NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE
Registered veterinary technologist Taylor MacPhail cuddles Murphy, a 10 month old doodle, at Cypress View Veterinary Clinic on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019. October is RVT month in Canada.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Registered veterinary technologists play an important role working alongside veterinarians to provide pet health care.
If you have ever taken your pet to a veterinary clinic and they have been taken to “the back,” an RVT has no doubt been involved in your pet’s care. It is an RVT who is often the one to obtain samples or run tests, perhaps insert a catheter or IV and give medication. RVTs are also often the people who provide the extra comfort to your pet while receiving medical care.
In Alberta an RVT is required to have graduated from an accredited school and passed a national exam. Their training includes nutrition, dental health, providing surgical assistance, anaesthesia, radiology, ultrasound, internal medicine, laboratory, fluid management, physical rehabilitation, chemotherapy and emergency medical care.
October is RVT recognition month in Canada. Starting in 1993 there has been recognition during National Veterinary Technician week, and more recently the whole month has been set aside in recognition of the work of RVTs.
The work of RVTs is often unseen by the general public because the work is focused on animals in the treatment and hospitalization area.
