Veterinary Assistant or Laboratory Animal Caretaker
Other Titles
Veterinary Technician Assistant
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.
Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
Fill medication prescriptions.
Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments or equipment.
Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
Educate or advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, or behavior problems.
Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
Collect laboratory specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, for testing.
Prepare surgical equipment and pass instruments or materials to veterinarians during surgical procedures.
Prepare feed for animals according to specific instructions, such as diet lists or schedules.
Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
Exercise animals or provide them with companionship.
Prepare examination or treatment rooms by stocking them with appropriate supplies.
Provide assistance with euthanasia of animals or disposal of corpses.
Record information relating to animal genealogy, feeding schedules, appearance, behavior, or breeding.
Perform office reception duties, such as scheduling appointments or helping customers.
Perform hygiene-related duties, such as clipping animals' claws or cleaning and polishing teeth.
Perform accounting duties, such as bookkeeping, billing customers for services, or maintaining inventories.
Sell pet food or supplies to customers.
Dust, spray, or bathe animals to control insect pests.
Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
Perform enemas, catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, or gavages.
Write reports, maintain research information, or perform clerical duties.
Groom, trim, or clip animals' coats.
Active Listening→ Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Monitoring→ Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation→ Actively looking for ways to help people.
Active Learning→ Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Complex Problem Solving→ Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination→ Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking→ Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension→ Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Social Perceptiveness→ Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking→ Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates→ Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings→ Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Getting Information→ Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Documenting/Recording Information→ Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work→ Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Assisting and Caring for Others→ Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events→ Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems→ Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge→ Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public→ Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships→ Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization→ Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material→ Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Handling and Moving Objects→ Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Performing General Physical Activities→ Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others→ Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
Interacting With Computers→ Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People→ Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Analyzing Data or Information→ Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Developing and Building Teams→ Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
Processing Information→ Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Training and Teaching Others→ Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
Controlling Machines and Processes→ Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards→ Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Scheduling Work and Activities→ Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
Clean medical equipment.
Maintain medical equipment or instruments.
Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
Collect biological specimens.
Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
Feed patients.
Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health.
Assist patients with daily activities.
Prepare patient treatment areas for use.
Stock medical or patient care supplies.
Dispose of biomedical waste in accordance with standards.
Perform clerical work in medical settings.
Record vital statistics or other health information.
Schedule patient procedures or appointments.
Inventory medical supplies or equipment.
Process medical billing information.
Prepare medical reports or documents.
Problem Sensitivity→ The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Oral Comprehension→ The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Deductive Reasoning→ The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Near Vision→ The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Arm-Hand Steadiness→ The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Inductive Reasoning→ The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering→ The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g. , patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Manual Dexterity→ The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Speech Clarity→ The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition→ The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Trunk Strength→ The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Written Comprehension→ The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression→ The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
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.
Biology→ Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Language→ Knowledge of the structure and content of a language - English, French, Swahili et cetera - including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics→ Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Sales and Marketing→ Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Calendar and scheduling software -- Work schedule software; Scheduling software
Database user interface and query software -- Data entry software; Microsoft Access; Structured query language SQL; Microsoft SQL Server; MySQL; Amazon Redshift; Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud EC; Amazon Web Services AWS software; Microsoft Access; Oracle JDBC; Transact-SQL; FileMaker Pro
Electronic mail software -- e.g., IBM Notes; Microsoft Outlook
Label making software -- Labeling software
Medical software -- Practice management software PMS
Office suite software -- e.g., Corel WordPerfect Office; Microsoft Office; Google Workspace; Apache OpenOffice.org
Presentation software -- e.g., Google Slides; Apple iWork Keynote; Corel Presentations; Microsoft PowerPoint
Spreadsheet software -- e.g., Corel Quattro Pro; Microsoft Excel; Google Sheets
Word processing software -- e.g., Corel Wordperfect; Microsoft Word; Google Docs
Animal catching devices→ Animal restraints
Animal shearing or clipping equipment→ Animal razors; Electric animal clippers
Animal weighing scales→ Electronic animal scales
Bandage scissors or its supplies→ Bandage scissors
Bar code reader equipment→ Microchip readers
Benchtop centrifuges
Binocular light compound microscopes→ Optical compound microscopes
Blood collection syringes
Chemical or gas sterilizers→ Chemical sterilizers
Clothes dryers→ Commercial dryers
Desktop computers
Digital cameras
Full body immersion hydrotherapy baths or tanks→ Veterinary immersion hydrotherapy equipment
Gas anesthesia apparatus→ Veterinary anesthesia machines
Handheld refractometers or polarimeters→ Handheld refractometers
Hematology analyzers
Intravenous tubing with catheter administration kits→ Intravenous IV administration sets
Label making machines→ Label printers
Laboratory beakers→ Glass beakers
Laboratory forceps
Laundry type washing machines→ Commercial washing machines
Medical acoustic stethoscope or accessory→ Mechanical stethoscopes
Medical picture archiving computer systems PACS→ Retriever PACS
Medical radiological shielding aprons or masks or drapes→ Lead aprons
Medical radiological shielding gloves→ Lead gloves
Medical x ray darkroom equipment or supplies→ X ray film processors
Medical x ray film or cassette→ X ray cassettes
Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use→ Digital veterinary x ray equipment; Stationary veterinary x ray equipment
Microcentrifuges→ Microhematocrit centrifuges
Microscope slides
Multipurpose or general test tubes→ General purpose laboratory test tubes
Muzzles
Notebook computers→ Laptop computers
Personal computers
Protective gloves→ Bite gloves
Special purpose telephones→ Multi-line telephone systems
Specimen collection container→ Specimen collection containers
Steam autoclaves or sterilizers→ Steam autoclaves
Suture removers→ Suture scissors
Tablet counters→ Pill counters
Tourniquets
Urinalysis analyzers→ Urine analysis equipment; Urinometers
Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers→ Evacuated blood collection tubes
Veterinary blood pressure testers→ Veterinary blood pressure cuffs
Veterinary clinical thermometers→ Digital veterinary thermometers
Veterinary injection or suction units or accessories→ Balling guns; Injection syringes; Veterinary vaccination syringes
Veterinary nail trimmers or cutters→ Animal nail clippers
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.
Social→ Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to 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.
Attention to Detail→ Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Cooperation→ Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Stress Tolerance→ Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Integrity→ Job requires being honest and ethical.
Initiative→ Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Dependability→ Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Concern for Others→ Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Self Control→ Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
Adaptability/Flexibility→ Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Achievement/Effort→ Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Persistence→ Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Social Orientation→ Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
Independence→ Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
Leadership→ Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Analytical Thinking→ Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Innovation→ Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Relationships→ Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Support→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Working Conditions→ Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.