Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVTs) and their assistants are the heart and soul of any animal hospital. They offer exceptional care to animal clients, help keep things organized, and bring an air of calm that keeps us sane. While it might be Vet Tech Appreciation Week (October 13-19), we truly appreciate these special souls throughout the year. In fact, Westarbor Animal Hospital has so very many reasons to love an LVT that we just had to share:
An LVT Can Do It All
As veterinarians, we rely on our LVTs to do a bit of everything—and they always deliver! On any given day, an LVT might assist with a dental cleaning, monitor a pet during surgery, interact with nervous pet parents, facilitate lab work, care for a hospitalized pet, perform radiographs, and administer vaccines, to name just a few things. Their jobs require them to know about practically every aspect of veterinary medicine. They have to switch gears repeatedly throughout the day to keep up with patient needs. They are truly irreplaceable in any clinic or hospital.
An LVT Can Mediate
LVTs serve as an important middle ground between clients and veterinarians. They are often the first face a client will see at a visit. LVTs take the time to educate pet owners about different aspects of pet care, disease, and nutrition. If an animal needs a procedure, they will often be the one to walk a family through what to expect. They share important information from the doctors to the visitors, and even inform the office staff of essential updates. If you receive a phone call from the hospital, it will often be an LVT on the other end of the line. In addition, many practices employ veterinary assistants who are also able to act as a communication liaison between the doctor and the client. As is the case for Westarbor, many of these veterinary assistants are enrolled in technician school to become an LVT.
An LVT Has Invaluable Experience
Veterinarians go through many, many years of school to learn how to care for animals. After two years of education, an LVT will learn most of their skills on the job. This real-life training helps them gain experience in practically every element of veterinary care. They often work with a variety of veterinarians who help them learn different specialties and approaches. This experience is beneficial to everyone who has the honor of working with a Licensed Veterinary Technician in any capacity.
An LVT Keeps Pets Calm
Good bedside manners are one of the most important aspects of working as an LVT or a veterinary assistant. They are there to help keep animals calm, which can help them get the most out of their visit. From yearly wellness exams to emergency visits, the calming presence of an LVT or a veterinary assistant can be hugely beneficial to a pet.
LVT Jobs Are Hard
From juggling a host of different tasks to seeing injured and sick animals, the job of an LVT or a veterinary assistant is not for the faint of heart. These veterinary rockstars get into the field because of their love of animals, and we truly appreciate everything they do.
At Westarbor Animal Hospital, we would be nowhere without our fantastic LVTs and our highly trained veterinary assistants. They help us make our hospital what it is—and enable us to provide top-quality care for pets of all ages. To learn more about our hospital or to schedule an appointment, please call (734) 769-5391.
