of touching people. You always know how to make me (and others of the DP gang i'm sure) feel good.

It was smart of you to recognize what was going on with Oliver's paw!!! I never assume that i know it all and i never treated my patients/clients like that one treated you.

The doctors i worked for were great at really listening to the clients and i learned that from them.

I wish that my certain "manager" at work could read this thread....maybe i should give him a link to it No, he wouldn't even care enough to check it out....so....maybe a printing seems the best, eh

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Vanessa, some people are just like that. It's ironic how the ones with whom you worked in a far more advanced setting were respectful of everyone involved, whereas at a smaller facility, the pecking order seems terribly important, but not based in fact.

I also would not suggest a "link" to it as he would then have the ability to read everything you've written.

You can safely let it out on here.

[nezza]

Good point, deb! It really did feel good to let it out, btw

Yes, the place where i work now, is quite different. i really enjoy my co-workers and my managers for the most part...but there definitely is a pecking order...and a complete lack of respect from the top down, sadly

[nezza]

Here are some pics from last night of Waffles playing with my friends little boy....the video came out way too dark and unfortunately, is pretty unwatchable...but here are some pics...

[nezza]

this is my rock collection...living in the Tennessee mountains, i find some really beautiful rocks and i love to collect em!




This pic is of a rose my OH picked for me from our rose bush behind the house...and the statue is one that i bought because it is of an angel carrying a pup...on the way to heaven..

[nezza]

Nachos my OH makes....YUMMY!!!



A little hummingbird that loves to sit on the end of the feeder every day...

[nezza]

Waffles with his baby...






....i know that i haven't posted about Triscuit leaving us....i have felt guilty about it for a while and i'm finding it hard to talk about...i know that he is going to a happier home, though....one where he can thrive and be spoiled...and i know he will be taken good care of.....I have felt like i failed him and so, i haven't talked about it much...i hope everyone can understand where i'm coming from. I loved him very much and it hurt me to do what needed to be done...

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Vanessa, first and foremost, please stop feeling guilty for doing the right thing when it comes to Triscuit! I know some people who would merely drop the dog off at a Shelter, tell themselves they will go and "live on a Farm" and walk away, with barely a second thought, except how they can "spin" it. You are NOT one of those people, so please stop being so hard on yourself.

Triscuit needs to be where he is....safe and sound with your own sister. He didn't go to a stranger. You know about his life and his family, and you know he is safe and most importantly, loved! You did the most UNSELFISH thing, in the best interest of all involved. No more guilt, young lady! Don't make me come over there.

Waffles looks so sweet with the little boy, who is also absolutely adorable. I love Waffles' ears! They are like "Rabbit Ears", and I mean that most lovingly. He looks happy and healthy, with such a beautiful shiny Brindle coat.

I'm starving as I haven't eaten at all today yet, and those Nachos look so divine!!!! Your husband sounds like a wonderful Chef. Add to that the beautiful Roses he places throughout your home for you, and I must say, you two are blessed. ♥

Why is it that everytime we chat, I end up wanting to come down there and eat (and drink) with you?!

Live it up angel, and celebrate all that is good.