Vet Tech Cafe Podcast

07/01/2026

Today, I took a sick day.

If you work in veterinary medicine, especially emergency and critical care, you know how much weight that sentence can carry.

I woke up at 1AM with a fever and sore throat. I didn’t want to risk getting my colleagues sick, and I didn’t want to show up unable to perform at the level our patients deserve. Hospital leadership was fully supportive, and I know I made the right call.

And still…I felt guilty.

Guilty for not being on shift.
Guilty for not being there for patients and their families.
Guilty for the load my colleagues carried instead.

No one made me feel bad. I would support any colleague who did the same. So why does that guilt show up so easily for so many of us?

Maybe it’s the culture of emergency and critical care. The responsibility. The constant urgency. The deep sense of ownership we feel over our patients.

But protecting your team and recognizing when you can’t be your best is also part of showing up for this profession.

Have you ever felt guilty for taking a sick day?
You’re not alone.

29/12/2025

Our last episode of 2025! Come listn to our conversation with Vicky!

Caffeinators, as we close out 2025 we take a look into the industry side of the profession with Vicky Ograin. Vicky is a long time RVT who left clinical practice over 20 years ago to work for Hill's Pet Nutrition. She's also since obtained a VTS(Nutrition) and an MBA. She's currently a Scientific Co...

26/12/2025

26/12/2025

If your pet wrote a Yelp review of you, what would it say and how many stars would you get? Feel free to write a review from each pet!

25/12/2025

Merry Christmas from all (both) of us here at the Vet Tech Cafe!! We hope you have a great holiday with good cheer and you’re as excited about your gifts as Jeff is for this barrel aged stout.

22/12/2025

Copied from California Registered Veterinary Technicians Association (CaRVTA) 🚨

🎄Happy Holidays! This just in from our friend and colleague Rebecca Rose!
Right now there are RVT's in our membership quietly making a difference — catching a subtle change in a patient’s condition, comforting a nervous client, or lifting the whole team’s spirits.
These are the stories to be shared — but we need your help to find the award winners. Nominations are being accepted and it is time to spread the word, getting these heroes the recognition they deserve.
We are excited to share the link to PRN Pharmacal Vet Tech Awards. https://www.prnpharmacal.com/VTA/
These awards are about the long days, the tough cases, the little victories — the stuff only we really understand.
The next (second) award will be announced at WVC (winners need not be present to receive their award and $500.00), but between now and then, we’re trying to get the word out, so more amazing techs get recognized. PLUS there are more awards being given throughout the year at major conferences!o

The PRN Vet Tech Awards celebrate these remarkable team members who go above and beyond, not just when called upon, but at every moment.

22/12/2025

We gave our our favorite episodes of 2025. What were yours?

Our year end taproom! We said it in this episode, but we'll say it again. Thank you to your patreons. They really make doing this podcast so much easier. Have a listen and hear our favorite episodes for this year. Tell us what your favorite episodes were this year!

19/12/2025

You've heard of Elf on a shelf....

15/12/2025

3 Vintage techs talking radiology! Come check it out!

Caffeinators, you may remember our recent episode Sara Hunt talking about all things VTS Diagnostic Imaging (if you missed it, be sure to check it out!), and we're back again with another VTS(DI)! This time, Liane Shaw came by the Vet Tech Cafe. Why two guests from the same Academy, you ask? Because...