My vet tech services are a great extension to your current veterinary team! As a technician, I am able to help with education, provide tips and tricks (think Mary Poppins for animals), but cannot diagnose or prescribe. I can help administer treatments at home and help with maintenance of basic needs like nail trims, ear cleaning, and anal gland expression.

Consistent nail maintenance isn’t simply cosmetic. In some cases, nails can cause pain and trigger irreversible damage to the animal.  When people think of the damage a pet’s nails can cause, most consider scratches on hardwood floors, carpet snags, and claw marks on furniture. However, long nails create potential issues for animals — a splayed foot, reduced traction, deformed feet, and even injured tendons over time.   As long nails hit the ground, it puts force on the foot and leg structure. This force can potentially lead to arthritis and ongoing pain. The growth pattern of a dog's nails forms a curved shape. If left untrimmed, the claws will eventually curve under the dog's paws and dig into the skin, creating pain when they walk.

Cats need nail trims too, however, many pet owners do not adhere to this. To be fair, it can be a difficult experience for both owner and animal. In some instances, cats can be so destructive that owners choose to declaw them, leaving the cat defenseless if caught outside or in an altercation with another animal. The solution is to reduce the cat’s ability to damage by scratching with a regular nail-trimming routine. Keeping a cat’s nails trimmed will potentially prevent nail damage to home furnishings by reducing their urge to claw.  Nail caps (as pictured above) are a great addition to reduce damage from cats scratching.  

Ear cleaning is an important part of your dog’s grooming needs. Some dogs need more frequent ear cleaning than others. Dogs who are prone to ear infections often benefit from more frequent ear cleanings.  The structure of the dog’s ear canal makes it difficult for material trapped deep within the horizontal canal to be expelled without the assistance of cleanings. This material can lead to itchiness and ear infections if not removed. 

There are many questions an RVT can answer that may not require a DVM exam, but if yours does I will let you know and direct you appropriately. But for the other 80% of questions I can typically save you a trip to the vet. When you go to the vet they have your pet's complete history, medications, allergies, medical conditions, etc. As an RVT I am trained in collecting this information and using it to help make appropriate recommendations for your pet. Facebook groups may seem like a quick place to get an answer, but they do not have your pet's information or the knowledge to ask the appropriate questions before making recommendations.