by Sabrina Martin

Created on: May 20, 2008   Last Updated: January 24, 2010

The Veterinary Assistant is very important to the Vet Clinic. They make the job of the Veterinarian and technician not only easier but possible. Without the assistant a vet clinic would be unable to function.

The Veterinary Assistant is responsible for many jobs throughout the clinic, such as: Restraining pets, sterilizing surgery tools and equipment; assisting clients and looking after the basic needs of the pets.

Although each veterinary clinic does things a little differently, the job of the assistant is generally the same. I worked as a Veterinary Assistant for two years at a clinic in Salem Oregon. Below is a brief overview of the tasks I performed on a daily basis.

Restraining the Pets

While the Veterinarian and Technician provide vaccines, exams, and other necessary procedures, someone must be able to restrain the pet. This is the job of the assistant. The assistant must be able to keep the pet still while the procedures are carried out. This includes preventing all limbs from flailing about and more importantly ensuring that the Veterinarian, technician, and yourself are not bitten in the process.

Cleanliness and Sterilization

The appearance of the clinic is important and often the responsibility of the Veterinary Assistant. As an assistant I made sure all examination rooms were cleaned and stocked throughout the day. The lobby was kept clean and presentable as well as the surgery room and other areas in the clinic.

Surgery utensils have to be thoroughly cleansed, properly wrapped, and sterilized before use. The assistant is in charge of sterilization. In the clinic I worked at we double wrapped what we called surgery packs and sterilized them using an autoclave. The surgery packs were a combination of specific tools used for Dog and cat spays or neuters.

Stocking Shelves

Many clinics stock their own pet foods as well as shampoos, flea treatments, and a variety of other products. As the Veterinary Assistant I ensured that all shelves and products were stocked. If a certain product was unavailable I noted this down on an inventory sheet.

General Pet Care

Often pets will stay for the day after having a routine surgery or may be boarded in the clinic for some time if they require constant monitoring and care. If the clinic does not hire specifically for Kennel help the Veterinary Assistant may be required to oversee this area. In general, I was in charge of keeping the bedding in the kennels clean, providing food and water if necessary, and taking pets out to go to the bathroom. Often bathing is needed and may be left up to the assistant.

Additional Responsibilities

The Veterinary Assistant is often responsible for getting clients and their pets into the examination rooms in a timely manner. As a Veterinary Assistant I did this as well as bring pets to the back for routine procedures such as: Toe nail trims and vaccinations.

It is also important that the Veterinary Assistant learn and understand the usage of different products such as pet foods, flea and tick treatments, and shampoos, so they can provide clients with the proper information.

Vet clinics are very busy places and there is always a lot of work to be done. The job of the assistant can at times be hard to stomach and is not for the faint of heart. Yet, knowing that you get to be a part of something that improves and even saves the life of a pet is one of the greatest rewards one can experience.

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