The Savvy VetTech

Did you know there are 2 types of portosystemic shunts- intraheptic and extrahepatic. Intraheptic shunts are found within the liver parenchyma, whereas extrahepatic shunts are occur outside of the liver parenchyma.

A new poll has revealed the costumes pet parents are most likely to put their fur babies in this Halloween. TC Newman (@PurpleTCNewman) has the adorable details.

Who doesn't love pets in costumes? And no, it's not cruel, just cute. We wish you and your pets a safe and Happy Halloween!

I recently attended a Continuing Education meeting on The Team Approach to Veterinary Dentistry, which was given by Dr. Mike Balke, who is a Fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry at AZ Veterinary Dental Specialists.

He presented some very interesting and valuable information that I wanted to pass along to our blog readers, because I think these ideas are something that as veterinary technicians you can help implement in the practices where you work.

A Salter-Harris fracture involves fractures of the growth plate. These fractures are specifically seen in young, growing animals. The growth plate fractures because it’s the weakest part of the bone. If fractured, surgery needs to be done as soon as possible, after the injury occurs. Veterinary surgeons use the Salter-Harris system to categorize these fractures into grades or types.

Every day is a different celebration of something. Whether it is National Coffee Day, Take Your Kids To Work Day, or National Ghost Hunting Day (yes, this was Oct. 1st) there is something for everyone!

Did you know portosystemic shunts are defined as "vessels that allow normal portal blood draining from the stomach, intestines, pancreas and spleen to pass directly into the systemic circulation without first passing through the liver"(Fossum and Duprey 2002).

This is a very special month to share a vet tech story with Vet Tech Appreciation coming up soon. We know you will be inspired by Catherine Holly's path in veterinary medicine. A huge thank you to Cat for sharing her story; thanks for all you do!

Eyes and Ear…O for ocular and A for auricular.

Take this quick quiz to see if you know the fracture types. Be sure to take our other quizzes!

After you have taken your zillionth x-ray for the day, do you ever worry about the radation you are exposed to in the workplace causing lasting health effects on you? Many vet techs have some type of fear about the harm that ionizing radiation could cause. It is important to ensure that you are using good technique and minimizing your risks. If you do this, your radiation exposure will be at a minimum and very unlikely to cause any harmful effects.

Did you know horses have hypsodont, or high-crowned teeth, that continue to erupt throughout their life. This is why they have to have their teeth filed, or "floated."