Tag Archives: Pets

world observations

Things Vet Techs Don’t Like Vol 9

Just like the evil cat in your clinic who’s chronically constipated TVTDL is back again for the 9th time! It seems like this list will be infinite.

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I Need an Annual Done, at 10:30pm

When working in a veterinary clinic you expect impromptu visits from clients to have their pets vaccinated at any given time during the work day. BUT when you’re working the emergency shift you don’t expect for a client to come rushing in on two wheels saying  “I need my annual vaccines done right now! I know It’s 10:30pm, but I need it now!” Okay it’s not my place to say you do or don’t need your vaccines. If you ask me I will always tell you that you need to update your vaccines yearly. BUT WHY ON GOD’S GREEN EARTH IS IT IMPORTANT TO DO IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT!!!????  If you’re fortunate enough to have a 24 hour facility near you and you want your vaccines done at night go do it if they allow it, but seriously, schedule an appointment during regular hours if you go in and see multiple patients rushed in that got hit by cars or in dog fights or poisoned. You are kind of a non-factor for a moment while they are tended to.

YOU DON’T CARE ABOUT ANIMALS!!!

This has been blogged about before, but it’s always worth mentioning again. Every Veterinary professional in existence has heard this phrase at least once or twice (A week) in their career. “You don’t care about animals, you only care about money!” it’s with a heavy sigh that I again state, Veterinary medicine is a business. Yes we care about animals, but there are still bills to pay. Certain expenses need to be covered to treat your animals. Just like with human medicine there will be expenses involved with receiving care, and more often than not those expenses are higher for emergency care, just like with humans. I promise we’re not money grubbing people. If you seen our checks you would understand that most of the money that you see going into a clinic does just that, it goes towards keeping a clinic running. If only you knew how much money flies out of the door from little minor things such as free nail trims and such that some doctors like to give to their patients as a kindness. Those little things add up over the course of a year to thousands of dollars that the doctor could have made, but didn’t because they chose to give it away. Think about that the next time you stand high and mighty on your soap box and rant that we don’t care about animals.

Insulting The Staff

Okay, I don’t know about other jobs, but in this field we aren’t employees working for a boss. We’re a family that view each other as brothers and sisters, some older, some younger, but you get the picture. We’re a blended family that doesn’t take kindly to you snickering to your friends or boldly insulting us because you don’t like our appearance or something about our hospital. We didn’t come to you and beg for you to enter our building. You came to us. The least you could do is show some respect to the people who are helping to treat your pet. Your personal opinions about the employees of the hospital you are at are not warranted. You don’t know what that particular person is going through at any given time, and that could be the the thing to set them off in an explosive way that could end badly for everyone around. Respect, I repeat, RESPECT those around you. Don’t insult my family, because I’m not insulting yours. Besides you should have some decency as a human being, it’s not like your a cat walking into the clinic looking at your human slaves…

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That’s all I got for you right now, but you know it’s going to keep coming.  Refer your friends to the blog and check out the other entries in the series.

Check out the new facebook page as well- http://www.facebook.com/thoughtsbypi

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world observations

Things Vet Techs Don’t Like Vol. 8

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Okay… Really? Just Really? Will this list stop? I doubt it. I thought this would be a quick venting mechanism and great practice writing. NOPE It’s my life now apparently. Let’s get the ball rolling…

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Running Around Like A Chicken With My Head Cut Off

Veterinary medicine is a fast paced occupation. More often than not you are multitasking and running from place to place to assist your coworkers or the doctor in some way, all the while you are trying to aid your clients as well. We understand that. We’re prepared for that. We LOVE THAT! or else we wouldn’t be here. BUUUUUUUTTTTTT!!!!! If you’re the ONE client that comes in and decides you don’t want to tell us every thing you want up front, and would rather us drag your dog back and forth a million times then refer to the picture below please,

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Don’t have an exam, go to the lobby, Then ask for a nail trim causing us to take your dog to the back and do it. Then ask for anal gland expression once that’s done, and then ask for an ear cleaning after that. You are burning bridges here quickly. Your tech on the case does in fact have MANY other things to do, and if you would have mentioned that upfront instead of hiding it like government secrets it all would have been done before your appointment ended…. Jeez.

