| This study examined communication skills and relationship centered care between Animal Health Technologists (AHT) and their veterinary clients. A qualitative content analysis of a popular veterinary magazine, Veterinary Team Brief, revealed situations when AHTs interact with clients and identified communication skills used to enhance these interactions. The backbone of this study was Martin Buber’s I-It, I-Thou dialogic theory, which provided a basis to emulate a connected, I-Thou interaction between AHTs and clients. A human health communication model, the Calgary Cambridge Guide, was compared to this model and skills in both models were coded as representing I-It or I-Thou interactions. Evidence of both interaction types demonstrated that strategic use of communication skills promotes relationship centered care. One of the outcomes of this study was a communication model designed for use by front line AHT’s.
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