Veterinary Assistant jobs

I always enjoyed working at regular boarding kennels, but supervising daycare dogs kind of sucked, I agree. I like doing specific tasks all day, but just kind of sitting there observing and occasionally scooping poop was...less than entertaining.

Have you thought about looking at non-profit organizations? The pay most of the time is not wonderful, but okay and it's really rewarding (depending on where you work, lol).

A lot of them look at how you'll fit in with the organization and will give you a chance, even if your resume doesn't reflect the most experience. I met the most wonderful people when I worked at a Legal Aid Office!

Have you thought about looking at non-profit organizations? The pay most of the time is not wonderful, but okay and it's really rewarding (depending on where you work, lol).

A lot of them look at how you'll fit in with the organization and will give you a chance, even if your resume doesn't reflect the most experience. I met the most wonderful people when I worked at a Legal Aid Office!

I've done assistant stuff here and there over the years at shelters I've worked at. I think if you can find a place that pays decent, it would be more rewarding to work in non-profit than working in a clinic. I was able to do a lot more at shelters than I would in a clinic since everything is OTJ training and they need a lot more done. Some people might think this was unsafe or sketchy... but when vets are telling you to do it and giving you cabinets full of supplies to use... Thankfully, we didn't do anything that could actually harm an animal, and did get proper training on the job.

I was technically a back up "tech" at the first place I worked, doing all of the veterinary duties on the full time girl's days off. Vaccinating, drawing blood, restraining, prescribing meds for URIs, loose stool, parasites, eye issues, etc.

Another place I did a ton of sub q fluids, diagnosing issues, prescribing meds, microchipping, fecal analysis, and suture removal.

Another place I did vaccinating, skin scrapes, ear swabs, etc.

We basically got crash courses by the vets that came in once a month or so on how to diagnose common issues and what to prescribe for each one. A little informal, but it was interesting for sure.

I work for a non-profit currently, and I would think (maybe I'm wrong?) that the assistants actually working long hours and hard, with the dogs, would make more than the receptionists(me)? If so, they make pretty decent money here working full time for sure, and would fall into your average range.

Some people might think this was unsafe or sketchy... but when vets are telling you to do it and giving you cabinets full of supplies to use... Thankfully, we didn't do anything that could actually harm an animal, and did get proper training on the job.

Well, it depends. Legally only a vet can diagnose, prescribe, and do surgeries (with the exception of simple dentals or maybe skin sutures). It doesn't matter if the vet told you to do it, it's still illegal. Pretty much anything else, though, is fair game as long as you're under the direction of a vet.

If you do something illegal, it will come back to haunt you if you intend to work at another clinic some day.

I don't think I did anything illegal? The vets gave us the meds, so we were not getting them illegally or anything. We didn't do surgery or anything like that. This seems pretty common practice for shelters, I can't imagine they're all operating illegally?

I definitely thought it was always a little odd, but like I said, that's just how every place worked.

prescribing meds for URIs, loose stool, parasites, eye issues, etc.

You said this:


If you diagnosed and prescribed meds, regardless if the vet said "here's an open cabinet of meds," it was illegal.

as to can't imagine shelters don't operate illegally, LOLOLOLOLOL too funny.

You said this:


If you diagnosed and prescribed meds, regardless if the vet said "here's an open cabinet of meds," it was illegal.

as to can't imagine shelters don't operate illegally, LOLOLOLOLOL too funny.

The "necessary and prompt" veterinary medical care provided within city, county and/or city/county animal control shelters and/or its agencies to protect the public good without a California licensed veterinarian present is limited to basic care to prevent spread of disease and to protect the public and the animals, e.g., vaccinations, prophylactic treatment of parasites and basic testing within protocols developed in conjunction with a California licensed veterinarian. All other on-going and regular veterinary medical care must be provided by or under the supervision of a licensed California veterinarian.

These duties range from basics like cleaning kennels or handling animals for medical examinations to more complex tasks such as assisting in surgery, prescribing treatment (based on predetermined protocols), and even managing the veterinarian’s time and ensuring that the vet is on task.

Only a veterinarian is able to diagnose and prescribe drugs. I can look at a fecal sample and know the animal has roundworms, and know what drug it needs, but I still need the approval of a vet first before I hand anything out.

It may be sort of a grey area, if they had say a bottle of doxycycline, know the conversion/dosage...the techs notice a dog coughing with runny nose, and give the appropriate dosage. It may vary by state too..

The duties of veterinary technicians shall be performed under the direction, supervision, and responsibility of veterinarians. These duties shall be accomplished in compliance with federal, state, and local laws. These duties shall not include diagnosing, prescribing, or performing surgery except where explicitly permitted by regulation.

^ This. For example, I can run the fecal, see roundworms, calculate how much of X medication dog needs at Y dose, and then get everything made up all nice and beautiful...but I still have to say, "Hey, Doc, Fluffy had rounds, okay that I give Y dose of Z medication at this rate?" They say, "Sure! Sounds good!" and only then do I make it an official script and actually give it to the patient.

Same is true for any drug. I may know how to dose and what treatment protocol to follow, but I cannot give it without the vet's okay, verbal or otherwise.