INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL CARE

INTRODUCTION TO ANIMAL CARE Personal Qualifications: Genuine care for animals Also serves animal parents Enjoy working with people Good communication skills Calm, alert Resourceful Able to cope with stress Physical Requirements Job is physically demanding Walk and standing, reaching, climbing, bending, crouching Be able to lift 50 pounds History of Vet Med As far back as 2500 BC Usually farm animals 17th and 18th centuries, cities began to support vet research to improve livestock health First vet school in 1761 in Lyons, France US-based vet schools began in 1850s, with less than a year of training Most of the 20th Century, vets were male serving farms in rural areas   American Vet Med Association Accredits colleges for vets and vet techs Vets: 4 yr science degree, 4 yr vet school Must pass national and state exams   Most vet support staff must graduate from an accredited program to be licensed.   Self-Check #1: TRUE or FALSE? The vet med field is an ideal refuge for people who prefer to avoid people and just work with animals. Which of the following is a typical benefit of a job in vet med? C: The chance to make a difference in the lives of animals. The first vet school was founded in Lyon, France in 1761. TRUE or FALSE? Most vets in the 20th Century were female.   Legal Aspects of Vet Practice Vet Practice Acts: The laws that govern vetmed in a particular state. Board of Vet Med Examiners (BVME) - A group of governor-appointed vets that oversee a state’s vet med practices. - Administers license/certification exams - Holds hearings to air complaints about its state’s vet professionals The Vet Practice Acts vary by state but define the educational and licensing requirements that apply to the state’s vets They require: graduate from an AVMA-accredited vet school & pass state and national exams. Also requires continuing education classes American Association of Vet State Boards (AAVSB) maintains a database of the requirements for credentialing of vet professionals in each state. Also defines physical facility requirements that hospitals must meet A vet tech may also be called: - Animal Tech - Registered Vet Tech - Certified Vet Tech - Licensed Vet Tech - Graduate Vet Tech “Vet Nurse” not legal, as nurse refers to humans. State and Federal Agencies Vetmed is highly regulated by state and feds Regulated to protect workers or the public from disease and other hazards Drug Enforcement Agency Division of the US Dept. of Justice Enforces the Controlled Substances Act A federal law that controls the manufacture, purchase, & distribution of certain medications- usually medications with the potential for abuse. Use requires written record   Controlled Substances Act: Must be licensed to purchase, use, or dispense Meds must be kept in a double-locked area Meds used or dispensed must be logged Written records must be kept for 5 yrs Inventory must be taken every 2 yrs   US Department of Labor Requires that each employers register & obtain an Employer ID Card. Enforces the standards known as the Occupational Safety & Health Regulations.   Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Division of Dept of Labor Protects workers from workplace hazards Employers must post certain notices & maintain written safety plans & safety equipment   Display job safety & health posters Record occupational injuries & illnesses Display warning & identification signs Provide written plans for job safety & health Train employees in proper procedure Provide protective equipment for employees   US Dept of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Institutes of Health for Biomedical research FDA   Food and Drug Administration Division of Health and Human Services Food, Drug, & Cosmetic Act is the primary law they enforce Center for Veterinary Medicine that monitors the animal care industry.   US Dept of Agriculture Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) enforces the Animal Welfare Act. Also monitors the import/export of animals & develop programs to control disease in food animals Food Safety Inspection Service ensures meat/poultry are safe and correctly labeled Agricultural Research Service Extension Service   Animal Welfare Act Group of federal laws designed to ensure lab animals receive the best possible care. Also to breeders to research/education Sets standards for care of all warm-blooded animals except rats/mice All aspects of daily care   Environmental Protection Agency Vet practices that offer certain grooming services must comply with the EPA. Exempt from federal Insecticide, fungicide, & rodenticide Act.   State Dept of Health X-ray machines   Additional State & Local Regulations General business license   Self-Check #2: OSHA stands for: Occupational Safety & Health Administration The Vet Practice Act is a set of laws written by A: State legislators The Controlled Substances Act governs the sale, manufacture, & distribution of potentially dangerous drugs. B: X-Ray machines --- State Dept of Health C: Pesticides --- EPA A: Lab rats --- Animal Welfare Act Vets who dispense or prescribe narcotic drugs are licensed by: C--- DEA   Types of Vet Practices Small Animal Private Practice - family/companion animals - small animal practice is a practice the usually sees dogs and cats - small animal companion practice is a practice that sees rabbits, birds, guinea pigs - Staff: vet techs, assistants, kennel workers, receptionists, office manager Vet Referral Practice - Ophthalmology - Oncology - Internal Medicine - Equine Medicine - Emergency Medicine Large Animal Practice - Farm animals - works closely with stable managers - disease prevention - develops programs to increase meat or milk production Mixed Animal Practice -sees large and small animals   Voluntary Professional Accreditation - Voluntarily comply with the American Animal Hospital Assoc. - Requires top-quality equipment, highly trained staff AAHA regularly inspects hospitals Biomedical research facilities may choose to follow requirements of Assoc. For Assessment & Accreditation of Lab Animal Care.   