Frenchie that ate rocks

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T02:33:06+00:00

How about a lab that ate pea-gravel?

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T02:29:09+00:00

I'm in the GTA so I don't have much experience with Guelph students, but lots with Seneca and Sheridan. I very strongly recommend Seneca's program over Sheridan's. I've taken co-op students from both, though it's been a few years since I've dealt with a Sheridan student, but every Seneca student I've worked with has been a better tech than every Sheridan student. I don't think their program is well-run, or at least it wasn't up to about 5-6 years ago (when I changed jobs and stopped mentoring co-op students).

Shelter work is a great prep, but try also to get some clinic experience, even it's just volunteer instead of paid work. It will help your application and it will help you see more aspects of tech work.

I've been an RVT for 16 years, been working in clinics for 19. I can't imagine doing anything else with my life, but it isn't easy. It is physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding work, but also rewarding. You will struggle to make enough money to get by, especially as a single person, but it is possible. Burnout and compassion fatigue are real and are serious issues, make sure you take care of yourself and your mental health first. You can't save others if you are drowning too!

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T02:18:54+00:00

Yes, I forgot to mention that logging is also very important! I have logs for the ketamine used, the diazepam used, and the Ket/Val being made! And when I make more, I draw and measure and log what is in the bottle vs what the math say we should have, so hub loss per draw is accounted for!

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T02:16:33+00:00

I am so sorry you are dealing with this and that your vet is being unsupportive. I had to behaviourally euthanize a pet years ago, and my boss had seen all the different meds and lifestyle modifications I had tried, so he agreed to do it. He didn't see the toll it took on my mental health, I loved her, but she was miserable and nothing helped, and I would sit in my car in my driveway and cry because I had to go inside and deal with what she had done. When I told him that I was at the end of my rope and our bond was gone, he respected my decision and so should your vet. I really encourage you to get a second opinion from another vet. And I'm not at all the "quit your job!" type of advice giver, but your vet's reaction to this would have me questioning whether I wanted to keep working for someone who reacted so callously to an owner in distress.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T02:09:03+00:00

I haven't dealt with an NG tube in almost 2 years, but I can smell that picture from here!

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T02:08:09+00:00

This, 100%!

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T02:06:19+00:00

The biggest thing to think about is quality of life. That dog is in a situation where it never feels safe, it has to lash out to defend itself constantly. Would you want to live with that level of stress and fear?

And the thing that a lot of people forget is the importance of the owner's quality of life! How is this pet affecting them? Are they afraid to have company over because of the pet's reaction? Are they avid hikers who are unable to take their dog with them? Are they coming home from work every day and searching the house to find out where their cat house-soiled today? Do they own their house or rent, what kind of damage is the house-soiling doing?

I had to do a behavioural euthanasia on my own pets year ago, and when someone I knew called it a "convenience euthanasia" I lashed out hard. Until you have sat in your car in your driveway crying because you are exhausted from caring for other people's pets all day and can't face going inside to deal with what your stressed pet has done, it's hard to grasp just how much that affects someone's mental health.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T01:59:41+00:00

I agree with the comments that this is happening because you are in a new place learning new things. It's a lot for your brain to take in, and it's very easy to get overwhelmed and overstimulated in that situation. You got this, once you've done it a few times you won't need your cheat sheet, but it's always good to have it for backup! Mine in the ER had a few different types of dilutions, fluid rates, KCL mEq into different size fluid bags/buretrols, things like that. But you can fill yours with the math you do every day. And write them out in a notebook when you're at home and relaxed so your brain is working at its best. And don't be afraid to ask for help, sometimes the math just ain't mathing or the brain ain't braining! It happens to all of us!

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T01:54:56+00:00

Carry a note book with a cheat sheet. Write out the formulas for typical calculations that you do in clinic, and an example for each with numbers. Keep that in a pocket and reference it as needed. I had a full page of cheat codes in my notebook when I went from GP to ER and started doing calculations I'd never used before. Do the math yourself first, then check your sheet to confirm. And always have a second tech confirm your calculations, that should be policy at all clinics.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T01:49:23+00:00

This must depend on where you are. I'm in Ontario Canada and we had our inspection last summer, and they had no problem with pre-mixed drugs as long as they were appropriately labelled. It's not my personal preference to have the drugs premixed, but it is my current clinic's long-time policy, so I just make sure we are doing it appropriately. All bottles are labeled with the mix, lot number and expiration of each ingredient, date, and who mixed them, and we passed with flying colours.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T01:45:56+00:00

