When asked when we were young, many of us wanted to be a veterinarian, a teacher or a firefighter when we ‘grew up’. When it came time for me to grow up and think about a career I learned that there are many different positions available in the veterinary industry.
On a typical a small animal Veterinarian will:
- Diagnose animal health problems
- Consult with owners, obtaining a pet’s history
- Vaccinate against diseases such as rabies
- Medicate animals suffering from infections or illnesses
- Treat and dress wounds
- Set fractures
- Perform soft tissue or orthopedic surgery
- Advise owners on nutrition and behavior
- Euthanize animals when necessary
On a typical day a large animal Veterinarian will:
- Provide preventive care to maintain the health of food animals
- Test for and vaccinate against diseases
- Consult with farm or ranch owners and managers on animal production, feeding and housing issues
- Treat and dress wounds
- Set fractures
- Perform surgery
On a typical day an Animal Health Tech will:
- Provide nutritional or behavioral consultations with owners
- Fill prescriptions ordered by Veterinarians
- Induce patients for surgery and monitor anesthesia
- Assist Veterinarians in surgery
- Help restrain animals for Veterinarians
- Bandage and splint wounds or fractures
- Provide nail trims, ear cleans or anal gland expressions
- Collect blood and urine for tests
- Test feces, urine and blood for abnormalities, bacteria or parasites
- Process blood for testing
- Triage any emergent cases as they come in
- Place IV catheters for medications or fluids
On a typical day an Animal Health Assistant will:
- Assist Veterinarians and tech’s with surgeries
- Restrain animals for exams or procedures
- Sanitize exam rooms and kennels
- Sterilize surgical instruments
- Prep and scrub animals for surgery
- Feed and medicate animals in-clinic
- Monitor animals post-surgically
- Keep supplies stocked and up to date
- Duties such as laundry, washing food bowls and bathing animals when necessary
On a typical day a Client Care Specialist will:
- Answer phones, schedule appointments and surgeries
- Discuss retail products and food with clients
- Bill out clients as pets are discharged
- Perform initial triage when pets are brought in
- Manage doctor availability
- Correspond with other clinics
- Inventory management of office supplies
On a typical day a manager or person in administration will:
- Make and answer telephone calls
- Conflict resolutions
- Paperwork
- Meeting people (clients, pets and representatives from different companies)
- Booking presentations
- Community events
- Customer service
- Payroll and human resources
- Staff reviews
- Hiring new staff members
There is so much that goes on in an veterinary clinic and St. Albert’s Mission Ridge Animal Hospital is no exception. If you are ever interested in a tour of our facility or meeting with a team member, contact us!
