Dion Small, BSc, LVT, discusses one of the biggest challenges for veterinary technicians in a dvm360 interview.
Dion Small, BSc, LVT, director of cardiology, primary care, internal medicine, and special care unit at The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York, New York, addresses one of the biggest challenges for veterinary technicians in this dvm360 interview. In this video, Small discusses how veterinary technicians can become overwhelmed with the “emotional cost” of caring for patients with conditions that are not expected to improve. Technicians are also managing the mental and emotional well-being of clients with pets facing euthanasia, Small said.
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The following is a transcript of the video:
Question: What are challenges that veterinary technicians often face on the job?
Dion Small, BSc, LVT: I think for a lot of people, because we're so invested in patient care, it's really hard managing a patient that is really ill, especially if you know that sometimes pet parents aren't...emotionally prepared for euthanasia, so they want to hold on as long as they can. The technicians have to be the ones nursing the patients...which they do a phenomenal job at, but it's also, for some people, at an emotional cost. I think that is one of the biggest challenges: We're so caring about the patients.
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