Meet the Veterinary Teaching Hospital team: Cynthia Buss
Since joining the Veterinary Teaching Hospital’s team one year ago as an animal technician, Cynthia Buss has helped to provide exceptional care to pets in the Small Animal Intensive Care Unit. She is currently enrolled in online courses to become a licensed veterinary technician.
From the Tri-Cities, Washington, area, Cynthia has lived in Pullman for the past eight years. She and her boyfriend have one horse, four dogs, two cats, and a fish.
What is your typical day like at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital?
I work in the Small Animal ICU, so I help with a little bit of everything – giving meds, fluids, food, water, walks, heat, etc. I help hold patients for doctors and students, draw blood, place IV catheters, assist with some procedures, monitor under anesthesia, help give oxygen, clean up constantly, answer the phone, put in charges, run outside to bring in patients – the list goes on and on. Every day is a little different and I get to see a lot of different diseases and injuries.
What made you want to work in veterinary medicine and at the hospital?
I have always loved animals, but I knew I wanted to go into veterinary medicine, specifically at WSU, because I brought my horse to the hospital for colic surgery in 2011. I loved seeing the hospital staff and students jump into action in the middle of the night and save my horse. It was my first visit to Pullman and the WSU VTH, and I was hooked.
What is your favorite thing about your job?
My favorite thing about my job is the variety of cases I get to see and the amazing people I learn so much from every day.
What advice would you give to pet owners?
If I had to give pet owners any advice, it would be to spend the time and money on preventative medicine! So many of the emergencies we see could easily be avoided if everyone just regularly took their animals to the vet and listened to their veterinarian.
Do you still bring your pets to WSU?
Two of my dogs, Nanook and Gracie, have been accepted into the blood donor program and, hopefully, they will soon be helping to save lives too! One of my kitties, Iroh, had to have her eye surgically removed a few months ago through Community Practice, and the doctors and students over there were all phenomenal.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Most of my free time is happily spent taking care of my menagerie. I absolutely love horses, and I spend hours at the barn taking care of horses and riding mine. I also like to go walking and hiking with the dogs and my boyfriend all over the Palouse.