This week is National Veterinary Technician Week, now in its 20th year thanks to the National Assocation of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). Which means it’s a fine time to show your favorite vet tech some love — but hurry, the celebration ends tomorrow!
As any dog lover who has ever had to cope with the emergency hospitalization of a beloved pet knows, vet techs deserve all the appreciation they can get, plus an extra dose on top of that. Here’s the chance to repay some of the unique TLC they so generously give our pets all year long.
While they expertly care for our dogs in critical situations, veterinary technicians inevitably get super-attached to them; it’s an occupational hazard, because their job basically requires them to take care of a dog as if he’s one of their own. It’s a demanding, emotionally draining job that vet techs take on bravely and perform brilliantly. And the animals in their care feel that love: Call it Vet Tech TLC, or VTTLC for short.
The feeling of security and safety that VTTLC provides is impossible to overvalue, especially when, say, a dog is fighting for his life in intensive care and not able to see his owner for days at a stretch. And even more than the highest of high-tech equipment in the most state-of-the-art animal hospital, low-tech VTTLC is often a big reason why some dog patients pull through life-threatening situations to become astonishing success stories.
We regret that we’re fashionably late to the vet-tech appreciation party, but have we got a sweet, timely story to share with you: the news equivalent of a cupcake!
Dogster readers will remember the story of Sofie, a tiny Yorkshire terrier puppy who was accidentally left brain-damaged, deaf, and blind during a routine procedure under anesthesia. Sofie’s owner, Corinne Scholtz of Florida, credits hyperbaric oxygen therapy with her dog’s near-miraculous recovery of sight.
October 17 was little Sofie’s first birthday — obviously, a major milestone for Corinne and her family — so Corinne wanted to show her appreciation to Nicole “Nikki” Maybay. Nikki’s the vet tech who manages the operation of Calusa Vet Center’s hyperbaric chamber, ensuring that canine (and feline) patients experience a safe, comfortable time during every HBOT session.
“We went to Calusa and celebrated with the doctors and techs,” Corinne tells Dogster. “Nikki Maybay is Sofie’s ‘angel’ — Nikki showered Sofie with love when Sofie was at her very worst. We were desperate and anxious to provide every chance for Sofie to heal before making the decision to put her down. Sofie’s experience with HBOT was amazing, and Nikki’s genuine compassion and love for Sofie and our family was immeasurable.” So Corinne whipped up a batch of melt-in-your mouth pumpkin spice cookies that the Calusa staff are still talking about even though they disappeared almost immediately after they arrived.
“Sofie didn’t just have ‘treatment’ — she became a part of the Calusa family,” adds a deeply grateful Corinne. “There was no one else I wanted to share her first birthday with than Nikki and the staff at Calusa. I will always believe that Nikki healed Sofie with the positive energy she sent during the treatments.”
Like the great vet tech she is, the modest Ms. Maybay says all that VTTLC she generously administered to her petite patient was all in a day’s work. And she speaks for herself and the rest of her team in reporting that, “The doctors here at Calusa all did a very good job of observing Vet Tech Week, so every day we’ve had breakfast… lunch… a smorgasbord!” Adds Nikki with a laugh, “It’s Thursday, and we’re, like, sick!”
So let’s get the hashtags #NVTW and #VTTLC trending on Twitter!
Dogster readers, is there a special vet tech in your life? Please share in the comments.
