Going to school for veterinary assistant?

Question

I realize that some people might find that is a waste of time to go to school to become a veterinary assistant, because many places will train you. But, I signed up for classes about 2 months ago. I wanted to know all the technical stuff before I started doing it. I'm doing it online at home, so I don't really have anyone to ask these questions to.

My questions is. I can't decide where I'd like to get a job, once I finish school. I'm thinking a small animal clinic, but I'm not sure how much I can handle having to assist with putting animals to sleep. I love the idea of working in a zoo, but I'm not really sure if they hire assistants or if you have to be a technician. A shelter... do they actually pay you or do most people just volunteer their time? Can anyone that is a vet assistant give me some hints on what exactly I would be doing in a small animal clinic? The ups and downs and is there room for advancement?

Thanks

Thanks. I did think of all that, I just wasn't sure how hands on I would have to be. I have worked in the medical field before. I've seen people die many times in the nursing home I used to work at. I've been a stay at home mom for 6 years now. I decided I didn't want to go back into nursing. I think I like animals more than people! lol I used to want to be a scrub tech, so yeah, I can handle blood and surgery. I even watch it on tv sometimes too.
I am sure I can handle seeing animals being put to sleep as well, it will be hand to get used to though.

Answer 1

I am a Vet Tech. A vet assistant is different. Pretty much your choice is a clinic setting. What you learn in these programs to be a vet assistant is geared to that setting. It is not called a vet assistant when you work in the zoo.

Vet assistants clean up rooms in between clients, restrain animals, help the Vet Tech, clean kennels, set up cages, and in some clinics, they answer the phone and check people in and out.
Animals get put to sleep every day. the most you would do is restrain the animal. If you can't deal with that....stay away from the animal field!!!!!!!!!!

I work in a shelter, and some do hire vet assistants. The rate of euthanasia is higher in that setting than in private practice.

Maybe you need to give it more thought. The program you are starting should be able to tell you exactly what you are qualified to do when you are done.

Answer 2

I am a State licensed Veterinary Technician, I went to school for it and worked in the field from 1989 until 1998. In the state I live in you are not required to go to school to be a Tech, which lowers the wage. The job I now have has nothing to do with animals because I needed a career that we actually pay me a living wage and offer health/dental/life benefits. Being a Vet Tech is still my first love but it was no longer practical.

As for working in a zoo, the receptionist at the last clinic I worked in actually went to college for that and has never worked in her field.

I also worked at the local shelter which did pay, but not well. You say you don't know if you can handle putting animals to sleep, well that happens in shelters almost everyday unfortunately.

When you work in a clinic you may be running fecal exams, preparing vaccines, admitting animals, making appointments, talking to clients, assisting in surgery, restraining animals for procedures-the list goes on. As for putting animals to sleep that does happen in private practice but certainly not on a daily basis. I would guess that we would put an animal to sleep maybe once every couple of months. Yes its hard.

Like I said this is my passion but I need to be able to support my family and I wasn't able to do that very well before.

One other thing-don't get into this field if you only like animals and not people. You are dealing with people on a daily basis, you have to know how to commicate with them.

Answer 3

I am in australia so little different from other places.
I did a pre vet nursing course 6 mths full time prior to getting a job and I found it helped alot as I had knowledge of parasites, reproduction, handling, nutrition, grooming, bird care, rabbit and rodent care to name a few and it really helped when I first started.
Since then through my job I have continued studying doing correspondence on the job training and have completed
Cert 2 animal attendent, cert 3 animals attendent, cert 4 Vet nursing and done Vet tech. So all in all over 11 yrs as a nurse have gone as far as I could.
I have been working in a small suburban practice the whole time and i see more than enough to pass all courses with ducts in all courses.
They actually tell me that my understandiing of diseases and the mechanics of them are far superior to those who work in large practices as I get to talk to vets and help in the diagnosis which I love doing. I also do work on a weekend at an emergency centre now that I am a vet tech and its great!
Your first Euthanasia will be difficult but you will learn to deal with it and sometimes death is a blessing esp if animal is suffering and at times I wish people will make the choice sooner.
It can be a sad job at times but it is also a extremely rewarding job!
TO begin with when you first start you will be doing reception and sales and cleaning - so brush up on your parasite knowledge as that what a majority of sale is and nutrition. Then you will also assist in surgery monitor anaesthetic, hold animals for blood to be taken and so on as you become more qualified you get to do more stuff and have more responsibilities.
I hope this has helped.

