Everything is damp; the air, the grass, the leaves. All is grey. Suddenly, a flash of black. The road sign glistens red as I slam on my breaks, then the yellow of my hazard lights illuminate it. Slowly, I approach a small bundle of blackness. A puppy! I scoop up the shivering pile of wet… Read More
There I Said It
TISI: Veterinary Technicians Are At War and No One Is Talking About It
Within veterinary medicine, there is a battle being waged in the trenches. Veterinary Technicians are in a fight for their careers – for respect and for fair wages. Credentialed technicians are battling for recognition and higher median salaries, all while managing patient loads, clients, DVMs and their outside lives. Lack of title protection over existing… Read More
TISI: I’m Tired of Bullying in Veterinary Medicine
Mental health. Self-Care. Anxiety. Depression. Suicide. These are all words that have come to the forefront of veterinary medicine in recent years. It is finally a topic that is being addressed in seminars, conferences and articles. It is a real problem. I have heard many theories about why it is such a problem in our… Read More
There I Said It: I’m Not Your Therapist
There, I said it. I’ve actually been thinking it for a long time. I don’t want to hear client stories unrelated to their pet’s visits. I have no desire to understand their family’s tangled web of conflict. Much less take on the task of caring enough to serve as the peacemaker. I’m your veterinarian, I’m… Read More
There I Said It… I Was Fired Three Times!
It’s hard to even type this. To relive the three times in vet med I was actually fired (there’s a fourth, but I beat them to the punch). Without sounding overly arrogant, the veterinary field lost a damn good worker and a damn good technician. I tried, I really gave it my all. And I… Read More
There, I Said it: I’m Sorry I Judged You
A client came into the clinic with her ancient dog for an appointment. Fluffy really needed to cross the Rainbow Bridge… like, two months before. This dog was receiving subcutaneous fluids for renal failure, and the owner insisted that the poor creature was still running and frolicking at home. We all found this hard to… Read More