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Veterinary technicians are vital in end-of-life cases
Mary Gardner, DVM
There is nothing better to Dr. Gardner than a dog with a grey muzzle or skinny old cat! Her professional goal is to increase awareness and medical care for the geriatric veterinary patient and to help make the final life stage to be as peaceful as possible, surrounded with dignity and support for all involved. A University of Florida graduate, she discovered her niche in end of life care and is the co-founder and CTO of Lap of Love, which has more than 130 veterinarians around the country dedicated to veterinary hospice and euthanasia in the home. Dr. Gardner and Lap of Love have been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, The New York Times, the Associated Press, The Doctors and numerous professional veterinary publications. You can usually find Dr. Gardner wherever the party isor the golf course!
Techs are well suited to provide guidance to pet owners in upsetting and unfamiliar circumstances, expert says.
Veterinary technicians are widely respected and valued for the comfort and care they provide patients before, during and after procedures in the clinic. But Fetch dvm360 conference speaker Mary Gardner, DVM, co-founder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice network, says techs carry the same significance for clients, including those whose pets unfortunately won't recover.
"Families need their hand to be held, they need communication, they need some guidance" during hospice, she says.
There's plenty of vet tech love to go around:
Practitioners: Delegate to your technicians and supercharge your effectiveness in the clinic.
'The day does not run without my veterinary technicians'.
Vets can solve every problem (y'know, as long as they have techs).
While some medical topics need to be discussed specifically with the veterinarian, Dr. Gardner says techs are excellently equipped and positioned to discuss management of clinical signs a pet may be exhibiting, as well as help clients assess patients' quality of life.
"Our technicians are wonderful and they absolutely can handle end-of-life conversations and be rock stars at it," she says.
Watch the video for more.
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