Veterinary Assistant Job Description
What Does a Veterinary Assistant Do?
A veterinary assistant is a job in which the individual assists with the care and treatment of animals in a veterinary clinic. Responsibilities include feeding and bathing the animals, taking their vital signs, and assisting in examinations and procedures.
Veterinary Assistant Job Description Example
Memphis Animal Care is looking for an enthusiastic veterinary assistant to join our team and provide exceptional care to our pet patients. We are a full-service veterinary clinic providing quality pet care to the Memphis area and beyond.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assisting veterinarians with exams, treatments and procedures
- Restraining animals for examination and treatment
- Administering medications and treatments as prescribed by the veterinarian
- Maintaining medical records and assisting with other administrative tasks
- Providing excellent customer service to both clients and their pets
- Cleaning and maintaining the clinic, including equipment and supplies
Work Hours and Benefits:
The veterinary assistant position is full-time, and services are generally provided during regular business hours, Monday-Friday. We offer competitive salary and benefits, including health insurance, paid vacation and sick leave, and discounted veterinary services.
Qualifications:
- Previous experience working with animals
- Working knowledge of veterinary software programs
- Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
- Excellent organizational and communication skills
- Knowledge of common medical terminology
- Ability to remain calm and positive in difficult situations
Training and Education:
We require a minimum of a high school diploma or GED. Prior experience in the veterinary field is preferred but not required; candidates must be willing to obtain any required certifications necessary to perform the duties of the job.
If this opportunity interests you and you meet the above qualifications, please come by Memphis Animal Care to fill out an application and introduce yourself. We look forward to meeting you!
What to Include on a Veterinary Assistant Resume or Job Posting
Common veterinary assistant responsibilities
- Assisting veterinarians with medical procedures and treatments.
- Administering medications and vaccinations.
- Monitoring and recording vital signs of animals.
- Restraining animals for examination and treatment.
- Cleaning and sterilizing instruments and equipment.
- Maintaining medical records and filing paperwork.
- Feeding, bathing, and exercising animals.
- Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens.
- Educating clients on animal care and health.
- Assisting with the euthanasia of animals.
Qualities & traits
- Compassion: Veterinary assistants must be compassionate and caring towards animals, as well as their owners.
- Patience: Veterinary assistants must be patient when dealing with animals, as they can be unpredictable and difficult to handle.
- Attention to Detail: Veterinary assistants must pay close attention to detail in order to accurately record and monitor patient information.
- Communication Skills: Veterinary assistants must be able to communicate effectively with clients, veterinarians, and other staff members.
- Physical Strength: Veterinary assistants must have the physical strength to lift and restrain animals.
- Flexibility: Veterinary assistants must be flexible and able to adapt to changing situations.
- Organizational Skills: Veterinary assistants must be organized and able to keep track of patient records and other paperwork.
- Knowledge of Veterinary Medicine: Veterinary assistants must have a basic understanding of veterinary medicine and be able to follow instructions.
What a typical day looks like for a veterinary assistant
On a day-to-day basis, a veterinary assistant typically performs a variety of tasks to help a veterinarian with patient care and administrative duties. These duties may include cleaning and preparing examination and operating rooms, restraining animals during examinations and procedures, assisting in the administration of medications and vaccinations, talking to pet owners about pet health care, drawing blood, taking x-ray, collecting and preparing samples for laboratory testing, and providing general care for animals. Veterinary assistants also assist with recordkeeping, ordering supplies, and other administrative tasks.
Compatible jobs and work history
An entry-level veterinary assistant job does not require any experience as the assistant will be trained by an experienced veterinarian mentor. However, certain transferable skills, such as the ability to handle animals, the organizational, communication, and customer service skills will be helpful. Those interested in becoming a veterinary assistant but lacking previous experience may have obtained similar skills from positions in relevant industries such as animal-related customer service, animal care, and wholesome nutrition service. The following are some compatible job titles that prospective veterinary assistant could have:
- Pet Caretaker
- Animal Shelter Attendant
- Animal Trainer
- Animal Adoption Counselor
- Groomer's Assistant
- Kennel Attendant
- Pet Store Cashier
- Animal Health Technician
- Senior Veterinary Technician
- Veterinary Facility Assistant
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