- Image by Erica_Marshall via Flickr
I remember going to the dentist when I was young and I think my dentist took care of all of the work in my mouth.
Because my mom was religious about going there twice a year, we got to know each other very well and I kept the same dentist for many years. When I finally switched, I recall going in for a procedure that my old dentist normally did himself and anticipated the same thing from this new dentist. I’d made an appointment with THE dentist, but the procedure, x-rays and a cleaning, did not involve the new dentist at all. Instead it was his dental hygienist who did it the work, and while I liked the hygienist well enough, it wasn’t what I expected and, to that degree, I was a bit miffed.
So when I saw this story about a Pennsylvania woman whose dog had work done by a vet tech that she was not aware would be done, I could identify with the pet owner…………
When Jane Albright took her dog to the veterinarian to get a tooth removed she never expected for 16 teeth to come out.
She also did not expect that the person extracting her pet’s teeth was a veterinary technician, not a veterinarian.
“I don’t think people are aware that they’re doing some of the work,” Albright said of vet techs. “I think if a veterinarian is not going to do the work then people should be notified.”
Veterinary technicians are trained to assist veterinarians with physical examinations, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Some other job responsibilities include performing and maintaining anesthesia, administering medications, performing catheterizations and assisting in surgery.
Local veterinarians would not comment about the job responsibilities vet techs have in offices in Somerset County.
Sally Urban, Somerset County Humane Society board president, said the shelter uses weekly veterinary services for potential adopted pets. Veterinary technicians often help with examinations, but are not allowed to administer rabies shots.
“If we do need veterinary care we expect the vet to take care of them, unless they give permission to a vet tech,” she said. “It’s up to the vet to give those perimeters.”
Urban said she agrees with Albright that most pet owners are unaware that assistants are sometimes taking a more proactive role in providing animal services.
“There are a lot of veterinarians in the area with very heavy caseloads and have to rely on vet techs,” she said.
Albright was expecting her dog, Toby, to come out of the veterinarian office with one tooth pulled and a bill for about $200. Sixteen teeth and more than $300 later, Albright was upset about the lack of communication with the office.
“Somebody should have called me,” she said. “They never should have taken that many teeth out under any circumstances.”
Albright said she provided numerous phone numbers and was available throughout the day for communication.
She also is disappointed that the veterinary office failed to provide information about a dental policy during a scheduled visit before the teeth were extracted.
“I should have been smarter, but I just assumed vets did all the work,” she said.
The Pennsylvania Department of State oversees the state Board of Veterinary Medicine. Charlie Young, deputy press secretary, said that in general a veterinarian is not “expected or required” to disclose anything except possible pricing for an examination before seeing an animal — as the vet would have no information to disclose.
They must, however, always explain benefits and reasonably anticipated significant potential risks.
New proposals being reviewed by the state Attorney General’s office are expected to be publicized in the Pennsylvania Bulletin within 45 days.
One of the new provisions states that veterinarians shall document, by client signature, the client’s consent for euthanasia and other treatments that have significant potential risks, according to information provided by the Pennsylvania Department of State. The provision further states that if the client is not present to provide a signature, veterinarians shall attempt to contact the owner by telephone or other establishes means to obtain oral consent and subsequently obtain the client’s signature shall document the oral consent in the animal’s veterinary medical record.
The board is also proposing an amendment to current rules to ensure that consumers are well informed. The proposal states that medical records should document all communication with the client, including the client’s consent to or rejection of recommended diagnostic testing and treatment.
Albright said that she is not trying to say that veterinarian technicians are not capable of handling cases, but that she simply thinks owners should be aware of what is happening.
“If a vet tech is doing this then what are their credentials,” she asked.
She said that she is trying to make pet owners aware of the situation so that it does not happen again.
Albright has contacted the Pennsylvania Department of State and American Veterinary Medical Association to file a complaint.
Suggestion: If you don’t already do this, have an office procedure in place to let pet owners know what vet techs typically handle in your office and what their qualifications are.
It can help avoid situations like the one above and increase the comfort level of your customers who will know what to expect when they leave their pets in your care.
