If you want to translate your love for animals into a fulfilling and rewarding career, then you may want to consider becoming a veterinary assistant. As a vet assistant, you’ll have the opportunity to work closely with animals, providing the care and support they (and their owners) need while gaining valuable experience across a wide range of veterinary settings.
Do you have what it takes to thrive as a veterinary assistant? With a better understanding of the most critical veterinary assistant skills, you can pinpoint your own strengths and determine whether this career path may be right for you.
10 Essential Skills Every Veterinary Assistant Needs for Career Success
Explore some of the most essential skills of a veterinary assistant below, including both technical proficiencies and softer skills.
1. Animal Handling and Restraint Techniques
Vet assistants must know how to safely handle and restrain (when necessary) different types of animals for their safety and the safety of the animals themselves. This may include the use of muzzles, poles, or other specialized restraints to minimize stress and reduce the risk of injury. Developing veterinary assistant skills in animal handling is critical for building confidence in this part of the job.
2. Communication Skills with Clients and Staff
Vet assistants must also be effective communicators, both in dealing with other staff members and in working with pet owners. For example, a vet assistant may need to communicate with a vet technician or veterinarian to convey important information about a pet’s care. Likewise, vet assistants may need to speak with pet owners about diagnoses, treatment plans, and other critical information, so being able to communicate clearly is a must. Good communication is also a core veterinary assistant skill, helping prevent misunderstandings and promote teamwork.
3. Medical Knowledge for Daily Tasks
A lot of medical terminology is used in veterinary offices, and vet assistants need to be able to understand this jargon to do their own jobs well. With this in mind, vet assistants need to have a solid understanding of standard medical terms used in animal/veterinary medicine. This includes common abbreviations, directional terms, and terms used to describe various body systems. Gaining these skills of a veterinary assistant ensures you can communicate effectively with other staff and follow procedures accurately.
4. Emergency Response and First Aid Skills
In some cases, veterinary assistants may need to utilize emergency response or first aid skills to care for pets who are critically injured or sick. Although a veterinarian or veterinary technician should step in to provide care in an emergency situation, veterinary assistants are often the first to see pets when they come into a veterinary office. As a result, they should be able to provide basic first aid (such as wound care to control bleeding), animal CPR, and other essential first aid when needed. Strengthening these veterinary assistant skills can help you respond calmly under pressure.
5. Ability to Perform Laboratory Tests
In some cases, veterinary assistants may also be responsible for collecting specimens needed to perform laboratory and other diagnostic tests. When this is the case, vet assistants should have the proper training and experience to collect specimens (such as urine or blood) safely, prepare samples for testing, and even carry out specific lab tests. This includes knowing how to operate particular lab equipment, sanitizing diagnostic equipment after use, and following best practices for collecting and preparing samples. These are key skills of a veterinary assistant that help ensure accurate results and safe handling.
6. Understanding of Animal Behavior
Similarly, veterinary assistants must possess a strong knowledge of animal behavior. Because animals cannot communicate with vet assistants in the same way patients can communicate with nurses, vet assistants need to be able to read a pet’s body language and other signs to better understand how they’re feeling and what they may need. Specifically, veterinary assistants may be trained in recognizing signs of distress in different types of animals, and using specific strategies to keep them comfortable.
7. Administrative and Clerical Skills
Many vet assistants are also responsible for handling some basic administrative work as part of their jobs, such as scheduling appointments or answering phone calls. With this in mind, aspiring vet assistants should have strong organization and time management skills, and the ability to keep detailed records and provide excellent customer service to pet owners.
8. Compassion and Patience
Working as a veterinary assistant also means working with pet owners who may be stressed, anxious, or upset. A strong sense of compassion and empathy for others can go a long way here, especially when helping a pet owner make difficult decisions or even grieve the loss of a pet.
9. Physical Stamina and Strength
As a vet assistant, it is not at all uncommon to spend the majority of your shift on your feet. With this in mind, veterinary assistants need to have a decent level of physical stamina to meet the demands of the job. Since you’ll likely be working with some larger pets that need to be restrained for your safety, physical strength is also an important skill to have in this type of role.
10. Attention to Detail
Last but not least, veterinary assistants must be extremely detail-oriented to perform their jobs effectively. This is especially important when assessing pets’ vital signs, as overlooking even the seemingly smallest of details could have a negative impact on the care and treatment provided. When vet assistants are attentive to every last detail, they can make sure pets (and their owners) receive the proper care they deserve.
