An animal care assistant typically performs a variety of tasks. Many of the duties are janitorial in nature and are often considered an entry-level position in a veterinary office or kennel. Aside from cleaning the pets and their kennels, an animal care assistant is usually responsible for feeding and watering the animals, ensuring that they get enough exercise, and occasionally administering medication.
An animal care assistant frequently collaborates with the veterinarian in the clinic. They may assist in keeping the animals still while examinations are carried out. They may perform routine diagnostics such as weighing and taking body temperature prior to the examination. Typically, the information gathered during these diagnostics is recorded and then forwarded to the veterinarian.
One of the more time-consuming tasks assigned to an animal care assistant is feeding the animals. This is due to the fact that kenneled animals often have very different diets, especially if some of them are sick. For all of the animals being housed, different serving sizes and foods may be required. Medications are usually given out at this time.
The majority of the time, an animal care assistant is needed to exercise kenneled animals. Depending on the animal, this may entail taking them for a leisurely walk or transporting them to a running track for more vigorous exercise. Another assistant is usually cleaning empty cages while the animals are outside their cages. Kenneled animals are frequently stressed, and caregivers are expected to play and interact with them as much as possible in order to make them feel more at ease.
Cage cleaning is usually done twice a day in most veterinary clinics or kennels. Typically, this entails hosing down the area and removing any animal feces or leftover foods. During cleaning, the bedding or straw in the cage is usually replaced. Baths may also require the assistance of an assistant, depending on the circumstances and the animal’s specific illness. This could include a full body wash as well as wound cleaning and treatment.
An ideal animal assistant is someone who enjoys working with animals and enjoys being around them. The work is frequently difficult and time-consuming, and it necessitates a high level of commitment. People who work in these positions frequently do so as volunteers. In the United States (US), the average salary for an animal care assistant is around $36,000 US dollars (USD).