Students in the Veterinary Technology Program are exposed to health risks not experienced by students in other majors. For most students, these risks are negligible, but they may be greater if the student has physical conditions such as, but not limited to: immuno-suppression, pregnancy, asthma, allergies, and heart problems. It is important that each student:

• Be aware of the potential health risks associated with working in a veterinary clinical environment such as those on-campus at Manor College and those that are part of the externship experience,
• Take the required and recommended steps to ensure that the risks are minimized as instructed in each laboratory,
• Seek the on-going advise and guidance of a physician in the event that the student has physical conditions that make them more vulnerable to the routine risks of veterinary clinical practice.
• Students who are pregnant are asked to notify the Program Director and to follow the steps outlined in the Pregnancy Protocol. (link to Pregnancy Protocol)
  

Examples of Risks

Zoonotic Infections

A wide range of diseases may be spread from animals to humans. These diseases include, but are not limited to, salmonellosis, brucellosis, leptospirosis, rabies, toxoplasmosis, dermatophytosis, viral conjunctivitis, cat scratch fever, psittacosis, and tuberculosis. Students who, for whatever reason, are immuno-suppressed are particularly vulnerable to contracting an illness spread from an animal. They may also be more likely to contract illness from classmates. The unborn fetus may be vulnerable to exposure to toxoplasmosis.

Trauma

Students can be bitten, scratched, stepped on, kicked, and shoved by animals. They are vulnerable to back injury when lifting heavy animals or during the restraint of non-cooperative animals.

Anesthetic Gases

Exposure to anesthetic gases will occur during the on-campus surgery and anesthesiology laboratory, and during the off-campus clinical externships.

Teratogens

Cytotoxic compounds, sterilizing, cleaning, preserving and fixing agents and infectious microbes such as toxoplasmosis are all examples of substances that can cause birth defects in the unborn fetus. These are present in the clinical veterinary environment.

Hormones and Drugs

Contact with hormones such as prostaglandins and progesterones can have harmful effects on the normal reproductive cycle of women. Contact with drugs such as chloramphenicol is linked with aplastic anemias in humans.

Ionizing radiation and other sources of radioactive material

Students will be exposed to x-rays, and radioactive markers used in scintigraphy and other special imaging. They may also be exposed to fluoroscopy, and CT imaging.Pregnancy and Health Risk Protocol:

• Students who become pregnant, immuno-suppressed or have health conditions that predispose them to risk during any part of their education in the Program of Veterinary Technology at Manor College, must notify the Program Director and their academic advisor.
• The student must make an appointment to meet with the advisor to discuss health risks, plans for continuation in the program, confidentiality issues, etc.
• A Pregnancy and Health Risk Notification and Release form must be completed by the student and advisor, which documents that the student is cognizant of the hazards associated with the continued matriculation in the Program of Veterinary Technology and has made an informed decision in conjunction with the advise and guidance of a physician. Copies of these forms should be kept by the advisor.
• The student must be under the care of a physician in order to remain active in the program.
• The student is responsible for keeping her/his advisor informed of her/his progress.
• The student accepts responsibility for using appropriate safety measures to protect her/his own health (and that of the fetus, if pregnant).
  
  Pregnancy and Health Risk Notification and Release Form