The document discusses National Veterinary Technician Week from October 11-17 and the important roles that over 80 licensed veterinary technicians play at the Animal Medical Center. As the center's newly opened Cancer Institute requires highly skilled technicians to coordinate cancer treatment including laboratory testing, radiation therapy, chemotherapy administration, and patient education. Veterinary technicians are critical to safe and effective anesthesia, chemotherapy preparation and administration, blood draws, and caring for a wide variety of cancer patients beyond dogs and cats. They undergo extensive training through accredited 2-year college programs to perform their important work.

2. National Veterinary
Technician Week
October 11-17
The Animal Medical Center
Every year, AMC
celebrates National
Veterinary Technician
Week, honoring veterinary
“nurses.” This year’s
theme:
Our passion shows with
every species we touch

3. More than 80 licensed
veterinary technicians play a
crucial role in caring for
patients at the AMC. The
AMC’s newly opened Cancer
Institute requires highly skilled
technicians to coordinate
laboratory testing, deliver
radiation therapy, schedule
procedures, administer
chemotherapy and educate pet
owners regarding home care
for their pet suffering from
cancer.
Role of Veterinary Technicians
The Animal Medical Center

4. Technicians place endotracheal tubes
Cancer patients require anesthesia for biopsies, tumor removal and
administration of radiation therapy.
Technicians
place a breathing
tube in a dog’s
trachea to deliver
anesthetic gas
during a CT
scan.
The Animal Medical Center

5. Technicians supervise delivery of
radiation therapy
The Animal Medical Center
Veterinary technicians play
a critical role in safe and
effective anesthesia for
procedures such as
radiation therapy.

6. Technicians formulate chemotherapy drugs for
administration to cancer patients
Chemotherapy
drugs are
prepared in a
biological safety
cabinet behind a
plexiglass
shield.
The Animal Medical Center

7. Technicians organize chemotherapy drugs
Oncologists prescribe the medications and technicians ensure correct dosing
and safe delivery.
AMC uses closed
system transfer
devices to
prevent exposure
of personnel to
chemotherapy
drugs.
The Animal Medical Center

8. Technicians administer chemotherapy
And many other lifesaving medications
The Animal Medical Center

9. Technicians draw blood and submit
samples to the laboratory
Oncologists depend on blood tests to monitor treatment response and adverse
effects. Technicians serve as a “right hand man” in this process.
The Animal Medical Center

10. Oncology technicians care for pets other
than dogs and cats
Caring for these pets requires
collaboration between exotic animal specialists and oncologists.
The Animal Medical Center
Rats can be
cancer patients
too!

11. Oncology technicians wear purple
gloves
The Animal Medical Center
Purple nitrile
provides
protection against
inadvertent
exposure to
chemotherapy
agents.

12. Technicians are highly trained
professionals
In the United States, over 200 veterinary technology programs have received
accreditation. Training of veterinary technicians takes place in 2-year colleges,
4-year colleges and there are even online training programs.
The Animal Medical Center
If you would like to join
the ranks of these
professionals whose
passion shows with
every species they
touch, check for an
accredited program near
you.

13. Read blogs
from prior years
Tech Week 2012
Tech Week 2013
Tech Week 2014
The Animal Medical Center
Or meet the AMC technician
who just won the contest
“Why I love being a vet
tech.”

14. Most important of all!
The Animal Medical Center
October 11-17 is National
Veterinary Technician
Week:
Be sure to thank the
many veterinary
technicians who keep all
types of animals healthy.