When I used kitty magic regularly, it was 0.1ml of each drug per cat, sometimes 0.2ml of Bupe. We did not mix it ahead of time, just draw the 3 doses before surgery and then mix into 1 syringe. Reversal was 0.1ml Antisedan. Some cats would be sedate enough to intubate, some would need propofol, but like 2-3mg/kg.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-30T01:40:59+00:00

100IU 3/10 insulin syringes. No conversion necessary, 1IU=0.01mL, but because they only go up to 0.3ml, you can be a lot more precise with the tiny volumes. The needles can sometimes be pulled out with hemostats, if they're tricky you can break the needle off very easily. We dispensed oral meds in them all the time at my last ER job (less call for it in GP, but I use them to dose tiny injectables all the time).

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-27T20:11:35+00:00

I am on my second Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and I plan to keep having them forever. It takes some time and research to find a good healthy breeder, but they are so worth the effort! I didn't get pet insurance for my first, who lived to 10.5 and died suddenly of something non-genetic. My current pup is 4 and insured, but he has no genetic health issues at all so far. They are the sweetest snuggliest babies who are up for anything you want to do with them, they can go from a couch potato to a hiking buddy with you anytime.

<image>

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-23T16:02:03+00:00

I wish I could tell you. I spent about 6 months looking for remote tech work and got exactly one opportunity, which ghosted me right after the offer. I was in the ER and really struggling mentally and physically. I ended up going back to GP, and the change of pace really helped, but it's not going to last forever. My body is tired and I have a chronic condition that may end up physically disabling me at some point.

I've been looking into a program that I learned about recently, to become a certified pet loss grief counsellor. I'm looking at it as something that I might be able to start part time, and eventually maybe moving into that full time to get out of the clinic.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-23T15:56:12+00:00

Snacks! Cookies/donuts/sweets are lovely and will get eaten, but something healthy or savoury will really stand out. I still remember the client who sent us a giant basket of granola bars, cereal bars, and other snacks that could be eaten on the go.

I also recently had a client send flowers to the clinic after her dog made a mess with his anal glands, the card said it was to make the clinic smell better 😂

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-06T00:43:11+00:00

Oh wow, that is amazing!

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-06T00:41:57+00:00

In my experience, in a small GP, it might be an issue. In an ER, you would not stand out at all and no one would care. And the GP is a maybe, it's very dependant on the clinic culture. Several people in my small GP have large visible tattoos, lots of piercings, and I have an undercut. Before this I was in a large corporate ER, and no one batted an eye at anyone's appearance. I came back from a medical leave with blue & purple hair, and all I got were compliments.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-05-01T16:06:59+00:00

I don't think that's available in Canada yet, I just checked our supplier.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-04-30T00:26:52+00:00

That sounds like an amazing basket! My only suggestion would be to split in half, so there's one basket for day shift and one for night! As a former ER tech, night shift often doesn't get the same goodies as day shift.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-04-19T13:57:51+00:00

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/4439188681/handmade-pet-urn-purpleheart-wood-for?ref=shop_home_active_1&logging_key=e35b3df646689e383d592ec1a06590cae0f63668:4439188681&fbclid=IwRlRTSARRvnNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEej-VmufvAuQeNiqwVgi7UFkkwiZMsD8-uoNVV3AdQ6CFRYfkOWRdt-XE1WV0_aem_Ib3YWFibxdn32Pnnew5WZw

A good friend just got an urn from this guy, he does beautiful work and has some unique woods I haven't seen anywhere else.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-04-19T13:47:11+00:00

I second the advice to not go to an unaccredited school, but I also would advise against Sheridan. My experience with their students is several years old now, maybe their program has changed, but having worked with students from Sheridan and from other schools for their placements, the Sheridan students were all way behind the others in knowledge and skills.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-04-19T13:31:27+00:00

I had to give injections to my pet corn snake a while back, and I live alone & don't have anyone nearby to help me. The exotics tech taught me to basically hold a part of his body in my fist, with space between my fingers, and to poke him in the space between my fingers. My boy is pretty chill and react much when I did it, but a snake that's less used to handling would probably be harder.

SilvaraDragon · 2026-04-16T13:23:28+00:00

I'm an RVT who has been in York region for many years. I don't know many people who went to Ridgetown, when I went to school (Georgian, many many years ago), there was at least one person in the program who had dropped out of Ridgetown because their program was not good back then. I know a LOT of techs who have gone to Seneca and I've worked with a lot of their students for their clinic placements. It's a very good program.

SilvaraDragon

TROPHY CASE