South San Diego Veterinary Hospital: 10 Misconceptions of working in a Veterinary Hospital

I thought it might be fun to share a few misconceptions that many veterinary staff members have had when entering the veterinary field. Here are 10 of my favorite.

1. If someone tells you to go grab that "feral cat" don't do it unless you are properly prepared. Using a soft voice and bare hands will land you in the emergency room.

Fractious Cat

How not to approach

Full armor with fractious cat

2. When an owner asks for a towel to clean up where their pet soiled, what they really mean is you need to come over here and clean up their pets mess while they watch.

3. My favorite line is when an owner tells me their pet has never bitten anyone before. Key word in that conservation is Before.

4. When taking a temperature on a dog do not put your face directly behind the anus, doing so can result in an unwanted perfume for the next week.

Danger zone for temp taking

Safe temp zone

5. If you went into the veterinary field so you didn't have to deal with people, then you must have forgotten that pets don't have money, drive or speak English.

6. If you think performing a nail trim on an animal is as simple as the PediPaws commercial, you are in for a rude awakening. There is a reason why owners are willing to drive their pet somewhere and pay someone to do it.

7. Getting bit by a scared animal hurts just as bad as being bit by an aggressive animal, they just look different.

So Scared

Ready for battle

8. If you thought getting your Tech licence meant not having to clean up urine or feces think again. It just means you are better trained to clean up the urine and feces.

9. Veterinary staff and owners have different perceptions of giving medications to pets.

How we do it

How owners wish it was done

How the cat feels about meds

10. We all thought that because we love animals and have dedicated our lives to making theirs better that all animals would love us back. We have all been fooled by that one.