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Invasion of Personal Space

The fact that I have to post this infuriates me. Why do you feel that it is socially acceptable to invade mine or my doctor’s personal space. This isn’t a crowded night club, or a social mixer, it’s a Veterinary clinic. So when you decide that we must feel your breath, that isn’t always fresh, on our faces we feel… inclined to be enraged. Pissed even, and grossed the hell out. The vet and the tech should leave the room feeling like they helped you, not like they were forced into a threesome with some creep. It’s simple, DON’T TOUCH ME, DON’T BREATH ON ME, DON’T ASSIST ME WITH RESTRAINT UNLESS I REQUEST IT, DON’T TOUCH MY VETERINARIAN, DON’T PAT HIM/HER, DON’T WHISPER TO US IN HUSHED TONES AND GET ODDLY CLOSE TO US, AND LASTLY, BACK THE HELL UP!!!!

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W.A.C.K.

I guess you want to know what that stands for. Well don’t worry, Mr. Poetic Ice will tell you. W.A.C.K. stands for Weird Ass Crazy Kids. Some humans are blessed with kids. Some humans are blessed to not have them, and then there are those inept jackasses that have given birth to these Weird Ass Crazy Kids that spend their young lives following Satan’s word and spreading chaos and destruction. These demons don’t know how to control their voice levels, don’t sit down, touch EVERYTHING, attempt to pet the animal during examinations and vaccinations, ask 100,675 questions, and possibly color on your chairs in the exam room all before they leave. Some would say that’s just part of being a kid, but I don’t recall worshiping the Dark Lord in my youth. We aren’t really mad at the kids, it’s the parents that act like nothing is going on. Did you not see little Michael destroy a bag of dog treats? What about Susie that keeps slapping the cat? Okay, fine, I’ll pray for you since you’re already a prisoner in your own home to little Hitler.

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LIARS

I seriously wish your pants would catch on fire, or your nose would mutate and grow into some sick mass tumor on you face. Why would you feel compelled to lie on anyone about your pet!? Whether its simple lies of omission when the tech is asking questions and you don’t mention something, but you’ll tell the doctor. Or it’s full on you lying saying we did something to harm or endanger your pet intentionally, it doesn’t matter. Why the fuck would you lie on us or to us? Our job is to help you and your pet and you would go out of your way to lie on us? Is this some sick cry for attention? A need for drama? Whatever your reasoning is, we don’t appreciate it. We hate it. If it wasn’t so ungodly we’d hate you, but we’re not like that. We’re Veterinary professionals, and we’ll use logic, and science to combat your lies. We know the truth, and we stand by it, you won’t make us falter or bend to your will.

 

Well that’s my two cents for right now, thanks for reading thus far. Do you have something that irks you in the Vet world? Let me know

Poetic Ice

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Things Vet Techs Don’t Like 7

Ladies and gents, it’s that time again for Things Vet Techs Don’t Like. One might say we have a anger issue at this point. We might say shove it but I’ll that’s not nice, and all vet techs are great at customer service… which is why we have unrivaled rage at times lol.

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OUR PATIENTS BEING POISONED!!!!

Okay first off let me start off by saying there is no reason to knowingly go poison another person’s pet out of pure malice. If a person’s dog/cat is bothering you in some way then talk to the owner about it. If that does nothing call the authorities. DO NOT FUCKING POISON SOMEONE ELSES FAMILY MEMBER!!! To a vet tech that’s like you poisoning someone’s kid. We view it the same. what the fuck are you thinking? You’re thinking I’ll show that bastard and his dog! Yeah here’s some rat poison!!! But what you think is a quick painless death and a solution to your problem, is actually not. It’s a long painful agonizing process that with the proper tests and medication can be fixed. Also if there is any indication of poisoning there is a chance your sorry ass is going to jail. WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS!????? Go ahead I’m waiting tell me… why? Hmmm? Oh Fido wouldn’t stop barking at your princess fluffy paws. The same Fluffy paws who usually barks first or is just playing with Fido, but you think because Fido is a mastiff it want’s to kill your poodle. News flash my idiotic human friend, Dogs Bark to communicate! There is no need to poison them for it.

