Veterinary assistants are a good option for people who want to work in the animal health field but don’t want to be a full-fledged veterinarian. Vet assistant jobs are sometimes used as a stepping stone to a career as a veterinarian. Vet assistant jobs range from being a receptionist in a vet clinic to assisting a zoo vet with exotic animal treatment. Here are some examples of veterinary assistant jobs and the responsibilities that come with them.
There are two types of veterinary assistant jobs: those that require formal medical schooling and those that do not. The majority of veterinarians prefer to hire certified veterinary technicians to handle the more technical aspects of their practice. Helping the veterinarian in the exam room, assisting in surgery, taking and developing radiographs, and performing laboratory procedures are examples of these tasks.
Animal clinic receptionists and clinic helpers are common jobs for those with no formal training. A receptionist’s responsibilities typically include scheduling appointments, disseminating information, answering phones, performing bookkeeping duties, and other office-related tasks. Cleaning kennels and cages, feeding and exercising the animals, and general maintenance tasks are some of the other tasks that a clinic helper might assist with. Noncertified assistants can frequently gain enough on-the-job training to eventually perform the duties of a vet tech.
To assist a large animal veterinarian, a veterinary assistant may be hired. In this role, the assistant would likely accompany the veterinarian to clients’ homes and farms to assist with animal health procedures. Animal assistants may be called upon to restrain animals, administer medications, and assist with farm and ranch tasks such as birthing and vaccinations.
Working at an animal shelter or humane society is another option for animal health assistants. A veterinarian is frequently on staff at large shelters. In some shelters, a vet tech will assist the veterinarian with health and temperament evaluations, vaccinations, medical treatments, and euthanasia. If there isn’t a veterinarian on staff, a vet tech may be able to perform some of these tasks without supervision.
Vet assistants can also work at zoos, public aquariums, and wildlife preserves. The technician’s responsibilities would usually include assisting with animal examinations, prophylactic care such as vaccinations and dentistry, surgical or radiologic procedures, and animal recordkeeping. Laboratory animal caretaker, research assistant, emergency health technician, and assistant at a spay and neuter clinic are examples of other vet assistant jobs.