What Does a Veterinary Assistant Do?

Being a veterinary assistant is different from a veterinary technician position. The latter tends to be trained and certified to work with animals, including giving vaccinations and administering medication, while an assistant usually has less experience and education. However, there is still a great deal of work in a vet clinic that assistants are able to do.

Clerical Tasks

Office work is the majority of the duties conducted by veterinary assistants. Because they are not licensed to actually work with the animals, they are not able to do as much as veterinarians or veterinary technicians are. The tasks performed by a vet assistant include answering the phones, greeting patients, scheduling appointments, processing payments and pulling or updating charts.

Tasks Involving Animals

Depending on where the veterinary assistants work, they may have the ability to work directly with the animals to a degree. Many assistants are allowed to feed, walk and bathe the pets that are boarded at the clinic. They usually escort the animals and their owners to a patient room and may weigh and visually inspect the animals before the vet sees them. Some may also be allowed to watch or assist during surgeries. 

Home Visits 

Many veterinarians offer services that include visiting the animals at their homes. This is especially true for farm animals that cannot be easily transported to the clinic. In some cases, assistants accompany the vets on home visits. They may also be allowed to make the visit alone if it is just to check on an animal.

Cleaning Tasks

Most of the cleaning in a veterinary clinic is left to the assistant to do. This includes cleaning crates and cages that injured, ill or boarded pets stay in while at the vet's clinic. The sterilization of the surgery equipment may also be a veterinary assistant's job.