Vet Tech Schools And Jobs

About Veterinary Assistants And Laboratory Animal Caretakers

Veterinary assistants take care of animals in veterinarian offices, animal hospitals and clinics. They also work at kennels, animal shelters and laboratories. They assist veterinarians and veterinarian technicians with daily procedures. Their major responsibilities include providing animals with food and water, exercising the animals, taking care of basic kennel tasks and handling and restraining animals. They also perform basic laboratory and clerical procedures and keep the facility clean.

Veterinary Assistant Responsibilities

• Provide animals food and water
• Give post-operative care to animals
• Administer medicines
• Clean and sterilize work areas and cages
• Monitor, make notes and report physical signs of animals
• Bathe animals
• Restock supplies
• Sterilize surgical and laboratory equipment
• Prepare samples for lab examination
• Prepare rooms for examinations of animals
• Restrain the animals during examinations and treatments

Some of the important characteristics of the position include, patience, compassion and a joy for working with animals. The job includes kneeling and bending, lifting animals and walking dogs for exercise. Standing for long periods of time is also an aspect of the occupation. Also, effectively communicating with pet owners is part of the job. In addition, veterinary assistants are at risk for animal bites and scratches.

Employment Outlook

In 2006, there were approximately 75,000 veterinary assistant jobs. The growth rate for employment through 2016 is projected to be faster than average when compared to the average of all types of employment. Full-time and part-time positions are available. In 2007 the average wage was $20,770.

The number of companion animals is expected to rise, which will increase the demand for veterinary assistants. However, the majority of the available jobs will be created by workers leaving the occupation. Also, the strength of the economy is a factor in the number of positions available. Pet owners typically desire more services for their pets and spend more money when the economy is doing well.

Veterinary Assistant Training, Certification, and Licensing

Typically, employers do not require formal education or a certificate for the position. However, prior experience in dealing with animals is helpful. Usually on-the-job-training is provided for those without experience. Some vocational schools offer veterinary assistant programs. The programs usually include courses in the basics of dogs and cats, animal behavior, handling and restraining animals, veterinary terminology, nutrition and parasites. A solid foundation is also provided in obtaining animal health histories and records, body systems of animals, pathology and other subjects.

Some workers begin their careers as veterinary assistants and then acquire additional education and become veterinary technicians. In some cases, the experience acquired as an assistant can be used to fulfill the internship requirements for a veterinary technician.

Resources for Veterinary Assistants

• American Boarding Kennels Association
• National Dog Groomers Association of America

Major Employers of Veterinary Assistants

The primary employers of veterinary assistants are veterinarian offices, clinics, animal hospitals, animal shelters and laboratories.

Schools for Veterinary Assistants And Laboratory Animal Caretakers are listed in the column to the left.

The Top Cities tab shows employment statistics for Veterinary Assistants And Laboratory Animal Caretakers by major metro area.

The Top Industries tab shows which industries have the most jobs for Veterinary Assistants And Laboratory Animal Caretakers, along with salary data by industry.

The Find Schools tab lets you search for schools by field of study, degree level, and location.