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The Play now Pay Later Mentality

I don’t know about what happens at your local vet office, Your mechanic, your doctor’s office, or any other business you seek services from, but in my experience when you have a service rendered to you it is to be paid for right then and there. If said business has a payment plan system set up, or lines of credit that’s different, but I’m not discussing those. I’m talking at the clinic I’m used to, Payment is due at time of service. This simple concept is some how, some way being forgotten or is just tooooooooo mysterious to be comprehended by some. “I’ll just have my (insert random person here) come by and pay for it later. I’m going to be taking my medications now though.” NO, NO YOU ARE NOT TAKING YOUR MEDICATIONS, and you’re either paying for this now or having a conversation in your near future with local law enforcement. You do understand leaving an establishment after service has been rendered without paying is theft right? You stole the staff’s time, and opportunity to help someone else and make money. Yes it is a veterinary clinic, but it is still a business that makes it’s money through the helping of others. SERVICE IS OUR PRODUCT, AND YOU’RE TRYING TO STEAL IT!!! We don’t want your IOU’s, we want you to conduct yourself like a normal damn adult and pay for what you want done at the time that you have it done. Mommy’s not supposed to run and clean up your messes all the time. (Always ask what a service cost before you have it done. It’s not a shameful thing to gather information people).

I know this one was kind of short, but the list is ever growing. What pisses you off? Let me know and I’ll blog it! In the mean time check out the other entries in this series.

Volume 1: https://poeticice.com/2014/09/17/things-vet-techs-dont-like/

Volume 2: https://poeticice.com/2014/09/23/things-vet-techs-dont-like-round-2/

Volume 3: https://poeticice.com/2014/11/08/things-vet-techs-dont-like-vol-3/

Volume 4: https://poeticice.com/2014/11/10/things-vet-techs-dont-like-4/

Volume 5: https://poeticice.com/2014/11/28/things-vet-techs-dont-like-vol-5/

Volume 6: https://poeticice.com/2014/12/24/things-vet-techs-dont-like-vol-6/

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world observations

Animal Theft Via Craigslist

Originally posted here, written by me.

http://thepetdoctormb.com/blog/?p=1165

The world as we know it today is filled with many different kinds of people. Not all of them are good I’m afraid. You may encounter these “bad” people even if you are doing something positive in this world. Just met with a client that went through a terrifying ordeal with their pet who was lost for a little while. In the span of 30 minutes time the dog jumped the fence and was picked up by a good Samaritan in the neighborhood. They could find no identifying tags on the pet so they posted a “Lost dog” ad on Craigslist which as we all know is region specific. This was done in the good faith that maybe their owner would search and find the pet on there. Within a few hours a family comes to claim the pet. This dog is one sweet, loving, gorgeous dog that would go with anyone who beckoned him so naturally the good Samaritan didn’t know better when this family claimed him.

The people who claimed him weren’t his actual owners and they took the dog and did God only knows what to him. He wasn’t neutered so he was possibly going to be used as a stud dog, or possibly as a fighting dog. A sad truth, but people will claim lost dogs online for plenty of nefarious purposes. The actually owner of the dog found the craigslist ad and contacted the lady who found the pet and was horrified to find out that she has given away this woman’s dog. She eagerly gives up all info she had on the person who claimed the pet. The real owner called the police and gave all the info to them so they could retrieve her pet, only for the police to say that there is no way for them to prove that the pet belongs to the owner if they were to go. The owner promptly replied that she has the pet microchipped. They simply, and rudely responded “We don’t carry scanners on us to check.”

The owner was appalled at this fact, because they were going to do nothing to help her retrieve her pet. Luckily she had a friend who was a detective that took it upon themselves to investigate the case. As the pressure mounted against the thieves they arranged an exchange for the pet and the owner got their dog back. Normally this would be a happy ending, but we don’t live in a normal world. The pet was returned with puncture wounds and lacerations all over its body that cost the owner money to repair. Money that 9 times out of 10 a person isn’t prepared to spend at the drop of a hat. It’s shocking that a person can do all they can for their pet and have a microchip put in and still receive no help from the police. In this case the owner was reunited with their pet, but that isn’t always the outcome. some people lose their family member forever sadly.

If a case like this ever occurs to you and you have a microchip implanted in your dog and you call the cops for help, possibly request that animal control go out there with them or instead of them. Animal patrol officers carry scanners, or at least are more likely to than a police officer. Continue to press the issue, especially if you are basically spoon feeding the police all the information they need to retrieve your pet.

Here in Myrtle Beach we can call the Horry County Dispatch, 843-248-1520, and ask to speak with animal control.

Never sit back and think this could never happen to you, it very well could. We pray that it never does, but if it does Hopefully you can have a happy ending like in this case.

-Poetic Ice

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Things Vet Techs Don’t Like Vol. 5

 

This is your local vet tech after a day fool of WTF

This is your local vet tech after a day full of WTF

You see this wolf above… yeah that’s what your vet tech feels like on the inside after some of the foolish things we encounter daily.

