This Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month, we’re celebrating the incredible work veterinary nurses do. We want to shine a light on the many ways they help pets and their owners feel safe, supported and cared for.
When you bring your pet into the vets, it’s often the veterinary surgeon you deal with, but behind every successful treatment, comforting cuddle, is a team of dedicated veterinary nurses working tirelessly to care for your pets every single day.
At Tamar Vets, our veterinary nurses are at the heart of everything we do.
So, what does a veterinary nurse actually do?
The short answer? A huge amount.
Veterinary nurses are highly trained professionals who play a vital role in animal care. No two days are ever the same. Their responsibilities go far beyond cuddles and treats, although they certainly give plenty of those too.
A veterinary nurse may be:
- Monitoring pets during surgery and anaesthesia
- Caring for hospitalised patients
- Running nurse clinics and consultations
- Supporting pets through recovery and rehabilitation
- Advising owners on nutrition, weight management and preventative healthcare
- Taking blood samples and running laboratory tests
- Assisting in emergency and critical care situations
- Offering reassurance and compassion to worried owners
…to name a few!
At Tamar Vets, our nurses are on-site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They ensure that pets receiving treatment or staying with us overnight always have dedicated care and monitoring. Whether it’s a patient recovering from surgery, an unwell pet needing intensive nursing, or simply an anxious animal needing comfort during the night, our nursing team is there.
More than medical care
One of the things that makes veterinary nurses so special is the relationships they build – not just with pets, but with their owners too.
Many of our nurses run clinics designed to support pets throughout every stage of life. From puppy parties that help young dogs build confidence and social skills, to weight clinics that support healthier lifestyles. Veterinary nurses are often the friendly faces guiding owners through everyday pet care.
These clinics allow owners to ask questions, gain advice and feel supported, helping pets live happier and healthier lives.
Specialist skills and additional qualifications
Veterinary nursing is a profession built on learning, and many nurses choose to continue developing specialist skills in areas they are passionate about.
At Tamar Vets, our nursing team holds a variety of additional qualifications and specialist interests. This helps us provide even more tailored care for our patients.
These include a Certificate in Feline Nursing with the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM), focusing on feline health, welfare and behaviour. This advanced knowledge helps us create a calmer, more cat-friendly experience and better support feline wellbeing.
Our team also includes expertise in Clinical Animal Behaviour, with advanced study at Masters level, helping support owners and pets with behavioural challenges alongside day-to-day nursing care.
In addition, we have specialist knowledge in clinical canine massage. This can support dogs with mobility issues, muscular discomfort and rehabilitation needs.
These additional qualifications reflect the passion our nurses have for continually learning and finding new ways to improve the care and support we provide to pets and their owners.
What sets veterinary nurses apart?
It’s their compassion, dedication and versatility.
Veterinary nurses are carers, advocates, educators and skilled medical professionals all rolled into one. They are there during the happy moments – welcoming new puppies and kittens – and during the difficult ones too, offering kindness and support when pets and owners need it most.
Nurses notice the little things: the nervous tail wag, the cat hiding quietly at the back of the kennel, the patient who just needs an extra blanket and a gentle voice.
They are often the reassuring presence that helps both pets and owners feel at ease.
Thank you to veterinary nurses everywhere – not just during Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month, but every day!
This Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month, we’d like to say a huge thank you to all veterinary nurses for the incredible work they do every day.
Their knowledge, compassion and commitment make a difference to countless animals and families, often in ways that go unseen.
And to our own nursing team at Tamar Vets – thank you for everything you do for our patients, clients and community. We truly couldn’t do it without you.
