Veterinary Assistant
By Anna Lapsley
Feb 5, 2006, 13:00
The Veterinary Assistant is an important part of the team at an animal hospital. He or she works with the veterinarian and the vet techs to help the sick and injured animals, as well as the animals coming in for check ups and vaccinations. The veterinary assistant can be compared to the licensed practical nurses in your doctor’s office.
Required Education: Veterinary assistants receive on-the-job-training and are not required to have any type of certification or schooling, while the veterinary technician is required to go to school to become certified. However, the vet assistant is required to take a certain number of hours of continuing education in the field of assistant veterinary medicine each year. Requirements vary from state to state.
Job Function: Vet assistants aid the veterinarian by doing preliminary examinations such as checking weight, asking questions about the dogs symptoms and charting the information. They assist in surgical procedures, and in the dentistry of pets. Sometimes the assistant will do the teeth cleaning under the supervision of the vet. The vet assistant can draw blood and run basic lab tests. He also assists in keeping the exam rooms and kennels clean and in order.
Income Potential: The income potential varies with skill and time on the job, as well as the location of the facility. The average annual salary usually falls in the $20-$30,000 range.
Most satisfying part of the job: Pat Crawford works in a veterinary office in Nebraska and although he is not a veterinary assistant, he performs many of the same tasks that an assistant would. “Helping sick and injured animals makes the job very rewarding,” says Pat.
Hardest part of the job: Pat says that one of the hardest parts of the job is helping the pet owner to decide on euthanasia. It is always sad to see an animal cross the “rainbow bridge” but it is also difficult to watch the loving owners grieve as their pet takes that last journey.
If your desire is to have a career with animals there are many options and the veterinary assistant option is a great way to start your career. If you like being part of a team the vet assistant position may be just what you’re looking for in a job.
Special thanks to Pat Crawford of Lincoln, Nebraska for his contribution to this article.
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