Veterinary Assisting

If you love being around animals but don’t have the inclination to go to veterinary school, you can still have a job that can make a big difference in the lives of ailing pets—as a Veterinary Assistant.

As a Veterinary Assistant, you will be responsible for feeding, watering, and examining pets and other non-farm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories, animal hospitals, and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment.

Occasionally, Veterinary Assistants may provide routine post-operative 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.

Veterinary Assistants are an important part of the team at animal hospitals. They participate in surgeries, provide care to sick animals, and assist veterinarians by running lab tests. They also work alongside registered veterinary technicians, helping to care for hospitalized animals. Some veterinary assistants receive a certification, becoming Certified Veterinary Assistants (CVAs).

When you go to your veterinarian’s office with your pet, it is often a veterinary assistant who first greets you and your pet in the exam room. The veterinary assistant will often weigh your pet, take his temperature, and ask you questions about your pet’s condition. Veterinary assistants also work behind the scenes at your veterinarian’s office, caring for hospitalized animals, and assisting veterinarians and veterinary technicians with various back-office procedures.

To be happy working as a veterinary assistant, you must enjoy working closely with animals and dealing with veterinary issues. You must also be willing to take direction from registered veterinary technicians and veterinarians.

Explore our Veterinary Assisting Programs

Veterinary Assistant

Turn your love for animals into a rewarding career, with this online veterinary assistant certificate program.

Veterinary Assistant Scribe

Veterinary Scribes have the potential to dramatically increase doctors’ workflow and work-life balance as well as create a pathway for potential pre-veterinary students.