Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Veterinary Assistant
What veterinary assistants actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
What is a typical day like for a veterinary assistant?
Clean kennels and feed hospitalized patients. From there, the day usually includes restrain animals for exams and procedures, clean kennels and exam rooms, and feed, water and walk animals. Shifts include weekends, evenings and holidays.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a veterinary assistant working full time.
- Clean kennels and feed hospitalized patients.
- Walk dogs and check on post-op patients.
- Restrain pets for exams.
- Sterilize surgical packs.
- Help with a dental procedure setup.
- Bathe a dog before discharge.
- Clean exam rooms and restock supplies.
Where veterinary assistants work
Assistants work in clinics, hospitals, shelters and research labs. The work is physical and messy.
Hours and schedule
Shifts include weekends, evenings and holidays.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Restrain animals for exams and procedures
- Clean kennels and exam rooms
- Feed, water and walk animals
- Sterilize instruments
- Help with admissions and discharges
- Monitor hospitalized patients
- Assist with basic care
Tools you’ll use every day
- Leashes and muzzles
- Cleaning supplies
- Autoclaves
- Scales
- Kennels
- Practice software
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Quick entry
- Work with animals
- Path to vet tech
- Team environment
What’s hard
- Modest pay
- Messy, physical work
- Bites and scratches
- Emotional cases
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I love animals
- I don’t mind messy work
- I want to start quickly
- I can stay calm with scared animals
- I like teamwork
- I might become a vet tech
Not sure? Take the free Veterinary Assistant fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Use proper restraint and muzzles
- Wear gloves for cleaning
- Wash hands to prevent zoonotic disease
- Lift animals with help