Veterinary Assistant Training Checklist

What's in the Veterinary Assistant Training Checklist

WEEK ONE

Days 1 & 2: Orientation & Fundamentals

• Introduction to clinic operations, roles, and responsibilities
• Understanding patient intake procedures and documentation
• Proper use of kennel cards, labeling, and paperwork management
• Safe and gentle animal handling techniques
• Recognizing signs of fear, stress, and aggression in dogs and cats
• Introduction to veterinary disease control and prevention protocols
• Proper cleaning and disinfection of kennels and medical equipment
• Learning facility maintenance, laundry procedures, and safety guidelines
• Reviewing training schedule and onboarding plan
• Completion of online courses:
  • Animal Handling & Behavior
  • Introduction to Veterinary Anesthesia
  • Veterinary CPR Basics

Days 3 & 4: Hands-On Training Begins

• Shadowing and assisting with patient intake and restraint
• Learning safe methods of leashing and transferring kenneled animals
• Understanding proper feline and canine restraint techniques
• Practicing low-stress handling and toweling techniques
• Overview of anesthesia equipment and monitoring
• Introduction to drug protocols and common medications used
• Observation of veterinary procedures and patient preparation
• Performing rechecks and post-operative patient monitoring
• Cleaning and maintaining surgical instruments and pack preparation

Day 5: Deepening Understanding & Practice

• Reviewing surgical and vaccine pricing structures
• Learning post-operative patient care and client communication
• Practicing correct handling of fractious and anxious patients
• Shadowing patient release procedures and owner interactions
• Reviewing and following end-of-shift protocols
• Practicing disease prevention measures and cleaning protocols

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WEEK TWO

Days 1-4: Expanded Skills & Surgical Support

• Assisting in morning clinic setup, including controlled drug preparation
• Handling high-risk or medically compromised patients
• Understanding proper preparation for feline and canine surgeries
• Setting up and breaking down surgical suites
• Learning proper aseptic techniques and sterile field maintenance
• Familiarization with sterilization and pack assembly processes
• Monitoring recovery patients for complications or delayed responses
• Administering SQ and IM injections under supervision
• Identifying abnormal patient behavior post-surgery
• Observing and participating in medication preparation

Day 5: Client Communication & Front Desk Training

• Learning front desk protocols, scheduling, and patient record management
• Managing medical calls and triaging concerns to veterinarians
• Reviewing intake procedures for trapped and feral cats
• Identifying and responding to high-risk patients
• Reviewing discharge instructions and addressing client concerns
• Practicing professional communication with owners
• Shadowing a full patient recheck process

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WEEK THREE

Days 1-4: Advanced Handling & Surgical Support

• Identifying warning signs of post-surgical complications
• Ensuring proper pain management for recovering patients
• Preparing patients for transport and loading/unloading procedures
• Assisting in placing Elizabethan collars and assessing fit
• Identifying medical emergencies and following appropriate response protocols
• Assisting in IV catheter placement and anesthesia prep
• Handling fractious or aggressive animals with proper restraint tools
• Documenting patient care and surgical information accurately
• Reviewing and executing deep cleaning protocols

Day 5: Emergency Training & Finalizing Competencies

• Understanding emergency protocols (CPR, oxygen therapy, patient stabilization)
• Reviewing common anesthesia complications and responses
• Running a mock emergency drill for hands-on practice
• Practicing disease prevention and infection control measures
• Demonstrating understanding of veterinary assistant responsibilities

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WEEK FOUR

Days 1-4: Independent Work with Supervision

• Operating independently in assigned responsibilities
• Ensuring proper flow of patients through intake, surgery, and recovery
• Assisting with medical recordkeeping and surgical documentation
• Demonstrating leadership in maintaining clinic efficiency
• Coordinating with veterinary team members for workflow optimization

Day 5: Final Competency Evaluation

• Employees will take a comprehensive quiz testing knowledge on all checklist topics
• Practical skills evaluation in patient handling, restraint, and monitoring
• Official certification of readiness for full veterinary assistant responsibilities