Veterinary Assistants

Just as doctors require the assistance of nurses to provide adequate health care to their patients, veterinarians must also have assistance in caring for animals. This role is filled by Veterinary Assistants, sometimes called Veterinary Technicians or Technologists who work alongside veterinarians to care for animals in a variety of situations.

In private practices, Veterinary assistants typically conduct clinical work under the supervision of the veterinarian-often performing various medical tests along with treating and diagnosing medical conditions and diseases in animals. They may perform laboratory tests such as urinalysis and blood counts, assist with dental prophylaxis, prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, or assist veterinarians in a variety of tests and analyses in which they often utilize various items of medical equipment, such as test tubes and diagnostic equipment.

Veterinary technicians may obtain and record patients' case histories, expose and develop X rays, and provide specialized nursing care. In addition, experienced veterinary technicians may discuss a pet's condition with its owners and train new clinic personnel.

Besides working in private clinics and animal hospitals, veterinary assistants may work in research facilities, where they may administer medications, prepare samples for laboratory examinations, and record information on an animal's genealogy, diet, weight, medications, food intake, and clinical signs of pain and distress. Some may be required to sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment and provide routine postoperative care. At research facilities, veterinary technologists typically work under the guidance of veterinarians, physicians, and other laboratory technicians. Some veterinary assistants vaccinate newly admitted animals and occasionally are required to euthanize seriously ill, severely injured, or unwanted animals.

There are primarily two levels of education and training for entry to this occupation: a 2-year program for veterinary technicians and a 4-year program for veterinary technologists. Most entry-level veterinary technicians have a 2-year degree, usually an associate's degree, from an accredited community college program in veterinary technology in which courses are taught in clinical and laboratory settings using live animals. Typically, graduation from either type of program is enough to get a job in working with a veterinarian, though those with the four-year Veterinary Technology degree will command a higher salary. Once hired, the job duties are nearly the same regardless of which degree you have obtained.

In addition to the required education, veterinary assistants should have good interpersonal skills and good customer service skills, and should be detail oriented. They may often be tasked with working with customers whose pets are seriously ill, and they must be able to handle these situations with compassion. This can be a stressful job, since Veterinary Assistants may often witness animals in pain or even those that must be put down.

The job outlook for Veterinary Assistants is positive. More and more of these jobs are coming available due to the high incidence of pet ownership today. To qualify for one of these jobs, you must first complete the required education. However, some veterinary offices have grooming and helper positions that can help you gain experience while you complete your education. To find out more about Veterinary Assistant jobs, please visit www.diversityworking.com.

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