A veterinary assistant helps veterinarians treat pets.
People who want to work in the animal health field but do not want to become full-fledged veterinarians can choose to become veterinary assistants. In some cases, people can use veterinary assistant jobs as a springboard to a career as a veterinarian. There are many types of veterinary assistant jobs, from being a receptionist at a veterinary clinic to helping a zoo vet treat exotic animals. Here are some types of veterinary assistant jobs and the tasks associated with them.
Veterinary assistants may be responsible for administering vaccinations.
Veterinary assistant jobs can be divided into two categories: those that require formal medical education and those that do not. Most veterinarians prefer to hire certified veterinary technicians to perform the more technical tasks associated with veterinary practice. These duties may include assisting the veterinarian in the exam room, assisting with surgery, taking and developing x-rays, and performing laboratory procedures.
A veterinary assistant may be responsible for helping with animal health procedures.
Workers without formal training can often find work as an animal clinic receptionist or clinic assistant. The receptionist is usually responsible for scheduling appointments, disseminating information, answering phones, bookkeeping, and other office-related tasks. Other tasks a clinic aide can help with include cleaning kennels and cages, feeding and exercising animals, and general maintenance tasks. Often these non-certified assistants can get enough hands-on training that they can eventually perform the duties of a veterinary technician.
Veterinary assistants may offer services to help out at a local animal shelter.
A veterinary assistant can also be hired to assist a large animal veterinarian. In such a position, the assistant would likely travel to clients’ homes and farms with the veterinarian and assist with animal health procedures. The Animal Attendant may be called upon to help contain animals, administer medications, assist with farm and ranch related activities such as calving and vaccinations.
Veterinary assistants generally have not received formal training or certification.
Another option for animal health assistants is to work at an animal shelter or humane society. Large shelters often have a veterinarian on staff. A vet tech will help the vet perform health and temperament evaluations, vaccinations, medical treatment and, in some shelters, euthanasia. If there is no veterinarian on the team, a vet tech can perform some of these tasks without veterinary supervision.
A large veterinary assistant may travel to farms and ranches to care for horses and other animals.
Zoos, public aquariums, and wildlife preserves offer another opportunity for veterinary assistants. In this position, the technician would typically assist with animal examinations, prophylactic care such as vaccinations and dentistry, assistance with surgical or radiological procedures, and animal record-keeping duties. Other miscellaneous veterinary assistant jobs include lab animal caretaker, research assistant, emergency medical technician, or assistant in a spay and neuter clinic.