Q&A session with Vet Tech Morgan Hunt
In this exclusive interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Morgan Hunt, a veterinary technician who has dedicated her career to the well-being of animals. Her journey began at Branford Vet with little prior knowledge of the field, but through determination and a quick learning curve, she evolved into an invaluable veterinary team member. Morgan takes us through their day-to-day responsibilities, challenges, and most cherished moments in her fulfilling role.
Tell us about your background in the veterinary field and your role.
When I started at Branford Vet I knew nothing about the vet field other than just the animals my family-owned as I grew up. I started out as an assistant but caught on very fast and showed my worth where I am now a veterinary nurse(technician), my job is very fast-paced and a lot of learning every day. On a day-to-day basis, my job entails; answering phones, making appointments, handling monies, cleaning, organizing, setting up fecal floats, blood tests, etc. to getting proper drug dosages, preparing surgery patients, monitoring patients under anesthesia, placing IV catheters for surgeries, dental cleanings/polishings, logging controlled substances, etc. the list can go on and on but that’s just some of the things I do every day at work!
What is a typical day like for you in the office?
A typical day for me starts out with preparing my anesthesia machines making sure there are no leaks and that my anesthetic gas levels are where they need to be, setting up my tables for certain procedures, setting up my tray of supplies for placement of IV catheters, answering phones in between to help the front desk, preparing our surgical scrub and our doctors supplies for surgeries, then taking in patients, receiving blood from our patients for any pre-anesthetic bloodwork that’s necessary, running the bloodwork, calculating drug dosages, pre-medicating our patients, preparing patients, monitoring our patients under anesthesia, recovering our patients, putting charges into the computer system, logging controlled substances, calling clients with updates on their pets, going in appointments in the afternoon, assisting the doctor with restraint and retrieving any diagnostics a doctor may need, taking x-rays (also dental x-rays), cleaning up at the end of the day, etc.
What is most challenging about what you do?
Euthanasias. My heart will always break for those who go through this.
What do you enjoy most about your job as a vet tech?
Being with the animals of course!
What is your most memorable moment in your career, and why?
So far, the most memorable moment in my career was moving up to a technician level. I went from not knowing a single thing about what I do to an assistant and only in 1.5 years I became a technician and honestly couldn’t be more proud of myself.
What do you enjoy about writing for NPP?
I enjoy writing blogs for NPP because it keeps me on my toes, I am constantly being educated and I love being able to take that information to work to help my co-workers, clients, and family/friends with their pets. And because I love my NPP team !!!!
Tell us about your pets!
Tyson my smart 5 year old pittie mix, I adopted with my boyfriend when I was 19 almost 20! He was my first dog of my own and a huge responsibility to take on! At about 2 years old I found out he had a heart murmur grade 3/6 which is moderate. Tyson gets yearly echocardiograms to stay up on his heart and it’s actually much better now at a grade about 1.5-2/6. He’s my snuggle bug but do not try to snuggle too much- he’s almost like a cat, he likes to sleep all day and not be bothered but he loves a good hike and LOVES to swim!!
Pongo my loving 2 year old Dalmatian, that my boyfriend and I bought from a breeder in East Hartford. He’s my shadow and probably one of the best decisions I have made. At about 8 weeks of age he started showing signs of urinary stones which is why I became so very interested in nutrition and worked close with Nicci to find a diet that would suite him best- nutrition is huge with Dalmatians because you have to pay close attention to their purine levels as that is what causes the stone formation. Pongo LOVES hiking, tennis balls, and FOOD.
If you could give one piece of advice to pet owners, what would it be?
Pay close attention to what you feed your beloved pet, working both in a vet and with NPP I have noticed plenty of times where if diet would have improved there would be major beneficial outcomes. And, also do your research!! Do not be afraid to ask questions !!