Answer 4

Part of being a vet and a vet assist. is putting animals to sleep. They even put animals to sleep at the zoo (and other places):-(

Can you handle helping with surgeries? Seeing animals insides and blood? Can you handle watching an cute little dog get his tail bobbed? Can you handle watching a cat get de-clawed and neutered?

You should have thought about these things before deciding to become a vet assit.

It's wonderful to work with animals, they are furry and cute and cuddly. But there are the surgeries and euthanisations to deal with too. :-(

Good Luck, hun.

Answer 5

I think the perfect place for you to work would be in a no-kill shelter. You would have all the perks of working in a shelter, without the pain of euthanizing animals. For example, my local humane society is a no-kill shelter. Since they are a relatively large shelter, they have paid vet techs and assistants on staff. Granted, they don't pay much , but it is a rewarding experience.

Good Luck!!

Answer 6

first, you can get your associate degree in veterinary technology online also. you will need to be employed as a vet assistant in order to complete it fully i believe. the difference between a vet asst and a tech is usually that the tech has completed a 2 year associate program. a vet assit. is widely recognized by techs as being an on the job trained "tech" and not liscensed or certified. most places offering vet asst. certificates are just taking your money. please check into this. also the vet tech program will give you a chance to look at every aspect you have available to you in this field. you need to listen to what your heart tells you, and go with it. as you are entering a thankless profession. most techs i know that have done the zoo route were highly disappointed with their choice and didn't last long. as for working in small animal yes you will be a part of euthanasia, and as for getting used to it i think if you ever get used to it or stop feeling for these animals it's time for anther profession. your job as a tech during an euthanasia is to be there to help ease animal suffering and help the owners come to terms with the death of their pet. it's ok to cry with them. it's ok to feel sad. usually a beloved pet has just left this world i would be more worried if you weren't bothered by this. and with small animal clincs find the one you mesh with the best. the clinic where i work will only euthanise for medical reasons, or proven aggression problems. and personally i don't have any conflicting personal issues with euthanasia for these reasons. yes it's sad, but it's a part of life. and thankfully we can help ease these pets suffering and let them pass onto a better place, with love and compassion. the up to being a tech is that you actually can work with the animals and have a say in their treatment. know that as a tech you cannot perform surgery, diagnose or write a prescription. this is it. you can speak with the dr. and offer suggestions. most vets are more than willing to have any additional thoughts on a difficult case. you get to really know these animals and the owners and spend quality time with them that often the dr does not. you can constantly advance if you go for the tech degree as opposed to an assit position. as a tech you can educate yourself to your hearts content. there are many technician speciality areas you can join. such as dentistry, critical care, alternative meds, and exotic pets. if you are interested in one aspect you can work for a specialist such as a vet oncologist, opthamologist, orthopedic, etc....it's limitless if you educate yourself and once you find your place in the profession go for it. as a tech you will be highly trained in an associate program. and most vet. techs can and will put a human nurse to shame. we can run a lab, surgery, take x-rays, provide critical care, pediatrics, get an IV cath into most anything (and on the first try i may add) be a fill in receptionist, educate clients on proper care and feeding and preventative care, provide recovery care for surgical patients, and general maintenance of hospitalized patients. plus the most important part, keeping track of your dr's and keeping them on that track. glorified babysitting really. lol and all of this before lunch. all for half the pay if not more than half of a human nurse. and i dare someone to show me a RN or LPN that can do all of this in a few short hours of the day. there will be days where you will want to stand and smash your head into a cage door several times, wondering what in the hell were you thinking working in this profession. the dr's will drive you to the edge somedays. and somedays you just won't know if you can take hearing someone tell you that they docked their own dog's tail with a rubberband, or that they couldn't afford vaccines and now want to put a savable pup with parvo to sleep. and there will be days where everything including the human clients will try to bite you. but in the next minute an owner will really get what you are trying to tell them about their pet, and you will know you have really made a difference for that pet and the owner. a cat that is very ill and won't eat, finally takes a taste of food from your finger, and before you know it you'll be reviving a puppy or kitten from a c-section. and you'll go home. take off your shoes, and scrubs that have things on them you don't even want to know about. relax for a few hours and you'll get up and go back for more the next day. if this is your true calling. start working with a small animal vet that fits your desires. you can find clinics that are extrememly busy and others that just roll with the day. find out where you fit in. because you won't be able to imagine how close and tight you will be with other vet employees, and if you don't mess with your co-workers your life will be very difficult. i wish you the best and hope you find your place. and have i mentioned it helps if you are just slightly twisted and just a tad unstable? because your body and mind will be abused in more ways than you ever thought possible.