When you work at the only 24-7 animal hospital in the area, your caseload is anything but ordinary.
If you peek into the exam rooms at Hawthorne Animal Hospital on an average day, you may spot a kitten waiting for her first vaccines or a dog sniffing around waiting for his neutering surgery.
For CVTs like me, it’s a dream job – the chance to help both beloved pets live their happiest, healthiest lives. Even when a quiet morning turns chaotic, the team at Hawthorne goes above and beyond to make a difference for every animal and human who walks through our doors.
My 12-hour day at the hospital starts at 7 a.m., when the day shift doctors and assistants attend rounds with the overnight team to discuss the status of our hospitalized patients, from their medications to any side effects or pain they may be experiencing. Every pet in our care receives a full exam at shift change so we can identify and treat concerns that arise during their hospitalization, as well as provide their family with any health updates.
Wellness checks, vaccinations, and non-emergency appointments start at 8 a.m. with surgeries scheduled throughout the day. While all Certified Vet Techs are well-versed in primary and preventative care, we also work alongside practitioners devoted to specialized care, including rehabilitation, chemotherapy, ultrasound, and orthopedics.
Because Hawthorne is also an emergency animal hospital, we take emergent cases from across the Metro East. Acute care is truly a collaborative effort, requiring a team of experienced veterinarians, CVTs, and veterinary assistants skilled in state-of-the-art diagnostics and medical and surgical interventions. The hours following a high-risk medical event are the most critical, so most pets are admitted into our 24-hour intensive care unit (ICU) for additional care and monitoring.
As a Certified Veterinary Technician and an animal lover, it’s incredibly gratifying to watch a puppy head home with his family after being hit by a car just days before, knowing that our team pulled out every stop to save its life.
When it comes to life as a CVT at Hawthorne, there’s no typical day at the office – every shift comes with the unexpected. But when you are as passionate about caring for animals as we are, there’s no challenge we won’t overcome together to take exceptional care of your pet.