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.

Other names for Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers: Animal Care Provider, Animal Care Service Worker, Animal Care Taker, Groomer, Kennel Assistant, Kennel Attendant, Kennel Technician, Kennel Worker, Veterinarian Assistant, Veterinarian Helper, Veterinary Assistant (Vet Assistant), Veterinary Attendant, Veterinary Surgery Technician, Veterinary Technician (Vet Tech),

• Monitor animals' recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
• Administer anesthetics during surgery and monitor the effects on animals.
• Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments and equipment.
• Administer medication, immunizations, and blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
• Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
• Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination and operating rooms, and animal loading/unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
• Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
• Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests such as taking and developing x-rays.
• Fill medication prescriptions.
• Collect laboratory specimens such as blood, urine, and feces for testing.
• Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
• Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
• Prepare surgical equipment, and pass instruments and materials to veterinarians during surgical procedures.
• Perform enemas, catheterization, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, and gavages.
• Prepare feed for animals according to specific instructions such as diet lists and schedules.
• Exercise animals, and provide them with companionship.
• Record information relating to animal genealogy, feeding schedules, appearance, behavior, and breeding.
• Educate and advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, and behavior problems.
• Perform hygiene-related duties such as clipping animals' claws, and cleaning and polishing teeth.
• Prepare examination or treatment rooms by stocking them with appropriate supplies.
• Provide assistance with euthanasia of animals and disposal of corpses.
• Perform office reception duties such as scheduling appointments and helping customers.
• Dust, spray, or bathe animals to control insect pests.
• Write reports, maintain research information, and perform clerical duties.
• Perform accounting duties, including bookkeeping, billing customers for services, and maintaining inventories.
• Assist professional personnel with research projects in commercial, public health, or research laboratories.
• Sell pet food and supplies to customers.
• Groom, trim, or clip animals' coats.

• Veterinary nail trimmers or cutters
• Animal shearing or clipping equipment
• Animal catching devices
• Veterinary injection or suction units or accessories
• Bandage scissors or its supplies
• Benchtop centrifuges
• Protective gloves
• Blood collection syringes
• Chemical or gas sterilizers
• Clothes dryers
• Laundry type washing machines
• Desktop computers
• Digital cameras
• Veterinary clinical thermometers
• Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use
• Animal shearing or clipping equipment
• Animal weighing scales
• Vacuum blood collection tubes or containers
• Multipurpose or general test tubes
• Laboratory beakers
• Handheld refractometers or polarimeters
• Hematology analyzers
• Veterinary injection or suction units or accessories
• Intravenous tubing with catheter administration kits
• Label making machines
• Laboratory forceps
• Notebook computers
• Medical radiological shielding aprons or masks or drapes
• Medical radiological shielding gloves
• Mechanical stethoscopes or accessories
• Bar code reader equipment
• Microcentrifuges
• Microscope slides
• Special purpose telephones
• Muzzles
• Binocular light compound microscopes
• Personal computers
• Tablet counters
• Specimen collectors
• Medical x ray units for general diagnostic use
• Steam autoclaves or sterilizers
• Suture removers
• Tourniquets
• Urinalysis analyzers
• Urinalysis analyzers
• Veterinary injection or suction units or accessories
• Anesthesia sets or kits
• Veterinary blood pressure testers
• Full body immersion hydrotherapy baths or tanks
• Medical x ray film or cassettes for general use
• Medical x ray darkroom equipment or supplies

Label making software

Office suite software

Word processing software

Calendar and scheduling software

Spreadsheet software

Data base user interface and query software

Medical software