What You'll Do

  • 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.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 3.5/5
Critical Thinking 3.25/5
Reading Comprehension 3.12/5
Writing 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Service Orientation 3.12/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.0/5
Coordination 3.0/5
Time Management 3.0/5
Active Learning 2.88/5
Instructing 2.88/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Dependability, Integrity, Attention to Detail, Self-Control, Cooperation

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 3.38/5
Oral Expression 3.38/5
Written Expression 3.25/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.25/5
Information Ordering 3.25/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.12/5
Manual Dexterity 3.12/5
Near Vision 3.12/5

Technologies & Tools

IDEXX Laboratories IDEXX Cornerstone Labeling software McAllister Software Systems AVImark Medical software Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Practice management software PMS Scheduling software Word processing software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.66/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.53/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.47/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 4.43/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.36/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Animal Care Provider Animal Care Service Worker Animal Care Specialist Animal Caregiver Animal Caretaker Animal Health Technician Avian Keeper Certified Veterinary Assistant Emergency Veterinary Assistant Inpatient Technician Assistant Kennel Vet Assistant (Kennel Veterinary Assistant) Laboratory Animal Caretaker Laboratory Animal Technician Research Animal Attendant Small Animal Caretaker Veterinarian Assistant (Vet Assistant) Veterinarian Helper (Vet Helper) Veterinary Attendant Veterinary Kennel Assistant (Vet Kennel Assistant) Veterinary Receptionist (Vet Receptionist)