It can vary a lot, but it'll almost always involve restraining animals for blood or urine draws, nail trims, anal gland expressions, taking care of borders, cleaning and disinfecting cages and the treatment area. Sometimes it involves spending the last few minutes with a pet who is being euthanized but the owner doesn't want to be present.
CAREER
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$29,780
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+19.4% (much faster than the average)
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Do
Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. May provide routine postoperative care, administer medication orally or topically, or prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of veterinary or laboratory animal technologists or technicians, veterinarians, or scientists.
Other Job Titles Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers May Have
Animal Care Provider, Animal Caregiver, Certified Veterinary Assistant, Veterinarian Assistant (Vet Assistant)
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- Fill medication prescriptions.
- Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Most common level of education among people in
this career: High school diploma or equivalent (78%)
High school diploma or equivalent
Post-secondary certificate
Less than high school diploma
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Physics & Astrophysics
Graduate
MBA
Bachelor
Veterinary Technician
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
The "soft skills" of communication and dealing with people are often overlooked, but are invaluable. There are so many different personalities to contend with in the treatment area and people can (and often do) have bad days and learning to cope with those really helps.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
Everyone
Volunteering at a shelter or rescue. Also, trying to find a job (any job) at a veterinary clinic to get the exposure to the environment and start building up the practical skills.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
