Becoming a Veterinary Assistant

A veterinary assistant works in a variety of settings to provide care to animals. Some of their duties include feeding and exercising animals, administering medication, and monitoring their health. They may also clean cages, perform surgeries, disinfect kennels and sterilize medical equipment. The job requires good communication skills and empathy for animals. It is very important to control your emotions while working with pets because it can be stressful to see a sick animal. 

Also, vet assistants must be physically fit to help with heavy lifting. This is especially true of animals that weigh up to 100 pounds. You can start your career as a vet assistant vs vet tech by volunteering in a local animal hospital or clinic. Once you gain experience, you can apply for a job in the field. If you enjoy helping people, you should consider this career. However, if you do not love animals, you may want to look at other careers in the field. If you are interested in becoming a veterinary assistant, you will need a high school diploma. After that, you will need to attend a college or vocational training establishment to receive a veterinary assistant certificate. 

Alternatively, you can take an online course to prepare you for this position. See dog trainer salary here! Most employers will provide on-the-job training to help you develop the skills needed to do the job. On-the-job training can last from six months to a year. Veterinary assistants may work in an animal hospital, animal shelter, boarding kennel, stable, research facility, university, aquarium, or even a zoo. During your time on the job, you may be expected to work long hours and handle sick and grumpy patients. In addition to working with animals, a veterinary assistant may be involved with customer service. These duties can include handling phone calls and returning messages. Additionally, they may be required to clean kennels, collect samples for testing, and sterilize veterinary equipment. Vet assistants may work with orphaned wildlife and livestock. Some veterinary assistants can euthanize animals. 

However, they may not be able to perform diagnostic tests. Veterinary assistants often work with large animals such as cats, dogs, and horses. Since these animals are large, they need to be physically strong and capable of lifting and handling them. As a result, you will need to have excellent manual dexterity. Some veterinary assistant jobs require you to lift heavy objects, and you may need to lift, cradle, and place animals into a carrier or on a gurney. 

Although you may not have to perform surgical procedures, you will need to understand the basic anatomy and physiology of small and large mammals, as well as reptiles and companion birds. Animals require a great deal of care, and a veterinary assistant is an essential part of the team that provides this care. The American Association for Laboratory Animal Science offers three certifications that will aid in your career. Those who wish to become animal caregivers should have stamina, strength, and a sense of humor. Visit this website at https://www.huffpost.com/entry/veterinarian-tech-burnout-sick-pets_n_6333117fe4b0b7f89f39eca0 for more info about vets.