​Job Overview Transcript

 

Veterinary assistants are vital to the smooth running of any veterinary facility. They most often work in veterinary clinics or hospitals, providing backup to veterinarians and veterinary technicians. By taking care of routine daily tasks, they free up veterinarians to see more patients and perform more complex procedures.

A simple way to understand the role vet assistants play is to compare this to the human healthcare system. Just as doctors and nurses rely on aides, so do vets and vet technicians rely on veterinary assistants.

During their typical day, veterinary assistants will care for animals by feeding, bathing, and weighing them, as well as administering any medications the vet has proscribed. They take temperatures, collect blood or urine samples, and perform routine laboratory tests. Vet assistants are responsible for disinfecting cages and sterilizing operating rooms and equipment. They will also assist in surgeries by providing nursing care, positioning the animal, passing instruments to the vet, and monitoring the animal’s condition after the procedure is complete.

A position as a veterinary assistant can be a very demanding job. Veterinary clinics are often open 24/7, so you should be prepared, especially as an entry-level employee, to work night, weekend, or holiday shifts. You need to have the physical stamina to spend a large portion of each workday on your feet, moving equipment and positioning animals for procedures. Fine dexterity and strong attention to detail are necessary when performing tests, assisting in surgeries, and giving medication. Work injuries tend to be disproportionately high, as frightened animals are liable to kick, scratch, or bite whoever is restraining them.

Veterinary assistants need to have extreme compassion toward animals in order to provide exceptional care, but they must also be prepared to observe animals who are suffering severe pain or gruesome injuries. They often assist in euthanizing animals who are sick, dying, or simply unwanted.

However, work as a veterinary assistant can also be extremely rewarding. Just as in any medical field, you witness the best and the worst. If you think you have the compassion and stamina to excel as a veterinary assistant, visit the links at the side to continue the program orientation.