Online Veterinary Assistant Courses
Below are the descriptions of the most common online courses and classes for veterinary assistants.
- Veterinary Technology Introduction Course: Topics in this course include roles and responsibilities of the veterinarian assistant, medical terminology, veterinary assistant certification, laws for veterinary technicians and occupational hazards. Students are also introduced to the history of veterinary technology.
- Basic Anatomy for Veterinary Technicians Course: An introduction to the major body systems, particularly of the main domesticated species, is provided in this course. Students learn to create a mental image of an animal to assist in positioning the animal for diagnostic procedures and treatment. Emphasis is placed on identifying anatomical structures on models or skeletons.
- Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians Course: This course teaches students the principles of pharmacology as they apply to the practice of veterinary technicians. Topics include medical terminology, how medications work, dosage calculations and possible side effects of commonly used veterinary drugs. Students learn to handle and store pharmaceuticals, monitor in-hospital animals and recognize drug reactions.
- Veterinary Assistant Course: Students learn the duties of a veterinary assistant, including caring for ill animals and assisting veterinarians in an office or clinic. The administrative duties of the veterinary assistant, such as bill collection, accounts payable, banking and dealing with pet insurance are also addressed.
- Veterinary Administration and Practice Course: This course teaches students the administrative role of veterinary staff, including understanding procedures regarding safety and cleanliness, processing mail and monitoring supplies and inventory. Other topics include interacting with customers and their animals, assisting vets with examinations and recognizing symptoms of disease and illness.
- Animal Nursing Course: Working with animals requires specialized skill and knowledge, which students will develop with this course. Students learn effective and safe methods of restraining animals for examinations, medication administrations, ear cleanings, basic grooming and other minor procedures.
- Animal Husbandry Course: In this course students learn about proper housing, hygiene and vaccination procedures for animals. Students will study animal nutritional needs through various stages of life. The course will also cover common animal illnesses and diseases.
- Workplace Hazards Course: This course will introduce students to the hazards of working in an animal hospital environment. Topics include preventing the spread of germs, as well as the harmful diseases, chemicals and radiation that veterinary assistants might encounter.
- Reproductive Cycle and Sterilization Procedures Course: In this course, students will analyze the reproductive cycles of dogs and cats. The risk of diseases if these animals aren't sterilized will be covered, in addition to techniques and methods for neutering.
Many colleges and universities offer online courses for veterinary assistants; however, most are hybrid courses, so only the classroom sessions can be completed online. After finishing the classroom portion of veterinary assistant courses online, students are typically required to complete the hands-on lab portion in a veterinary clinic or animal hospital under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. Students enrolled in online veterinary assistant courses can earn veterinarian assistant certificates, or they can expand their education and pursue degrees, such as an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Veterinary Technology or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Veterinary Technology.
Online courses for veterinary assistants are offered through certificate programs and associate's and bachelor's degree programs. Students will study reproductive cycles in animals, pharmacology and anatomy, among other topics.