For those people who enjoy working with animals one career that they could pursue is the veterinary assistant job. Veterinary assistants are important members in a team of medical experts that provide health care to animals. Their main job description is to support and help the licensed veterinarian in their daily tasks and to make sure that they are able to carry out their duties well.
If you are planning to take on the career of a veterinary assistant, you will only need to complete less than a year of education whereupon you will be awarded with a certificate. Should you decide to continue your education you can go on to become a veterinary technician. However, most employers do not require you to attain formal education. You just have to gain a certain number of hours of internship and training in order to get the job. The following are the responsibilities expected of those who go plan on pursuing veterinary assistant jobs:
- Making sure that all equipment and materials are clean and ready for use at all times.
- Handling all clerical and administrative duties like filing of documents and client’s records.
- Feeding the animals and making sure that they get their daily dose of exercise.
- Assisting veterinarians in their surgeries by preparing and sanitizing all the equipment that they need.
- Restraining and handling animals that come in for check ups.
- Providing post-operative care.
- Preparing samples to be used for laboratory examination.
The working environment can vary for different jobs. You may find work in a big animal hospital or a small community clinic where the pace is more relaxed. It will depend on the job openings in your area. The best place to look for veterinary assistant jobs is in the nearest veterinary school in your area. You can also visit nearby clinics and inquire about openings. A typical veterinary assistant salary can range from $21,887 to $32,766 per year.
It does not take much to have a veterinary assistant job. The one thing that you should have though, is a pure passion for helping animals. If you are thinking of going into veterinary school, this could be a good stepping stone for you so that you are able to assess your skills first before going into that direction. Apart from having love and compassion for animals, being a veterinary assistant will require you to have presence of mind at all times. There will be instances wherein you will have to deal with emergencies so you have to be quick on your feet. You also have to be emotionally strong so that you are able to help comfort not just the animals but their owners as well.
Job Resources:
http://www.indeed.com/q-Veterinary-Assistant-jobs.html
http://jobs.monster.com/v-healthcare-q-veterinary-assistant-jobs.aspx
http://www.glassdoor.com/Job/veterinary-assistant-jobs-SRCH_KO0,20.htm