Self-Check #3: The term mixed animal practice refers to a vet clinic that treats: D --- both large and companion animals The agency that offers voluntary accreditation to companion animal hospitals is: A --- AAHA TRUE or FALSE? The primary goal of the vet health team is to treat the greatest number of animals possible. Most vet assistants are employed by: C --- small animal practices   The Vet Health Care Team Delegation of tasks in vet hospitals Vets delegate tasks to free up time Vet staff may assist in filling prescriptions, administering meds, or preparing animals for surgery   Vet Tech Graduates of AVMA-accredited programs are called vet techs Prohibited from diagnosing disease, prescribing meds, & performing surgery Works directly under the vet   100 AVMA-accredited programs in the US Must pass the national exam   Vet Tech Specialist Vet techs that specialize Society: group of people that have an interest in a particular area of vet med Academy: Groups of vet professionals that achieve specialty status   National Assoc. Of Vet Techs in America (NAVTA): provides a process to allow vet techs societies to develop credentialing exams and guidelines Recognized specialty academies: - Academy of Vet Emergency & Critical Care Techs - Academy of Vet Tech Anesthetists - Academy of Vet Dental Techs - Academy of Internal Medicine for Vet Techs Societies that haven’t achieved specialty status: - Society of Vet Behavior Techs - The American Assoc. Of Equine Vet Techs   Vet Assistants Works under vet or vet tech Good communication skills   Kennel Aide Boarding kennels American Boarding Kennel Assoc.   Vet Receptionist Trained on the job, few programs   Vet Practice Manager Responsible for all business aspects Vet Hospital Managers Assoc.   Self-Check #4 One of the tasks a vet may delegate to a support staff member is: D --- dispensing medication to a client TRUE or FALSE? Both vets and vet techs can prescribe medications Vet assistants work directly under: B --- the vet or vet tech Ordering supplies - C --- practice manager Initial client contact - D --- receptionist Preparing surgical equipment- B --- vet tech Restraining an animal- A --- assistant   Vet Practice Design Areas of the vet clinic: - Outpatients are patients that do not stay in the hospital; they usually receive vaccines, removal of sutures, & annual exams - Inpatients are patients that stay in the hospital; dentals or surgery - Client is the pet parent - Patient is the pet Reception Area - first greeted; considered the coordination center of clinic - many things happen here: filing records, phone calls, & payments Exam Room - temperature taking, pulse, and respiratory rate Surgical Suite - surgical table, surgery and anesthetic supplies - 3 rooms: prepare, surgery, recovery Treatment Area - center of the practice - receive meds and treatment Grooming area - some offer grooming services Hospital Ward - confinement area for pre/post surgery patients Isolation Area - animals with easily transmittable diseases are kept here X-Ray Room - next to surgical suite - lead aprons, gloves, & collars and lead eyeglasses Darkroom - Used to develop xrays Lab - clinical diagnostic procedures - had microscope & specialized equipment for analyzing blood samples Employee Lounge - Food and take breaks Pharmacy - medicine and supplies Staff Offices and Library - vet offices - practice manager Storage Areas - pet food, treats, flea & tick   Self-Check #5 The reception area is the vet practice’s coordination center Which of the following is NOT part of good client care? C --- a place where clients stand a reassure their pets during surgical operations TRUE or FALSE? All vet practices include a grooming area Isolation area - B --- quarantine of patients Treatment area - D --- medication/diagnostic procedures Lab area - C --- Clinical procedures Hospital Ward- A --- confinement of inpatients     Other Opportunities in the Animal Care Field Kennel Aide Supervisor Assistant Manager Manager   Lab Animal Tech - check animals daily for food, comfort, and maintain environment conditions - American Assoc. For Lab Animal Science offers the certification exam Assistant Lab Animal Tech - Helps techs to take care of animals - Cleans cages, observe animals   Pet Shop Attendant Pet Sitter Salesperson Dog trainer Animal Control Officer Animal Shelter Aide Zoo Animal Caretaker Wildlife Rehabilitator   Self-Check #6 Animal Control Officers are responsible for: A --- picking up stray animals TRUE or FALSE? No formal education is required to own/operate a pet sitting business A wildlife rehabilitator takes care of injured/orphaned wild animals with the goal of returning them to the wild TRUE or FALSE? Illness in zoo animals is easy to spot Which of the following companies hire vet techs/assistants for their sales force? D --- all of these   Professionalism The conduct, aims, or qualifications that characterize or mark a profession or professional person. Professional Presentation & attitude - wear appropriate clothes - Must be patient, sensitive, confident, proud, competent, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and understanding Professional Assoc.: - National Assoc. Of Vet Techs in America (NAVTA) -  Assoc. of Vet Dental Techs - Vet Lab Assoc. - Academy of Vet Emergency & Critical Care Techs - American Vet Med Assoc. - American Animal Hospital Assoc. (AAHA) - Assoc. Of Zoo Vet Techs - Vet Tech Anesthetists Society Professional Ethics - Professionals: individuals who meet a profession’s requirements & agree to uphold its ethical code Principles of Vet Med Ethics is the official ethical code for vets Wrote in 1867 by American Vet Med Assoc. Vet tech code of ethics in 1989   Self-Check #7 Which of the following reflects professionalism? D --- all of the above Principles of Vet Med Ethics is the official code for vets TRUE or FALSE? Animal research is cruel, unnecessary & has no benefit. Vet practices that refuse legal requests on ethical grounds are B --- running the risk of the client not returning