Going to the vet and then noticing that....?

Question

Okay can someone tell me if this is normal procedure?
I never owned any animals before prior to my kittens and don't know really what goes on in a vet's office since I've never been to one prior to my experience with this particular vet's office.

My friend recommended this vet's office to me because they were really good with how they treat animals, so I went there. I didn't notice that the vet's name and didn't know that the vet was a male doctor. My two visits to the vet involved being examined by the vet tech (whom I thought was the doctor), and assumed my kittens were being examined by a licensed professional.
Now, I'm bringing my kitten in to the vet tomorrow because he's limping, but if the vet tech comes again should I insist to see the actual vet, or is this normal procedure that the vet's allow vet tech's to take care of the examinations?
Do I make a point that I'm paying for my pet to be examined by an actual vet?? Help?

By the way, they are nice and act very professional

Answer 1

They do often have the vet techs do the general examination; but the vet should be called in for a health problem...

Answer 2

vet techs are licensed professionals:
vet techs go to school for a minimum of two years and recieve a license to do what they do;
they can legally run blood tests, do x-rays, prepare the animal for surgery, administer anesthetic, euthanize, give vaccinations, take vitals, give regular examinations, etc...
many vet techs know just as much as the veterinarian does however they don't have the money or the time to go to school longer
the only things that a vet can legally do that a vet tech can't are perform surgery, diagnose disease, and prescribe medication
so if you've only brought your kittens in for a check-up and there was no medical issue then there was no need for the vet to be there, the vet tech had it covered ;)
however, if your kitten is having a problem with his leg, the vet tech may do the initial check-up then bring in the vet for a few minutes to diagnose the problem
the vet tech cannot legally diagnose the problem because they have not gone to school that long to learn how, however that does not mean they don't know just as much as the vet knows. Vet techs are often more knowledgeable than people give them credit for, they learn alot in the few years they spend in school and they learn even more once they get out of school and start their careers.
The majority of vet techs are like lackies for the vet, the vet techs do all the grunt work yet the vets get the credit.
If you liked them so far and they were recommended to you, then just trust in them to do the good job they always do...however if they start to mistreat or misdiagnose your kitten then you always have a right to switch. They haven't mistreated or misdiagnosed your kitten have they?
Trust them, they go through ALOT of schooling to get paid less than the vet. -lol

Answer 3

I have never had a vet tech exam my cats. If the cats need some procedure they are taken to the back and the techs may do the procedure there or assist the vet in what he does.

If you are paying for a vet exam then certainly the vet should do it. I like to talk to the vet as he examines my cats and discuss what is going on with them, understand what treatment he suggests, etc. before it is done.

Answer 4

At my vets the tech takes the temperature and weight, does a general checkover of the skin condition and any visual problems, then writes it down, goes and gets the vet who rechecks what they wrote and does the rest of the exam plus any vaccinations. The tech is there for that part too, but is observing.

Answer 5

At my Vet's office, the Vet tech comes in, does the triage (temperature, etc) and then the Vet checks my babies out. Although I like and respect the Vet Tech at my Vet's office, they do not have the training nor experience to properly diagnose. I think you have the right to demand to see the Vet or take your pets elsewhere.