Laboratory Animal Caretakers

A Day in the Life

When you arrive at work for the day, you'll greet the animals in your work area and get down to the day's business. Although you'll be supervised by a licensed veterinarian for most of the day, you'll perform several procedures that require moderate amounts of skill and dexterity.

These might include disinfecting and cleaning cages or holding pens in preparation for new arrivals, cleaning and sterilizing surgical equipment, and administering food and water to your "inpatients." You may also need to take basic samples of blood, feces or urine and administer injections of medicines and immunizations to the animals at your facility. Depending upon where you work, you'll deal with dogs and cats as well as novel animals like birds, rodents and even livestock.

If it's a special day, you may come into contact with a wild animal that has become lost or injured. Many veterinary offices and laboratories are specially equipped to receive and care for wayward deer, coyotes, foxes and raptors. Few things are more rewarding than nursing a fawn, hawk or other adorable animal back to health and re-releasing it back into the wild.

Unfortunately, not every day will be a joyous one. On any given day, you may have to help administer euthanasia drugs or watch as an injured or sick animal succumbs to its condition. If you work in a research laboratory, you'll regularly encounter animals with terminal ailments and other disturbing conditions. When you're faced with such a situation, you'll need to maintain your composure and keep your emotions in check without compromising your natural capacity for compassion.

It's important to remember that vet assistants and laboratory animal caretakers must demonstrate certain distinctive personal qualities. Your experience as a veterinary worker will be far richer and more rewarding if you exhibit compassion, empathy and strong communication skills. By demonstrating your fondness and respect for diverse members of the animal kingdom, you'll touch the lives of the animals under your care and bring joy and comfort to their owners and trainers. You'll also be able to provide emotional support for the grieving owners of dying or deceased animals.