Vet Talk: Caring for Your Pets During Times of Crisis

Vet Technician Carie Lyons

Dog lovers across Texas have always dreamed of what it’s like to get to work with pets all day. Texas Dog Magazine sat down with Licensed Vet Tech Carie Lyons to find out just what working in a veterinary hospital is actually like. 

What does a Veterinary Technician do on a daily basis? 

“Assist veterinarians to provide medical care to animals. We prepare patients for surgery, monitor anesthesia, administer medications, take x-rays, fill prescription medications, perform ultrasounds, perform dental prophylaxis, care for hospitalized patients, perform laboratory diagnostics, provide client education, bereavement counseling, financial help with care costs, cuddle your scared pet, and the list goes on. Depending on experience, education level, and the type of clinic, hospital, or laboratory a Veterinary Technician's job duties vary.”

How does this differ from the role of a human nurse? 

“A Veterinary Technician will take x-rays, pull blood for bloodwork diagnostics, place an IV catheter, give a patient the medication per the veterinarian’s orders, then turn around and walk into the surgery suite and monitor anesthesia on a different patient. Human medicine has different departments and a different person to perform each of those duties. A pharmacist fills medication, a radiologist takes x-rays, etc.” 

What made you want to become a vet tech? 

“I have always loved caring for animals. Orphaned or hurt, I would try to make them better. I used to get inside of my grandpa's dog’s doghouse and lay inside with her. When she had puppies I helped. My grandma had all kinds of cats that lived outside, or in the barn, and they would have goopy eyes. She would make a paste and have me go outside and put it on them. I loved it. I now know that they probably had Chlamydia or some type of virus. I love the science of medicine and I love to care for pets medically. Helping someone’s pet get better or stay healthy is one of the best feelings in the world. Animals need people to speak for them and veterinary staff are those people.”

What type of certifications do you have and do you need these to be a vet tech? 

“I have an Associate degree in Veterinary Technology. I took a national test called the Veterinary Technician National Exam to become a Licensed Veterinary Technician. I also had to take a state test to get my license to legally be called an LVT. To legally be called a Licensed Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Technician you have to hold a license. If you do not have the credentials you are called a Veterinary Assistant. Unfortunately, at this time each state has different rules and regulations regarding our title and what we are allowed to legally do. There is a lot of controversy over this topic.”

What sets LVT’s apart from those who aren’t licensed?

“Education. Being licensed means you graduated college through an American Veterinary Medical Association certified program, then passed your state and national exam to be able to call yourself an LVT. Some states have an alternate route, like California. In California, someone who has had a certain number of years of experience in a clinic as a vet assistant in a clinic, and took some college classes that are veterinary related, can become eligible to take a state test to become an RVT (unless that changed). But they are not eligible for the national exam. So, they are only licensed in that particular state. I have worked with a lot of veterinary assistants that are just as good at their job as I am, or better, and they have no formal education, but on-the-job training is fabulous. That is why it is important to change the laws at a national level instead of state by state. It gets very confusing for people in our field.”

What is your favorite part of the job? 

“Having a critical patient come in and being able to send it home with its family. The family is so grateful and the pet is happy to be reunited with them.”

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your job at the veterinary hospitals? 

“We have been busier than ever, making our job more stressful. Most hospitals are short-staffed and it makes our shifts longer. Clients are more stressed due to their own personal COVID experiences. Whether its money related because they don’t have a job and cannot pay for medical care of a pet, or not being able to come inside of the hospital. Owners have mixed emotions about that.” 

There are rumors that your title may change to veterinary nurse, do you like this better than being called a technician? 

“I really do not care what they call me. They have changed the name before. We have been animal care specialists, CVT, LVT, RVT. The title nurse is a protected title that is obviously held by the human medical profession. The whole veterinary nurse initiative is bigger than just the title change. It’s been a slow process, but it was started to get more respect for our profession. We want Veterinary Technicians to have professional standards, public recognition, professional recognition, and better pay across the U.S. This is a career choice, not just a job that someone does before they go on to find something better.  As of now, each state has its own rules to what we can and can't do. Some states are not really clear about it. So, like human nursing, the initiative wants standardization for the field.”

What do you think the biggest misconception/myth about your job is? 

“That the doctors are trying to make money off the clients by raking up the bill. If clients could only see how much medication costs, or the equipment, the education cost for the doctors and the licensed technicians. The best care for their pet costs money, the prevention, and the bloodwork is necessary to keep fluffy healthy. So, no I am not trying to sell you heartworm prevention because I want a new car. Believe it or not heartworm treatment costs a lot more than a monthly pill and Fluffy won’t die horribly from worms crawling around inside her heart. Yearly exams, vaccines, and bloodwork may prolong fluffy’s life. I didn’t get into the field for money.”

Is there anything else you think our readers should know about being a vet tech or working at a veterinary clinic? 

“Most veterinary technicians/assistants go into the field because we love animals. Behind the scenes, we are the ones that feel sad for those clients that have to put their beloved pet down, and we cry along with you when that pet doesn’t make it after that emergency surgery we had to perform. We play with your adorable baby that comes in for a routine visit even when you're not looking. We are usually overworked and underpaid, but we still come back day after day to provide comfort to the patients in the hospital. We are the unsung heroes of the veterinary world.”

Carie Lyons is a LVT who, at the time this article went to print, was working at Town and Country Animal Hospital in Aubrey Texas. Lyons has more than 15 year of experience in the veterinary field.