Equine & Livestock Product & Promotions Guide

4 Covetrus | 855.724.3461 | northamerica.covetrus.com Day in and day out, veterinary technicians work for the love of animals. Just as nurses care tirelessly for their human patients, vet techs work long hours to perform an almost endless array of tasks. From conducting initial exams to providing emergency first aid—working in the lab to preparing animals for surgery, educating owners and so much more—vet techs are the foundation of every practice everywhere. They are the lifeblood—the unsung heroes. What motivates veterinary technicians to be so devoted to their work? What are the top qualities that career vet techs share? What best practices are helping them thrive during the pandemic? To get to the answers, we turn to the experts: the winners of our 2020 Vet Tech Heroes Award. Covetrus created this award to recognize veterinary technicians and veterinary nurses who exhibit extraordinary dedication, compassion and promotion toward animal care. Nominated by their co-workers, these heroes demonstrate the power of dedication to make a difference in the lives of pets—and pet parents. What makes a hero, a hero? What are the top qualities that vet techs should have? No fear of hard work, emotional intelligence and love for the human- animal bond, says Shealynn Graves, a registered veterinary technician at Heritage Veterinary Hospital in Santa Rosa, CA and winner of the 2020 Vet Tech Hero Award. "Being a vet tech is not an easy job," Shealynn said. "It's long hours of physical and emotional labor. Emotions can run high between coworkers and pet parents. Being able to handle these interactions empathetically is the key to a successful encounter." Award winner Tammy Geurts, a registered veterinary technician at Animal Hospital of De Pere in De Pere, WI, shared her list of top qualities as well. "Vet techs need patience, compassion and strength," she said. "We need strength to come into work daily with a positive attitude and be strong for people that may not have enough strength that day. I'm so proud to call myself a vet tech." The quality of compassion is shared by our third award winner, Jessica Ingram, a veterinary nurse for Equine Sports Medicine in Cyprus, CA. Jessica was nominated by Larry R. Overly DVM, owner and CEO. "Her compassion toward horses or any living creature is evident in her personal and professional life," Dr. Overly said. "Jessica demonstrates a devotion to our practice beyond any assistant I have ever worked with." Knowing what's important Shealynn explained that client communication is the most important part of her job. It is the role of the vet tech to clear away misinformation, educate pet parents, discuss treatment options and advocate for the plan that is best for both the pet and owner. "Especially during the pandemic, this communication is the lifeblood of what a tech can do to make a visit feel successful to the owner," she said. For Tammy, the job begins and ends with the animal. "We are here because of them," she said. "It is our duty to make sure that animals have the best life they can through owner education, compassion care taking and the best medicine. Without our patients, there would not be a need for us." Sharing best practices Particularly during stressful times, what advice would Shealynn give to other vet techs? "Rely on each other. Work to create a team that supports each other, lifts each other up and takes care of everyone. Nobody can make it through every situation on their own, and nobody should have to try!" Tammy added, "The best advice I can give other vet techs is to just stay as calm as you can and be strong. We are all in this together and have all faced the same hardships and frustration, so you are not alone." The pandemic has made a challenging profession even more demanding. Tammy, Shealynn and Jessica are shining examples of how veterinary technicians can continue to inspire our profession with everything they do, every day. True heroes. Celebrating our vet tech heroes

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