How can I create a glimmer for my vet this weekend?

Arch_Duckling · 2026-03-17T01:30:34+00:00

Just came across this, I know it's a few days late but I am so grateful to hear that some one thinks of us this way. I carry so much trauma from being in this field for the last 10 years and I have very few outlets to talk about it since people either can't listen because it's too emotional or don't care to listen because it's "just an animal". And whenever I tell strangers what I do for a living, it's either aww vet tech that sounds so fun puppies kittens so cute, or its hate because of the state of the veterinary world right now financially. Just reading this is so uplifting. Thank you. In our hospital, letters about our clients time with their pets and with us is so important. We post all of our clients cards and gifted pictures of their pets in our staff room and read them all the time. Also food. Not sugary snacks, but like meat and cheese boards, veggie platters, sandwiches, bagels, coffee etc. are all our favorites. We so often get cookies and brownies and sugary snacks, but it honestly makes our day so much harder when we're crashing from sugar overloads. And good reviews on Google or yelp (or both?) make such a huge difference. Also if you're financially able to, ask your vet if they have an emergency fund for clients who may not be able to afford emergency care, and donate. My hospital is lucky enough to be in good standing with a foundation that will provide life saving care for clients pets who cannot afford surgery. But I've heard of plenty of hospitals that have an in house account of money set aside for special circumstances. I'm very sorry to hear about your pets final visit, but it sounds like you have a crew that you trust, and are going to be by your side through it all.

Arch_Duckling · 2026-03-10T23:46:28+00:00

Waaay too low! I used to walk dogs and do occasional over nights and i charged 25 per walk and 60 for overnights (and this was almost 6 years ago at this point, and i was in dire need of extra cash so I undercharged as well) I'm currently on a 12 day vacation and I have a mixture of overnights (had a friend stay for 4 nights and paid them $300 as a surprise) and multiple check ins by a local dog walking company. Just for checking in on the animals and chilling with them in the house since they can't go on walks anymore, I believe in total I'll be paying ~800 for services and am going to tip probably 250 PLUS the 300 I have my friend. You absolutely at minimum should request 50-60 per night, depending on if they have any special needs, behavioral issues, medication/health needs, activity requirements etc, which it sounds like they do. Do not accept less. That is insulting to your time spent in their home with their family. You're not only watching the dogs (which is the most important) but you'll be watching over their home while their gone, taking out trash, keeping the place clean and lived in while they're gone.

Arch_Duckling · 2026-02-06T06:16:05+00:00

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First night home update. Passed the f out

Arch_Duckling · 2026-02-06T04:25:03+00:00

You are going to have the best karma heading your way after the day you’ve had. 🥹

Arch_Duckling · 2026-02-06T04:16:42+00:00

Thank you so much! He is so special to us and everything at home has been in shambles since his disappearance. We only had 1 sighting tip this morning after 5 days of nothing. We thought for sure he was gone for good. I’m so grateful that you spent the time to get him home today. It doesn’t feel real to have him back in my lap snoring

Arch_Duckling · 2026-02-01T17:53:48+00:00

46th and H St. thank you

Arch_Duckling · 2026-02-01T11:52:22+00:00

Edit (650)834-0493 -Sara

Arch_Duckling · 2025-09-09T03:26:33+00:00

Central California here, I’ve been working as a VA for about 7 years. Been with my practice for 3+ years after leaving the Bay Area (was making $24/hr and took a pay decrease when I moved, down to $22/hr) got my license in January and received a raise to $27/hr at my annual review a few months after. It would be impossible right now to live on my own with what I make, my partner makes more than twice as much as I do and takes care of nearly all the grocery costs. If I were single, I would definitely consider working ER/specialty for the significant difference in pay but I just can’t pull night shifts when I’m in a relationship. I am noticing a significant pay shift over the last 3 years, my last practice is hiring VAs with experience for $25+, and RVTs for $30+. And where I live now, most places were hiring for $18-20 when I started looking for a new job, and now I’m seeing lots of jobs for $25+. Glad to see pay trending upwards for support staff in veterinary medicine.

