2014 CVM News: National Veterinary Technician Week spotlight

Abstract

This news item is about: On a typical day, Laura Barlow, a licensed veterinary technician (LVT) in medical oncology at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, will check on emergency patients admitted overnight to her service and help facilitate their morning needs. She also will meet with clients; admit patients to the hospital; take their temperatures, weights, blood pressures, and respiration and heart rates; collect diagnostic samples for blood work and urine testing; place catheters; administer fluids; give chemotherapy treatments; assist veterinarians with biopsies, operations and administering anesthesia; schedule ultrasounds and radiographs; and complete all related records while teaching Cornell veterinary students how to do the same. In the Equine and Nemo Farm Animal Hospital, Kalli Anderson-Dyer, LVT, will perform many of these same tasks, as well as set up for routine dental work or eye injuries (not quite so routine when you are dealing with a horse, cow, pig or alpaca, she says); prepare for emergency procedures; and arrange other services such as farrier (horseshoeing) work. She also teaches students how to work around large animals when performing these tasks.