Details for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Description
Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. 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.
Tasks
- 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.
- Provide assistance with euthanasia of animals or disposal of corpses.
- Perform office reception duties, such as scheduling appointments or helping customers.
- Dust, spray, or bathe animals to control insect pests.
- Write reports, maintain research information, or perform clerical duties.
- Perform accounting duties, such as bookkeeping, billing customers for services, or maintaining inventories.
- Sell pet food or supplies to customers.
- Groom, trim, or clip animals' coats.
- Place orders to restock inventory of hospital or laboratory supplies.
Interests
- Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
- Investigative - Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
- Social - Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Education, training, experience
- Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
- Training - Employees 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.
- Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Knowledge
- Mathematics -Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Biology -Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Medicine and Dentistry -Knowledge 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.
- English Language -Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Computers and Electronics -Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
- Clerical -Knowledge 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.
- Customer and Personal Service -Knowledge 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.
Skills
None found.
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