1. Could you groom my pet please? Don’t pay the vomiting, diarrhea, random bleeding etc, any mind.

This by far really makes me blood thirsty. When a client is concerned about a few mats on the fur, or nails being too long when their pet is in dire unrelated stress. If your pet is examined and you are told about various masses felt, wounds, and/or their dehydration we aren’t going to be concerned with fluffy’s aesthetics. A nail trim and bath aren’t going to fix said pets tumor growing on their side!

The clock says it all

The clock says it all

2. I’m late for my appointment, but I damn well better be next in line to see the doctor!

Okay first of all… just who the hell do you think you are to show up late and demand immediate service? If you show up late for your pets appointment you need to realize that other appointments were scheduled and since they were here on time they will be seen ahead of you. Just because you have a card saying your appointment was for 9:30am doesn’t mean you get seen first. That becomes null and void once you show up at 10:15am. Please believe being rude about the fact that YOU were late and haven’t been seen doesn’t help you much either. To top it all off when the pet is a straight up hell beast it just makes a vet tech pretty much say fuck it…….

 

EVIL Incarnate

EVIL Incarnate

3. CUTTING PILLS!!!!!!!!

This is in no way shape or form the clients fault. This isn’t the techs fault, and this isn’t the doctors fault. It is just a way of life. A way that everyone in this business hates. WE ALL HATE CUTTING PILLS INTO 1/2 AND GOD FORBID 1/4ths for a patient. If the pills are scored then great. If they aren’t and they are coated it is a little harder. If they are already infinitesimal then you have to cut them they will 9 times out of 10 decided to shatter into oblivion so you now have to adjust your inventory to reflect loss of said pill. Pill dust every where!!!!! Oh and if you have extremely large hands, (or just hands bigger than a toddlers!) you will have a time just positioning the little bugger on a pill cutter in the first place. Now instead of a half a few pills are 2/3 of the dosage…. I hate pill cutters. I hate cutting pills…. I blame chemist and pharmacist for this. (Even though it’s not their fault either I guess.)

Hey fellow members of the veterinary community, what bugs you? comment below.

If you missed my other TVTDL post then check them out please!

Volume 1

https://poeticice.com/2014/09/17/things-vet-techs-dont-like/

volume 2

https://poeticice.com/2014/09/23/things-vet-techs-dont-like-round-2/

volume 3

https://poeticice.com/2014/11/08/things-vet-techs-dont-like-vol-3/

Volume 4

https://poeticice.com/2014/11/10/things-vet-techs-dont-like-4/

 

 

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Vote for The Pet Doctor

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It’s time for the Herald Reader’s Choice Awards here in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina again guys and gals. Our Veterinary Clinic, The Pet Doctor LLC, has been entered again and we would love your support this year. During the entire month of November you can cast your votes for the best things in Myrtle Beach. As far as Veterinary clinics ours is the best! The best part is, you could win $150.00 just for casting your vote! sounds like a sweet deal to me. So come on, help us out by casting your vote this year!

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The Pet Doctor LLC’s Mascot, Dr. Daisy

Head to www.myhorrynews.com and click on the voting button and vote for us (The Pet Doctor) as your favorite.

You could win $150.00 just for casting your ballot! Thanks for your support!!!

http://myhorrynews.secondstreetapp.com/l/Myrtle-Beach-Herald-Readers-Choice-Awards-2015

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Things Vet Techs Don’t Like 4

So by now you aren’t surprised that I have more to say. What can I say? The world keeps spinning, and flinging new kinds of WTF moments at Vet Techs daily.

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My Dog Doesn’t Bite, She May Scratch You With Her Teeth Though
This is a great source of WTF for me. The hell do you mean he doesn’t bite, but he will scratch you with her teeth? If it’s able to scratch me with said teeth it must be an attempt to bite that was narrowly dodged. If your pet is quarantined for biting by DHEC and you are in the clinic for your mandatory rabies shot then YES we are muzzling Baron Von Cujo no matter how much You say your growing mass of furry fury isn’t going to bite.

Oh I forgot To Mention 2 Days Ago My Dog Ate (Insert Foreign Object Here)
This one hurts as well as angers. As a tech it’s your job to be the Watson to your doctor’s Sherlock. You gather evidence to solve the crime or in this case save the pet. If your suspect omits a crucial piece of information you can’t do your job effectively or quick enough and may lose said pet. It hurts so bad when you know a pet could be saved from the agony of a perforated bowel and/or Death if you would have just told us every little detail during the investigation/exam. Even if you think its trivial it could save your pet’s life. Don’t lose them if you don’t have too. Common sense and speaking up goes a long way in veterinary medicine.

