What A Vet Assistant Does

Veterinary assistants are vital workers in veterinary facilities for the health and care of animals.

Because of it, they’ve become in high demand all over the country.

This is evidenced by the increasing employment rate every year.

As such, this can become a rewarding career for you should you choose to enter this field.

It guarantees job security, competitive remuneration, and an exciting work environment.

Where Do Vet Assistants Work?

Vet assistants are primarily involved in veterinary practice.

That’s why you can mostly see them in private animal health facilities usually operated by experienced veterinarians.

They also work either full-time or part-time at:

• Animal hospitals and pet clinics
• Laboratories and research facilities
• Zoos and aquariums

Like any medical professional, they work round-the-clock with some taking night shifts.

This actually enables them to be on-call to handle emergencies.

Duties and Responsibilities

As mentioned, vet assistants play a vital role in animal healthcare.

They usually perform the following:

• Monitor animals post-surgery
• Sanitize surgical tools and examination rooms
• Conduct emergency care assistance
• Do routine tests on animals
• Exercise and feed animals
• Restrain animals
• Collect blood and tissue samples
• Record requests to other veterinary facilities
• Schedule appointments and update medical records
• Make follow-up calls and handle billing issues

Skills and Competencies Needed

To be a vet assistant, you need to possess certain qualities and characteristics.

Passion for Animals

You must genuinely like to be with animals.

Only when you do can you establish trust and good rapport with them.

Critical Thinking

Throughout your duties, you will apply critical thinking in helping out vets and vet techs.

Physically Fit

You may encounter aggressive and highly active animals at times.

That’s why strong muscles and stamina are necessary to be able to restrain, lift, and hold them in place.

Plus, being strong will make it easier for you to apply appropriate restraining techniques during that time.

Knowledgeable and Experienced

It’s necessary to be knowledgeable and familiar with the many animal care equipment and tools used.

Only then can you quickly know which things to use in every scenario.

Emotionally Strong

Fact is you’ll lose animal patients at times, even perform tasks like euthanasia yourself.

That’s why you have to possess great emotional strength to face this and help comfort pet owners.

Job Growth and Opportunities

Back in 2017, the American Pet Products Association announced that pet owners spent over $69.36 billion on pet care.

The increase in demand for animal healthcare results in the increased demand for vet professionals.

In fact, the numbers look positive according to the May 2020 report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

More and more vets and vet techs require the help of vet assistants, especially in:

• Animal clinics
• Pet hospitals
• Private practice

This is certainly good news for aspiring vet assistants.

Top States to Work In

More and more individuals are planning or already are vet assistants.

Here are the top states with the highest number of employed individuals you may consider working in.

Data taken from U.S. BLS May 2020 report

Expected Salary

Because of the great job outlook, vet assistants are paid well.

Per the BLS, their median annual salary is a whopping $29,930.

The table below shows the top paying states you may like to work in.

Of course, your pay also depends on:

• Vet facility you’re working in
• Type of work you’re doing

For instance, if you do veterinary services, you’ll receive an average of $29,560 per year.

But if you work in schools, you’ll receive a higher remuneration of about $37,580.

Training and Certifications

It’s necessary to undergo formal training when becoming a vet assistant.

You may choose to enroll at any of these places:

• Community colleges
• Adult learning centers
• Technical schools

Here you will learn skills like:

• Identifying different animal breeds
• Learning medical terminologies
• Proper animal etiquette
• Veterinary laboratory procedures
• In-house veterinary pharmacy
• Examination room procedures

On the other hand, getting a certification isn’t mandatory.

But it does make your resume look good and boosts your employment prospects.

The National Association of Veterinary Technicians Association offers an Accredited Veterinary Assistant program for interested individuals.

To get certified, you must:

• Enroll and graduate from a NAVTA-approved program
• Pass the exam

You can find more information about the AVA program here.

Popular Programs

Final Words

Being a vet assistant is an important job in the veterinary practice.

You will:

• Help vets and vet techs in their duties
• Take care of animal patients
• Talk and comfort pet owners

It’s not an easy job, but it’s well worth the hard work when you see your patients get better under your care.