2026-02-09 – Weekly Veterinary Assistant News : Macaw steals stethoscope, hilarity ensues

Last week, our community engaged in a lively exchange on various facets of veterinary assistance. Members discussed the nuances of managing special dietary needs for pets and shared strategies for calming chemotherapy visits. There was also a humorous thread about handling mischievous macaws in the clinic. Lastly, practical tips on managing emergencies and improving workflow efficiency were highlighted in several threads.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Understanding Special Dietary Needs in Pets
This discussion delves into the complexities of pet nutrition, highlighting the importance of tailoring diets to individual health needs. It’s an essential read for those looking to enhance their nutritional advice skills.
Read more here

Understanding animal body language
A fascinating thread unpacking the subtle cues animals give us. Perfect for anyone looking to improve their interaction and handling skills.
Read more here

When the macaw steals my stethoscope
A light-hearted look at dealing with cheeky clinic residents. This thread is both entertaining and insightful for those who’ve had their tools commandeered.
Read more here

Small changes that calm chemo visits
Discusses simple yet effective adjustments that can make a big difference in the comfort levels of pets undergoing chemotherapy. A must-read for improving patient care.
Read more here

What assistants should grab first in a crash
An essential guide to prioritizing actions and tools during emergency situations. A critical read for all veterinary assistants.
Read more here

Tools that speed up check-ins
Explores various tools and techniques to streamline the check-in process, saving time for both staff and patients.
Read more here

Pre-op checklist and vitals chart
A practical resource for ensuring thorough preparation before surgeries. This thread is invaluable for efficiency and accuracy in pre-op procedures.
Read more here

Reducing retakes while keeping ALARA
Focuses on minimizing retakes in radiology while adhering to the ALARA principle, crucial for maintaining safety and efficiency.
Read more here

Parvo cleanup contact time
Provides detailed protocols for effective cleanup after parvovirus cases, emphasizing proper contact times for safety.
Read more here

Understanding Animal Dental Disease
An informative thread about recognizing and addressing dental diseases in animals, critical for maintaining overall pet health.
Read more here


Thank you for contributing to our vibrant community. Your insights and experiences are invaluable, and we look forward to another week of engaging discussions.

1 Like

I love those mischievous macaws! We had one steal a stethoscope during a checkup, and it turned into a chaotic but hilarious chase around the clinic. To keep my sanity during those moments, I always keep a few toys handy to distract them when needed.

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

Macaws have a real talent for mischief; we had one try to chew through a nurse’s shoe during an appointment. It’s amazing how quickly you can learn to juggle animals and tools — talk about an unexpected workout! @jcooper76.

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