As with human medicine, it is a team approach that drives veterinary patient care. Our Veterinarians are supported by Veterinary Assistants (VAs) and Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVTs), similar to how doctors in human medicine are supported by medical assistants and nurses.

If veterinarians are the head of the patient care team, then our LVTs and assistants are the lifeblood, keeping appointments flowing smoothly by providing client education and addressing routine patient care (e.g., health assessments, bandage changes, giving vaccinations) under veterinarian supervision. Our vets are then free to devote their full attention to complex patient care such as diagnostics and condition management.

Starting on January 2, 2025, we will be introducing a small fee of $20 for most* appointments with our assistants and technicians. The services provided by our veterinary support staff are valuable and we value their time & expertise; incorporating this fee helps us to adequately compensate them. Continuing to offer clients the possibility of seeing an assistant or technician for routine matters—at the veterinarian’s discretion when a full veterinarian exam isn’t necessary—saves clients money, while also providing them with more scheduling flexibility as they don’t have to fit into a veterinarian’s busy appointment schedule. In turn, this will help us to maintain the high quality of care that our clients expect and our patients deserve.

*Nail trims, anal gland expression and suture removals (from procedures done by us) are not charged the $20 health assessment fee.