GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CLASS

The VETERINARY ANIMAL ATTENDANT provides daily care, restraint and handling of large animals (e.g., horses, cattle, sheep) within a veterinary teaching hospital. Employees in this class also provide specific technical veterinary assistance before surgery and during recovery to assure the comfort of the animals and the safety of those working with them.?

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

This is a single class and not currently part of a series of classes.?

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The duties listed below are not inclusive but characteristic of the type and level of work associated with this class. Individual positions may perform all or some combination of the duties listed below as well as other related duties.

1. Pre Surgery and Recovery. Typical Tasks: Groom animal prior to surgery. Administer pre anesthetic injections to animals as instructed by veterinary clinician. Monitor physiology and behavior following Surgery and aid post-surgery animals to stand and move safely within the recovery stall. Insert and remove catheters as instructed by clinician.
2. Daily Care and Observation. Typical Tasks: Prepare and administer special diets for patients according to instructions. Observe and record any abnormalities of patients (pre- and post-surgery) and alert supervisor. Administer medication, injections, and IV's as directed by veterinary clinician. Feed, water, and exercise large animals. Administer prescribed therapy (e.g., places animals leg in hydrotherapy boot.).
3. Animal Restraint. Typical Tasks: Control animals during x-ray and induction of anesthesia. Handle large animals in confined spaces to allow veterinary clinician and veterinary students to perform examinations. Table large animal for examination or surgery and restrain animals for treatment and minor surgeries performed in stall.
4. General Sanitation and Maintenance. Typical Tasks: Change bedding and dispose of waste. Load and unload hay bales. Transport deceased animals to necropsy room. Clean and disinfect stalls and equipment by scrubbing walls, ceilings, and floors with pressure washer and hand brush and spray stalls and animals area with pesticide and disinfectants. Sweep, hose, and mop floors, walls, and passage ways. Direct student workers in stall and hospital cleaning. Stock medical supplies, pharmaceuticals, restraining equipment. towels, hay, grain, bedding, etc. at work stations. Perform minor maintenance and repair to equipment (e.g., charges batteries, lubes and cleans trailers and stall equipment such as woodchip blower, hose reels, feed bins). Assist owners in loading and unloading animals entering and leaving facility.

RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS

Employees in this class have regular in person contact with owners who come to see their animals under care at the hospital, with veterinary students when assisting them with the care of animals and demonstrating proper animal care techniques and with veterinarian clinicians to exchange information on the condition of animals and receive instructions on the special care of animals. Employees in this class have regular contact with student workers to direct them in their cleaning duties.?

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Employees in this class receive general supervision from an animal attendant supervisor who gives work assignments and reviews the work daily, by observation for timely completion and adherence to established animal caretaking procedures. Employees in this class follow agency policy and procedure manuals and State and Federal rules and regulations to aid in the correct and humane care of animals.?

GENERAL INFORMATION

Positions in this class are in a veterinary teaching hospital and require the willingness to work in the environment associated with the position's location and purpose which includes working with large animals. They require the willingness to maintain a humane attitude in the care and treatment of animals. Positions require the willingness to work within an area where animals are radiographed, to stand and work for extended periods on a concrete floor and to lift up to 100 pounds to load and unload hay bales and handle large animals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

One year of experience caring for, restraining, and handling animals which shows knowledge of:

• normal and/or abnormal behavior and habits of large animals (e.g., horses, cattle, sheep, etc.);
• large animal anatomy and physiology;
• animal husbandry and hygiene;
• basic medications used in animal care;
• equipment and machinery used in the care of animals and cleaning of stalls and/or cages;
• animal restraint techniques and devices.