The Veterinary Technology Blog

For many animal-lovers, choosing a career as a veterinary technician is a natural choice. It’s a field that couples the rigor of scientific laboratory testing with soft skills in patient caretaking.

Human health is closely linked to the health of animals and the health of our shared environment. Today, humans and animals interact more closely than ever before. More than half of all diseases people get are zoonotic, meaning they can spread between animals and humans.

Learn about the daily responsibilities of the zoo veterinary technician, and about how to prepare to manage and help care for exotic, rare, and sometime dangerous animals.

Pet owners can be a notoriously particular bunch: people who dote on their animals tend to have very specific ideas of what’s best for their furry companions. Giving these folks a gift for the holidays that they won’t just have a use for but will actually cherish can be downright frustrating.

Pursuing a veterinary medicine or animal science career can be costly in today’s higher-learning environment. Luckily, there are many ways to help you cover the costs, whether pursuing a DVM or an undergraduate degree in veterinary technology. Scholarships are generally based on academic excellence and financial need, though many other criteria may apply, depending on the award. Browse our extensive list of options.

Considering how deeply bonded we are to our pets in this country, it’s surprising that the first wellness program for pets wasn’t launched until more recently, in 2002, when the National Research Council of the National Academies sponsored PetFit at Purdue University.

First begun in 1993 by a NAVTA resolution, Vet Tech Appreciation Week exists to enlighten the public about veterinary technicians and explore the field in greater detail. Established in the third week of every October, the appreciation week spotlights the profession and shows gratitude to those special vet techs in our life. This gift-giving guide for vet techs offers options for thoughtful, fun, and useful gifts.

If you recently graduated or are close to completing a veterinary technology program, congratulations! The majority of the hard work is behind you, but there is one final hurdle to jump before you can start your career as a licensed, certified, or registered veterinary technician: the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).

Just because you have seen every episode of Swamp People or know more about calling ducks that the guys on Duck Dynasty doesn’t mean that you would be a good veterinary assistant. True, it is helpful to have a background dealing with animals, but there are many other considerations when deciding to make veterinary assistance your lifetime career.

With the anticipated growth of the pet care industry, veterinarians will need more qualified technicians and technologists to perform tests, prepare vaccines, prep tissue samples, take blood samples, clean instruments, maintain equipment, and assist vets during surgery.

Vet tech candidates preparing for interviews may have an advantage if they are familiar with the questions they may be asked. This collection of questions—some common and others less so—along with possible answers, were all shared by past and present vet techs.

Assistance dogs take loyal companionship to a professional level. Trained to perform specific tasks that mitigate a person’s disability, these canine volunteers play a crucial role in the lives of the people they serve.

Think that all veterinary teaching hospitals are alike? Think again! This list of 15 great veterinary teaching hospitals includes schools that specialize in multiple services, treatment of many different types of animals and even outreach into the community.

To prepare in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, Ready advises having emergency kits on hand not only for the human members of your family but for your pets, too.

Whether you are a veterinarian or vet tech in training, or simply a pet owner who wants to stay up on the latest in animal care news, reading blogs is one of the easiest ways to do it. Because blogs are updated regularly they can take a more nuanced and informative approach to animal care issues. The blogs included in this list are among the best—at times educational, heartwarming, personal, and funny.