10/26/2025
October is RVT month! 🥳 To celebrate how amazing your pets Registered Vet Techs are, let’s learn more about all they do!
In human medicine, one patient might have a phlebotomist, anesthesiologist, radiology tech, lab tech, and a nurse for various roles but in veterinary medicine, the RVT wears all those hats! They draw blood, take X-rays, run lab work, prepare patients for surgery, place intravenous catheters, run fluids, administer and monitor anesthesia, assist in surgery, educate clients, comfort patients, and advocate for every animal in their care!👩⚕️
Did you know RVTs on average only make $25-28/hr?! Many RVTs work for privately owned small hospitals where additional employee benefits are minimal. In the 2024 OAVT wage survey, RVTs reported that less than 34% received additional retirement/ pension plan assistance, 18.5% report receiving an employee assistance plan, only 23.9% and 27.5% have employers who provide short-term & long-term disability respectively. In fact, while 63.3% of Ontario’s RVTs receive extended health benefits, only 17.9% have benefits that offer 50% coverage. While corporate businesses have been helpful in raising the living wages and employee benefits, most RVTs still struggle financially and require a second job to make ends meet.
Financial constraints are one struggle most RVTs can attest to, and while it is not the only factor, it is a large reason both RVTs and Vets have one of the highest professional su***de rates. In veterinary medicine, mental health is essential; long hours, emotional stress, finances, and compassion fatigue are just a few of the challenges facing veterinary professionals. These challenges in turn create staff shortages from those leaving the field due to burnout or financial struggles but sadly also by death by su***de. In fact, Not One More Vet (NOMV) report 1 in 6 consider su***de at some point in their career—this is a much higher rate than that of the general population.
Veterinary professionals give so much of themselves, emotionally, physically, and mentally to care for our pets and RVTs are the heartbeat of every veterinary team. This month & every month, don’t forget to thank your RVTs!
For more information about veterinary mental health, the non-profit organization Not One More Vet and how you can support veterinary professionals, please visit: nomv.org/about/pet-parents/
For more information and insights from previous years visit: https://oavt.org/for-members/member-resources/oavt-wage-survey/
