Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers:

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.

Also includes




About the Job


Indiana Average Salary $26,060.00
Average Time to Fill 40 days
Typical Education Post-secondary certificate or some college courses
Typical Experience None
10 Year Projected Openings (2016-2026) 4,816
10 Year Expected Percentage Change (2016-2026) 17.81 %

For more information on the new projection methodology, visit Hoosiers by the Numbers .

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Skills Profile



Essential (Soft) Skills

Essential Skills to Employers

Attention to Detail
Customer Service
Professionalism
Work Ethic
Critical Thinking
Problem-solving
Resource Allocation
Information Gathering
Integrity
Decision-making
Written Communication

Top Job Duties and Responsibilities

Assisting and Caring for Others

Prepare patients for tests, therapy, or treatments
Give medications or immunizations
Provide in home patient care
Administer basic health care or medical treatments
Administer anesthetics or sedatives
Assist practitioners to perform medical procedures
Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety
Attend to patient's personal care
Fit patients for prosthetic or assistive devices
Assist patients with hygiene or daily living activities
Assist practitioners in examining, evaluating, or treating patients
Administer enemas, irrigations, or douches to patients
Assist patients in performing breathing exercises
Assist individuals with dressing, undressing, grooming, bathing, or other daily activities
Feed food to individuals
Conduct diagnostic tests to determine patient health
Treat medical condition of patient

Performing General Physical Activities

Perform animal dental cleanings
Train wild, domestic, or farm animals
Clean patient or treatment rooms
Clean laboratory, healthcare, or medical equipment
Groom animals for beautification or health
Handle wild, domestic, or farm animals
Provide food and water to wild, domestic, or farm animals
Capture animals or insects for control, identification, relocation, sale, or research
Apply appropriate physical restraint
Build pens, yards, cages, and other enclosures
Repair pens, yards, or cages
Apply herbicides, fertilizers, or pesticides

Handling and Moving Objects

Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use
Prepare medical treatment room
Prepare surgical supplies or equipment
Prepare vaccines, biologicals, or serums
Collect blood or tissue samples
Collect biological specimens
Sterilize laboratory, medical, or veterinary equipment or instruments
Collect specimens from patients
Prepare sterile solutions, infusions, or intravenous packs
Employ hair, cosmetic, or nail care instruments
Prepare sample for laboratory testing, analysis, or microscopy
Set-up patient care equipment

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Breed animals to propagate stock or to develop new type
Perform animal euthanasia
Control animal and plant diseases through sanitation, cleanliness, and management procedures
Identify animal disease or parasites
Solve animal breeding problems
Implement health or sanitation standards


Real-Time Job Posting Statistics


Booster Skills & Certifications

Job Seekers possessing booster skills & certifications, such as those listed below, added to core skills are more marketable, harder to find and expensive to hire.

Hard to Fill: Employers find positions requiring these skills to be hard to fill. These skills and certifications make a job seeker more in demand because the skills are not widely available.

Expensive to Fill: Employers find positions requiring these skills to be expensive to fill. Job seekers with these skills and certifications are likely to earn more money.

Skill or Certification Certi - fication Hard to Fill Expensive to Fill
Medical Records Maintenance
Certified Veterinary Technician




Equal Opportunity is the Law. (La Igualdad De Oportunidad Es La Ley.)
Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.