Advancing Your Career as a Veterinary Assistant
Working as a veterinary assistant can be very rewarding, but it is often a stepping-stone to more advanced areas of the veterinary field. If you’re interested in taking your career to the next level, there are some certifications, specializations, and continuing education options you may want to consider.
Certification Options and Continuing Education
While getting certified is not mandatory, some employers may prefer to hire veterinary technicians who have earned their certification through the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA). Earning this certification requires you to pass an exam. Even sitting for the NAVTA exam requires you to complete an approved diploma program.
Specializations That Can Enhance Your Role
In addition to getting NAVTA certified as a veterinary assistant, you might also decide to specialize in a certain area of the field. Some veterinary assistants, for example, are particularly interested in emergency and critical care for animals. Others may specialize in dentistry or even work with certain types of animals (such as exotic animals or horses).
To advance into specialized roles, consider pursuing additional coursework and gaining experience in your area of interest within the field.
Challenges Veterinary Assistants Face
Although the work of a veterinary assistant can be both uplifting and rewarding, it doesn’t come without its inherent challenges. Those thinking about entering this field must be prepared to face some of the common obstacles that come along with caring for animals.
Handling Difficult Situations with Pets and Owners
When a pet is sick or injured, dealing with pet owners can sometimes prove even more challenging than dealing with sick animals themselves. When tensions and stress run high, veterinary assistants may have to deal with upset and grieving pet owners, which can be difficult.
Managing Emotional Stress From Patient Outcomes
As a veterinary assistant, you will also see your fair share of sick and suffering animals. Unfortunately, this is a part of the job, but that doesn’t make it any easier to handle. Veterinary assistants commonly suffer from a condition known as “compassion fatigue,” where witnessing and experiencing other people’s (and animals’) suffering can cause severe emotional exhaustion. Learning to manage these and other job challenges is essential for long-term growth and well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What qualifications are necessary to become a veterinary assistant?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) constitutes what is needed to become a veterinary assistant, stating that “most workers entering the occupation have a high school diploma or equivalent,” and “most veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers receive short-term on-the-job training.”
Still, with more employers now preferring to hire candidates who are NAVTA-certified, those interested in becoming vet assistants may benefit from completing a formal diploma program for more specialized education and preparation.
How can veterinary assistants improve their skills?
One of the best ways for veterinary assistants (or aspiring vet assistants) to build upon the skills they need on the job is to complete a vet assistant diploma program that provides them with the opportunity to develop essential skills such as animal handling/restraint, laboratory testing, emergency first aid administration, and communication.
What are common career paths for veterinary assistants?
It is not uncommon for veterinary assistants to advance into more specialized roles with the proper education and training, including supervisory/leadership roles or jobs in areas like veterinary dentistry and anesthesia. Some may also choose to advance their education, going on to become veterinary technicians or even veterinarians.
Are there any online resources for veterinary assistants?
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America website has some useful resources for vet assistants and those preparing for the NAVTA certification exam. Here, you can find study guides, practice tests, and other resources to further your skills and knowledge.
Learn More in FTC’s Veterinary Assistant Program
From technical expertise to compassion and attention to detail, the essential skills of a veterinary assistant are quite diverse. While becoming a veterinary assistant may not require a college education, enrolling in a vet assistant diploma program can be a great way to differentiate yourself while building the critical veterinary assistant skills needed to thrive in this type of role.
At Florida Technical College, our Veterinary Assistant with Pet Grooming diploma program is designed to be completed in as little as 16 months, covering such essential topics as animal care, disease prevention, animal health management, and more. Get in touch to request information about this program today or learn more about our admission requirements here!
This article presents a general overview of the field of veterinary assisting, including job opportunities within that field. It does not describe the educational objectives or expected employment outcomes of a particular Florida Technical College program. Florida Technical College does not guarantee that students will obtain employment or any particular job. Some positions may require licensure or other certifications. We encourage you to research the requirements for the particular career you desire.
Sources
https://ftccollege.edu/program/diploma/veterinary-assistant-program-with-pet-grooming
https://navta.net/students/resources/
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinary-assistants-and-laboratory-animal-caretakers.htm
https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr/performing-cpr/pet-cpr
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168159124000546
https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/263/S1/javma.263.s1.s4.xml
