From Start to Finish, Techs Make Your Vet Appointments Smooth and Easy

Remember the last time you took your dog to the vet? You were probably greeted by a vet tech at the front door who helped you lead your dog onto the scale and checked you in for your appointment. You may not have realized it, but that same vet tech played a huge part in ensuring your dog’s appointment was easy and successful. 

Just like nurses do at a typical doctor appointment, vet techs take on a lot of responsibilities both in front of the patients and behind the scenes. According to VetStreet.com, “It’s easier to list what they can’t do: make diagnoses, perform surgery, or prescribe medication.”

With so many necessary tasks to take care of, you may be surprised to learn that the vet tech position didn’t exist before the 1960s. Previously, veterinary offices, animal hospitals, and zoos relied on average office workers to handle administrative and regular care tasks. As technology developed and the knowledge base of animal healthcare grew, veterinary professionals realized the need for skilled assistance. 

Since the 1960s, vet techs have made pet parents’ lives better in so many ways. Be sure to thank your vet tech for all of these things at your next appointment:

Vet techs set the tone for the whole appointment

As we mentioned above, vet techs are the first face you see when you enter your veterinarian’s office, and they’re often the last faces you see when you check out and leave. Having a vet tech who can greet your dog and make them feel comfortable from the start can set the tone for the whole appointment. 

Lots of dogs display anxiety at the vet’s office. You can’t blame them: often, we only visit the vet’s office once or twice a year, if that. Your dog isn’t used to those surroundings or the new sounds and smells that come along with them. Having a vet tech who is used to handing anxious dogs can help keep them calm enough to get through their tests and procedures and get back to the treats. 

Vet techs can help you with at-home care

Vet techs take care of the technical tasks so that the lead veterinarian can handle diagnoses, procedures, and prescriptions. They’re also your link for questions and tips about at-home care and administration of medications.

Senior dog parents especially know that it can be overwhelming to leave the vet’s office with a handful of new pills and prescriptions. Your vet tech can give you their own tried and true tips for administering medications, even for dogs who try to avoid them. As you develop a working relationship with your vet tech over time, they’ll get to know your dog’s unique needs and quirks so they can help you take better care of them at home. 

Vet techs love your animals when you’re not there

Nobody likes leaving their dogs at the vet’s office overnight. For someone like me who works from home with my boy Jackson always at my side, being at home without him there for just a day can seem like an agonizing eternity. Knowing that he is with vet techs who will love and care for him makes things a little easier. 

The third week in October is National Vet Tech Appreciation Week, but we think they should be celebrated year-round! If there’s a special place in your heart for your vet techs, leave them a positive review on Google or social media and share the love.

Did you know that the first ever pet insurance policy in the U.S. was issued to TV’s Lassie in 1982? It’s hard to believe that pet insurance has been around for so long, but we’ve definitely been hearing more about it in recent years. Vet visits can be expensive, but they’re a critical part of your dog’s overall health and wellness. Pet insurance helps offset those costs, but still, some pet parents hesitate to get it. Is it a good idea? Is it a necessity? How do I know I’m getting the right plan for my money?

Why Pet Insurance is a Good Idea

We have pet insurance for our dog, Jackson, and we highly recommend it for senior dogs. As you may have read in our previous blog, senior dogs should be going to the doctor more often than their adolescent and adult counterparts. Pet insurance not only helps offset your regular visit costs, it also provides special coverage for unexpected illnesses and injuries. 

Unlike human insurance policies, pet insurance gives you a wider selection of veterinarians in your treatment area. It means that you’re able to find the best care and treatment for your dog without being so limited by family finances. Of course, securing pet insurance when your dog is younger or when you first adopt him or her helps you get the best policies. Still, your dog is family and you always want the best for them.

What to Look For in a Pet Insurance Policy

Now that you know you need one, what should you be looking for when you choose an insurance policy? Money.com recently listed their top 10 best pet health insurance companies, and we’ve gained a lot of insight from their article.

Does the policy have a deductible?

Much like human insurance policies, pet policies are often made with a deductible that you need to reach before they start covering your expenses. Some plans allow you to set your own deductibles. Others, like Embrace, base your deductible on how often you need medical services; every year you don’t file a claim, embrace reduces your deductible by $50. Keep an eye out for policies that have per-incident deductibles. 

Is there a waiting period for reimbursement?

The time you have to wait before you’re reimbursed for your vet expenses varies from company to company. According to Money.com, a majority of companies require a wait of at least 2 weeks before they reimburse you for what you spent to treat an illness. The speed with which you’re reimbursed often depends on the nature of your visits. Payment for injuries and accidents often happens more quickly than payment for chronic illnesses.

What treatments and procedures are covered by my policy?

Again, similarly to human insurance policies, every dog insurance policy covers different things. Your standard insurance policy will cover visits for injury and illness, with options to add on coverage for preventive care, dental care, and so on. Keep in mind that pet insurance policies most often do not cover preexisting illnesses, so any visits to treat conditions your dog had before you enrolled them in health insurance will not be covered.

Your Veterinarian Can Help

Your vet should be able to point you in the direction of the best insurance option for your dogs. Pet insurance companies require a full checkup for your dog before they can be enrolled, so if you haven’t already selected a veterinarian, now is a great time to do so. We’d love to hear more about your experiences with dog health insurance. Send us a message on Facebook at Pawsitively Pure Dog Food, or fill out the contact form on our website.