When vet and human medicine collide 😂

tis but a flesh wound

Okay so hear me out. I saw this video on Instagram where a vet clinic applied a small ice pack on a cats head to get them to sit still. After seeing the video but not having a small enough ice pack, I found some mayo packets and threw those into the freezer just to try it out. My vet and I were both confident there was no way it would work, but I thought it couldn't hurt to try.

We've all had the wiggly cats that you need blood or a blood pressure reading on, etc but they just won't sit still. I'm a big fear-free advocate and cat whisperer so I usually work with the cat to do whatever makes them the most comfortable so we can get what we need (I refuse to scruff since it causes cats so much stress and anxiety). Sometimes the cat refuses to cooperate no matter what we do, and it's frustrating.

It took about two weeks until the perfect candidate came in to try the mayo packets out, but I can't stress enough how absolutely magical it has been. Several cats that wouldn't sit still for anything in the world just froze and didn't move an inch after applying the frozen mayo packet to their head. It's been a game changer.

So here is where I'd like to discuss with my fellow vet techs: is there something I'm missing? Is this cruel in any way? Are we potentially causing more fear and stress?

I can't find any information on this other than the typical, "don't do it for very long" type things but the application on the cats head is only for 2-4 minutes tops while trying to get samples for diagnostics. Not to mention the mayo packet melts incredibly quickly since it isn't meant for that type of application, so it isn't like it's applying freezer temps for more than a minute tops.

What are our thoughts?

Hello - just checking to see how other mars hospitals are doing with the new system. AFAIK, all banfields across the country have been down since yesterday. I knew this rollout would be a nightmare but this is something else. Anyone w blue pearl or vca? Has the new system even rolled out there yet?

I’m working at my first 24/7 staffed hospital and will have the opportunity to work overnights once I’m out of the training period since I chose to work days for now. I’ve never worked true over nights (I’ve done like 11a-11p and have done on-call). For those of you who have worked them or currently are is it worth it? The shift would be 8pm-8:30am three days a week and would come with pretty significant pay stipend.

Does Roo do urine drug tests for CVTs? I have a medical marijuana prescription card, but unsure what their policies are before going through onboarding...

How many doctors are typically on shift? How many receptionist, vet tech, vet assistant kennel staff?

We always have 2 receptionists, 1-2 kennel staff, 3-4 vet assistants, 1 vet tech (excluding two shifts a week), 2 doctors per day. We see 4-7 'appointments' an hour plus vet assistant/tech appointments.

Applied to Tandem recently and was really interested in the position as a virtual vet tech. Literally seemed like the perfect job but it's been over a month and I haven't heard from them at all. Was wondering if there's other companies or job search sites I can look into that might have remote entry level positions in the animal care industry. I have 6+ yrs of animal care experience, would love to get a job here in the town I live in but there isn't very many options and they are extremely toxic/malpractice. I'm also really needing something so that I can move out of Texas in general. Any advice or pointers would be so greatly appreciated as I'm feeling stuck and a bit hopeless atm.