VET 106 - Veterinary Practice Assistant I

1. Properly restrain patients for veterinary personnel.
2. Perform basic procedures involving companion animals.
3. Explain safety in the veterinary facility.
4. Assist with basic nursing procedures involving companion animals.
5. Assist with vaccination of companion animals.

1. Examination Room Procedures
   1. Restrain patients
      1. Small animals
         1. Place and remove small animals from cages
         2. Place and restrain small animals on tables
         3. Apply dog and cat safety muzzle
         4. Apply elizabethan collar
         5. Apply restrain pole
      2. Restrain birds and exotics – optional
      3. Large animals
         1. Halter, tie and lead horses and cattle
         2. Restrain cattle and horses
         3. Apply twitch
         4. Apply nose tongs/leads
         5. Restrain sheep and swine
         6. Load large animals
   2. Basic procedures
      1. Determine and record temperature, pulse, respiration and weight of pets
      2. Trim nails (dogs, cats and birds)
      3. Express anal sacs using the external method
      4. Identify external parasites: mites, lice, fleas, ticks
      5. Recognize common dog and cat breeds
      6. Bathe and groom animals
      7. Be familiar with small animal nutritional requirements
2. Small Animal Nursing (Large Animal Nursing – Optional)
   1. Safety concerns
      1. Demonstrate knowledge of basic normal and abnormal behavior
      2. Utilize patient and personnel safety measures
      3. Identify potential zoonotic diseases
      4. Describe isolation procedures
      5. Describe hazardous waste disposal
      6. Describe basic sanitation
   2. Animal care
      1. Provide routine record-keeping and observation of hospitalized patients (i.e. Stress importance of notations made when cleaning and feeding)
      2. Demonstrate a basic understanding of common diseases and medical conditions
      3. Monitor/restrain patients for fluid therapy and record observations
      4. Hand pilling (dog, cat)
      5. Apply and remove bandages to healthy animals (equine leg and tail wraps optional)
      6. Perform therapeutic bathing, basic grooming and dipping of small animals
      7. Clean external ear canals
      8. Prepare food and prescription diets – be aware of any special dietary needs
      9. Clean and disinfect cages and kennels (stalls optional)
      10. Provide care and maintenance of nursing equipment
3. Vaccinations
   1. Reconstitute vaccines and be familiar with proper protocols
   2. Describe possible routes and methods of drug and vaccine administration that the veterinarian or veterinary technician may choose