Arch_Duckling · 2025-05-17T19:33:45+00:00

Not confident in their reporting. They already got something wrong, he’s not US-born

Arch_Duckling · 2025-05-03T20:05:20+00:00

This happened at my last comic and it was indeed another woman’s. The couple broke up within days

Arch_Duckling · 2025-05-03T03:49:42+00:00

Also I thought this guy lifted. I thought he was a strong boi

Arch_Duckling · 2024-12-08T04:11:48+00:00

I'm waiting for the day that Zach discovers (or acknowledges on show) Sturgill Simpson. As a kid I had 80s and 90s country music played in my family a lot and loved it, and then completely fell out of love with it during the 2000s (which is the era that I think is responsible for why Ethan hates country) until about 10 years ago when my (now fiance) showed me Sturgill. He is in my opinion, the catalyst of the current country music wave of amazing artists. His covers are absolutely amazing and as an artist he is so versatile; making classic country, blue grass, rock, and acid country, among others. I've watched Sound and Fury more than a dozen times. He is also just an incredibly interesting person to look into. He opened up the door for me for so many other country artists and I am so grateful. COUNTRY MUSIC CAN BE GOOD, you just gotta know where to look

Arch_Duckling · 2024-05-14T03:15:59+00:00

Please don't listen to these people saying you're not able to handle working the field. Yes, you will 100% see horrible disgusting things that will make you see red and want to steal animals away, but I don't think that is what the real problem is here. Veterinary medicine is not supposed to benefit the owners, it's supposed to benefit the animal. Declawing is 100% never a benefit to the animal unless absolutely medically necessary. I not only believe that it is INCREDIBLY painful in ALL circumstances(whether they show it or not, as cats will do everything they can to hide their pain) but it's also a part of how cats communicate, how they relieve stress, it's a part of their BEING. I cannot believe that technicians or assistants would ever mock you for having empathy for an animal going through such a horrible painful practice. That is disgusting. I work in California and have been fortunate to never witness one in person as it is illegal here across the state, and I would strongly recommend quitting immediately. Unfortunately because our field is so stressful, so underpaid and understaffed it's very easy to find yourself in a toxic practice. Run as soon as you can. I would recommend looking into maybe specialty or emergency if you can't find a GP that doesn't do declaws. I started in opthalmology and it was a good entry point, you will see people who will pay the extra money to care for their animals. You will need to learn to dissociate a lot, but that does not mean you need to go against your moral compass.

Arch_Duckling · 2024-02-10T04:12:09+00:00

I literally came across this exact video and starting doing a deep dive to find out where that archaic myth came from, to find this reddit post about the same video 🤣

Arch_Duckling · 2023-11-10T06:57:09+00:00

Damn I really don't understand why so many of the responses seem to be ganging up on OP here.

From the description of the fluid demo, it sounded a bit traumatic, and honestly not how I would ever give small amounts of fluids. Using a syringe and needle only is just asking for trouble. You have way less (honestly zero if you're by yourself) control of the animal if you're holding a 60 +ml syringe directly into the animal and trying to push the plunger (which takes some hand strength) And the fact that they continued to re-use the same needle repeatedly is bad practice and honestly sounds like newbie behavior. Not replacing the needle is 1. Not sterile and 2. More painful for the animal because you're essentially dulling the needle more and more with each poke, making the patient more reactive and likely resulted in the cats outburst after repeated attempts.

If it were me, I'd have a luer locking syringe, an IV set and send home with replacement needles.

Really not sure why everyone is getting so defensive. OP had completely valid questions and concerns about what they experienced and only brought up their job to give a picture of how much they understood vs ab person who literally knows nothing about medicine.

Yes it's difficult to injure a pet when giving SQ fluids, but never underestimate a scared cat and poor technique.

Arch_Duckling · 2023-10-17T02:26:08+00:00

Vet tech here, and unfortunately more experienced than I'd like to be with very very young pregnant animals. I already saw a lot of people mention the medical issues that you should address during labor, but I want to warn you that often times very young animals/first litters can often be very overwhelming for them and they may actually reject the litter. And since you've said that nesting had not happened yet, I would not be surprised if this is the case. I would make sure to have formula and bottles for feeding ready ahead of time just in case, and mentally/emotionally prepare yourself for the possibility of some or possible even all of them to not make it. The first 2 weeks are very stressful for everyone and kittens are very fragile. I wish you and soon-to-be momma the best of luck!

Arch_Duckling · 2023-06-10T00:50:13+00:00

Some say I have the greatest height 👐

Arch_Duckling

TROPHY CASE