2025-10-27 – Weekly Veterinary Assistant News : Easing chemo days for pets

Last week, our community delved into several practical aspects of being a veterinary assistant. Members shared experiences on handling chemotherapy days for pets and how low-stress handling techniques are being adopted. There was also a lively discussion on whether specific training in chemotherapy safety can enhance job prospects. Additionally, conversations around the use of technology in treatment rooms and preferred equipment for diet management were prominent.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Weekly Veterinary Assistant Jobs: Passionate team seeks next-gen vet assistants
A new thread highlighting the demand for motivated veterinary assistants. It’s a great opportunity to explore current job openings and network with potential employers.
Read more here

Favorite gram scale for diet plans
Members are sharing their go-to gram scales for crafting precise diet plans, a crucial tool for maintaining pet health.
Read more here

Whiteboard or tablet for treatment room flow
Which is better for managing treatment room activities—a whiteboard or a tablet? The community weighs in on the pros and cons.
Read more here

What’s working to ease chemo days for pets
A collection of strategies to make chemotherapy days smoother for pets, focusing on comfort and care.
Read more here

Getting assistants confident with low-stress handling
This discussion is about building confidence in low-stress handling techniques, essential for both pets and staff well-being.
Read more here

Does chemo safety training boost job prospects
Debate on whether specialized training in chemotherapy safety can enhance your career opportunities.
Read more here

FAQ/Guidelines
For those new to the forum, here’s a helpful guide to get you started.
Read more here

Admin Guide: Getting Started
A resource for admins to efficiently manage forum activities and engage with the community.
Read more here

Key Skills Every Veterinary Assistant Should Develop
Identify and develop essential skills to excel in your role as a veterinary assistant.
Read more here

Fascinating Facts About Common Pets
A fun and informative thread about intriguing facts related to common pets.
Read more here


Thank you for being an active part of our community. Keep sharing your experiences and insights as we continue to support each other in our roles.

We started freezing Churu on a lick mat for chemo cats and, paired with a towel “hidey tent,” our doxorubicin setups are calmer and IV starts quicker — afternoon slots were a mess, so we now book these first thing. On the safety training piece, a short USP <800>/CSTD module (mine was ~$75) got me a call-back faster, but , it only helps if the team uses closed-system devices and labeled PPE bins. If anyone wants a primer, the NIOSH hazardous drugs page is solid: https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/hazdrug/default.html@RVT_Jen, do you have a favorite low-stress chemo checklist?

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍⁠‍‌‍​‌‌⁠​‍‌⁠‍‌‌‍​‌‌⁠​⁠‌⁠​⁠‌‍‍‌‌⁠​⁠‌⁠‌​‌‍​‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌⁠​⁠​​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‌​⁠​‌​⁠​​​⁠​⁠​⁠​‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌‌‌⁠‌‍‌​‌‍‍​‌​⁠‍‌‌​‍‌‌‍‍‌⁠​‍​⁠‍‌​⁠​‌‌‍‍⁠‌⁠​‌‌⁠‌‌‌‍​⁠‌‌‌⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​

Quick tip: we wrap a microwaved rice sock in a towel and rest it under the cephalic for 2–3 minutes before doxo — vasodilation makes the catheter go in faster and the cats settle like a ‘paw spa’ moment. Skip heat if there’s limb swelling or neuropathy; otherwise a warm water glove is a decent backup.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍⁠‍‌‍​‌‌⁠​‍‌⁠‍‌‌‍​‌‌⁠​⁠‌⁠​⁠‌‍‍‌‌⁠​⁠‌⁠‌​‌‍​‌‌‍⁠‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌⁠​⁠​​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‌​⁠​‌​⁠​‌​⁠​​​⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍‍‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠​‌‌​‌‍‌⁠​​‌⁠‌‌‌‍​⁠‌​‌⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‌​​‌​‌​‌⁠​‍‌​‍‌‌​⁠​​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​​