What skills do you need to be a vet assistant?

Question

Zippia Team · Accepted Answer

Skills you need to be a vet assistant include a passion for animals and an understanding of how best to care for them and calm them, as well as dexterity and patience. As a vet assistant, you play a vital role not only in the animal's well-being but also in assisting veterinarians or research scientists.

The main technical skills needed to work as a vet assistant include the following duties - feeding, weighing, and taking temperature notes of animals; monitoring and caring for animals after surgeries, sterilizing surgical and other equipment, providing emergency first aid to sick animals, and collecting samples such as urine, blood, and tissues for testing.

Performing these tasks on animals requires physical skills as well - such as the ability to move, pick up, restrain and hold animals for a long time. Soft skills also play an important role when it comes to being a vet assistant, such as emotional strength, professionalism, maturity, and good people skills.