What Does a Veterinary Assistant Do?
For veterinarians, pet owners and research labs, veterinary assistants ensure the everyday care of animals in a clinic, shelter or kennel. They make sure that kennels are cleaned, and surgical packs are sterile and laid out on time. In the case of a nervous cat, the job might be something as simple as a steady grip during a blood draw.
Veterinary Assistant Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a veterinary assistant include:
- Restrain dogs, cats and other animals safely during exams, vaccinations and blood draws.
- Feed and water boarded and hospitalized animals on schedule, noting any change in appetite.
- Clean and disinfect cages, kennels, runs and exam tables between patients.
- Sterilize surgical instruments and wrap packs for the autoclave before the day's procedures.
- Walk, bathe and exercise animals, and watch for limping, coughing or other signs of trouble.
- Monitor animals waking up from anesthesia and alert the veterinarian or technician to problems.
- Give oral medications and topical treatments exactly as the veterinarian directs.
- Record weights, temperatures and treatments in the patient chart or animal facility log.
- Stock exam rooms with syringes, bandage material, cleaning supplies and fresh bedding.
- Change cages, check water bottles and keep census counts in research animal rooms.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a veterinary assistant, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Safe animal handling and restraint
- Kennel sanitation and correct use of disinfectants
- A strong stomach for blood, waste and messy cleanups
- Stamina for lifting large dogs and long shifts on your feet
- Sharp eye for changes in an animal's behavior
- Basic medical terms and dosage labels
- AALAS certification for research facility roles
- Patience with anxious pets and worried owners
Education and Training
A high school diploma is the usual requirement, and the training happens on the job, restraining animals and cleaning kennels under a veterinarian or technician. A short certificate course from a community college or online program is optional. In research animal care, the AALAS certificate is the one to earn for the higher grades.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $35,660 - $45,710 per year, with a median of $38,150.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers.
According to BLS, growth for veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers is projected at about 9 percent for the decade ending in 2035. In fact, openings should average roughly 23,200 a year, since many assistants move on to technician training or other work. And, as long as there are animals in clinics and labs, assistants will be needed to make sure they are fed, clean and calm.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers.