Veterinary Assistants & Laboratory Animal Caretakers
Key Tasks
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
- Fill medication prescriptions.
- Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
- Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
- Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
- Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Collect laboratory specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, for testing.
- Perform office reception duties, such as scheduling appointments or helping customers.
- Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments or equipment.
- Record information relating to animal genealogy, feeding schedules, appearance, behavior, or breeding.
- Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
- Prepare surgical equipment and pass instruments or materials to veterinarians during surgical procedures.
- Educate or advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, or behavior problems.
- Prepare examination or treatment rooms by stocking them with appropriate supplies.
- Prepare feed for animals according to specific instructions, such as diet lists or schedules.
- Provide assistance with euthanasia of animals or disposal of corpses.
- Write reports, maintain research information, or perform clerical duties.
- Perform hygiene-related duties, such as clipping animals' claws or cleaning and polishing teeth.
- Perform enemas, catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, or gavages.
- Perform accounting duties, such as bookkeeping, billing customers for services, or maintaining inventories.
- Exercise animals or provide them with companionship.
- Place orders to restock inventory of hospital or laboratory supplies.
- Sell pet food or supplies to customers.
- Dust, spray, or bathe animals to control insect pests.
- Groom, trim, or clip animals' coats.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
98%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
95%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
93%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
88%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
87%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
85%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
85%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
85%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
84%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
83%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
82%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
80%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
79%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
79%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
77%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
75%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
74%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
73%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
70%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
69%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
69%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
68%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
68%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
66%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
65%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
64%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
63%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
62%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
62%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
58%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
58%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
57%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
56%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
54%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
51%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
51%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
50%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
42%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
40%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
39%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
38%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
29%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
28%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
27%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
23%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
23%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
22%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
17%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
16%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
15%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
15%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
10%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
7%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
7%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
7%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
3%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
0%
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Post-secondary certificate
Less than high school diploma
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Work Styles
Work Values
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