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Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Occupation Detailed Description

Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

The main tasks and work activities of Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers are to monitor patients to detect health problems, give medications or immunizations, monitor patient progress or responses to treatments, clean medical equipment. In general, for the Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers, active Listening, critical Thinking, writing, reading Comprehension and other 7 skills are required.
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers jobs. 78.23% of Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 10.89% of Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
6.44%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
78.23%
Post-Secondary Certificate
10.89%
Some College Courses
3.67%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.31%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.46%

Tasks and Work Activities of Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

  • Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
  • Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
  • Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments or equipment.
  • Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
  • Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
  • Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
  • Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
  • Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
  • Fill medication prescriptions.
  • Collect laboratory specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, for testing.
  • Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
  • Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
  • Prepare surgical equipment and pass instruments or materials to veterinarians during surgical procedures.
  • Perform enemas, catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, or gavages.
  • Prepare feed for animals according to specific instructions, such as diet lists or schedules.
  • Exercise animals or provide them with companionship.
  • Record information relating to animal genealogy, feeding schedules, appearance, behavior, or breeding.
  • Educate or advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, or behavior problems.
  • Perform hygiene-related duties, such as clipping animals' claws or cleaning and polishing teeth.
  • Prepare examination or treatment rooms by stocking them with appropriate supplies.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Monitor patients to detect health problems.
  • Give medications or immunizations.
  • Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
  • Clean medical equipment.
  • Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
  • Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
  • Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.
  • Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety.
  • Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health.
  • Control prescription refills or authorizations.
  • Collect biological specimens from patients.
  • Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
  • Assist practitioners to perform medical procedures.
  • Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
  • Feed patients.
  • Assist patients with daily activities.
  • Record vital statistics or other health information.
  • Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
  • Stock medical or patient care supplies.
  • Prepare patient treatment areas for use.

Skills and Abilities for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers

  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Extent FlexibilityThe ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Veterinary nail trimmers or cutterse.g. Animal nail clippers
  • Animal shearing or clipping equipmente.g. Animal razors
  • Animal catching devicese.g. Animal restraints
  • Veterinary injection or suction units or accessoriese.g. Balling guns
  • Bandage scissors or its suppliese.g. Bandage scissors
  • Benchtop centrifugese.g. Benchtop centrifuges
  • Protective glovese.g. Bite gloves
  • Blood collection syringese.g. Blood collection syringes
  • Chemical or gas sterilizerse.g. Chemical sterilizers
  • Clothes dryerse.g. Commercial dryers
  • Laundry type washing machinese.g. Commercial washing machines
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Digital camerase.g. Digital cameras
  • Veterinary clinical thermometerse.g. Digital veterinary thermometers
  • Medical x ray units for general diagnostic usee.g. Digital veterinary x ray equipment
  • Animal shearing or clipping equipmente.g. Electric animal clippers
  • Animal weighing scalese.g. Electronic animal scales
  • Vacuum blood collection tubes or containerse.g. Evacuated blood collection tubes
  • Multipurpose or general test tubese.g. General purpose laboratory test tubes
  • Laboratory beakerse.g. Glass beakers
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • BiologyKnowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  • ClericalKnowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
  • Medicine and DentistryKnowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • Computers and ElectronicsKnowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.