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Breeders, enough said
I could just say Breeders and every vet tech in existence would have a million stories of why they don’t like them. First off they see their pets as income tools and not the family members they are. Second when you do come into the clinic with your ELEVEN lab puppies all of them seem to be walking fuzzy galleries of intestinal parasites and/or Parvo candidates. You are overpopulating an overpopulated world with pets when you should encourage adoption. You buy feed store vaccines and claim your pets a vaccinated, but your clients have NO way if really knowing if they are or not. And last but not least you volunteer medical info, whether it be right or wrong in such a way that the client will take your word as the word of God over ours as if we’re the serpent in the Garden. You make work twice as hard for us.

… No. No witty comment. That’s my two cents and i’m done.

poetic ice

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A handout for pet owners: Understanding Ebola

A lot of people are growing concerned with Ebola and it reaching our borders. Arming yourselves with knowledge is the best thing to do. Being a Veterinary technician I encounter people who are concerned about their pets also being carriers or transmitting it, so I found this handout to help educate. Follow the link below to read the handout that the CDC put out.

A handout for pet owners: Understanding Ebola.

How you can’t get Ebola

  • Ebola is not airborne
  • Can’t contract it through water
  • Can’t contract it through food

How you CAN Get Ebola via

  • Touching the blood or body fluids of one sick or has died from the disease
  • Touching contaminated objects such as needles
  • touching infected animals, their blood and body fluids, eating their meat

–Knowledge is Power

Poetic Ice

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Things Vet Techs Don’t Like

Veterinary medicine is a fulfilling field of work. Being a Veterinary Technician is one of the most amazing things I’ve done, and I love my job don’t get me wrong. BUT there are things that really, REALLY just pisses you off or make you say WHAT THE F**K!? I’ve compiled a list.

1.  The He Doesn’t Bite Client/Patient
Everybody in veterinary medicine has come across that client that brings in little Tiffany the designer dog who was bred to be obedient, hypoallergenic, and lack the ability to bite. The visit will then have two phrases said. The first, “My little Tiffany doesn’t bite.” Then after two stitches and a million bloody 4×4’s later the client says “She’s never done that before!” Usually they are shocked that Tiffany was part Cujo, But usually they know their dog has a fear or aggression for strangers or people in Scrubs. WARN A PERSON WILL YA?

2. I Want My Services For Free
This particular client comes sprinkled in with your good, bad, and demonic clients. A client comes in, usually when your vet is at lunch or 2 minutes before your office closes, and they come with a laundry list of issues. First, the have never been there, the pet hasn’t seen a vet in 3 years, he makes aggression sound like cuddle time, he’s had an abscess for 2 weeks, symptoms of a UTI, and they aren’t spayed. To top it all off, they came with barely enough money to cover the exam fee. Mind you, some clinics have payment plans and/it accept care credit, but they don’t want that option. You are to take care of this pet for free out of the goodness of your heart. Why? Because you are in veterinary medicine. It’s not to be considered a business, and we are cruel when we can’t do anything for their pet.

3. So, I Googled (Insert Symptom Here)
Google is a miraculous search engine that has been making everyday life easier. UNLESS you work in veterinary medicine. We have clients that hear their pup or kitten sneeze once and they get on Google to find that their pet now has a Zoonotic parasite that causes various forms of cancer and will begin to bleed from their ears after the 7th sneeze. Oh and vaccines kill so they don’t want them. We as veterinary professionals have to work hard to rewrite the brain of the client who now wholeheartedly believes what they read via Google, and save their pet from its killer cold.

4. Owner Compliance, or Lack Thereof
Surgery, it’s really not cheap. Its not easy, and it is an invasive time consuming process that we take very seriously. Nothing is more irritating than when you educate the owner on the risks of improper post surgical care and they STILL don’t comply. Take a spay surgery on a cat or dog. The pet is left with an incision on their belly that the client is to protect by limiting movement and keeping the cone on the pets head AT ALL TIMES! So when the pet comes in with intestines hanging out and the owner has the “This is your fault” attitude we are already passed. But once we ask why and they say it’s because little Tiffany hates her cone, we go through the roof. Why, Why do you come to us just to not listen and gave to pay more money? Especially if you get mad about the price for repair surgery! Jesus…. veterinary medicine can raise your blood pressure.

That is just the tip of the iceberg,  this list will be revisited. I’m getting to pissed to continue. That’s just my 2 cents on the matter.

Poetic Ice

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