About

Many people aspire to work with animals, but it can be difficult to distinguish the reality from the fluffy image. This course gives a firm grounding in reality, with essential skills such as animal handling and restraint, pet psychology and recognizing pain, and working as part of a veterinary team - as well as an understanding of technical terms, anatomy and physiology, and first aid.

The Veterinary Support Assistant (VSA) is a highly capable member of the veterinary team, trained informally within the practice. A VSA is responsible for many crucial jobs within the clinic, such as ensuring good hygiene and sterility, handling animals, and interfacing with clients. 

This course is of benefit to anyone with an interest in animal health, working with animals, or wondering if a career in the veterinary environment is right for them.

Requirements

International Open Academy courses are designed for anyone with an interest in learning. No formal qualifications are required to study with us. Our courses are suitable if you want to learn new skills, start a new career, or if you’re already working in a particular industry and wish to upgrade your talents and enhance your resume.

Lessons

Module 1: Veterinary Practice And The Veterinary Support Assistant

• The aims of this course
• What is a Veterinary Support Assistant?
• The structure of veterinary practice
• Roles within the clinic team
• Confidentiality and professionalism

Module 2: Developing Your Skill Set

• The Practice Manual
• Know your breeds
• Listen and Learn
• Understanding consent forms
• Phone skills
• Reception
• Dealing with Anxious Clients
• Using your Initiative
• Personal appearance and manner

Module 3: Veterinary Terminology

• Commonly used terms
• Common procedures
• Abbreviations
• Equipment within the practice

Module 4: Basic Animal Handling

• The principles of handling animals
• Handling dogs
• Handling cats
• Handling small mammals
• Handling exotics

Module 5: Animal Psychology

• How animals react to stress
• Reading body language
• Minimizing stress
• Recognizing pain in animals

Module 6: Advanced Animal Handling

• Tools for handling the fractious animal
• Restraining the fractious animal
• Holding an animal for a medical examination
• Holding an animal for a minor procedure
• Holding an animal for a blood draw

Module 7: Around The Veterinary Practice

• Theatre protocol
• Consultation protocol
• Pre-operative preparations
• Sterilizing instruments
• Disinfection and disease control

Module 8: Care Of In Patients

• Monitoring animals and updating charts
• TLC –Providing the optimum environment
• Special measures (hand feeding and critical care)
• Taking vital signs

Module 9: Feeding Animals

• Feeding the well animal
• Food and surgery
• Life stage nutrition
• Prescription diets
• Feeding the sick animal

Module 10: Basic Anatomy

• Anatomical terms
• How animals differ from people

Module 11: Basic Physiology

• Physiological terms
• Normal reference ranges

Module 12: Euthanasia

• Making a difficult decision
• End of life choices
• Euthanasia etiquette
• How euthanasia is performed
• Burial or cremation

Module 13: Emergencies

• Dealing with an emergency
• Your role during an emergency
• Basic principles of resuscitation

Module 14: First Aid

• Basic first aid
• Bleeding
• Shock
• Breathing difficulties
• Fractures

Module 15: Health & Safety, And Regulations

• Risks within the veterinary environment
• The importance of hygiene
• Ionizing radiation regulations
• Prescribing regulations
• Disposal of clinical waste

Career

Who is this course for?

• Anyone looking at the options available for rewarding careers with animals
• Animal lovers who want to help sick or injured animals in a veterinary practice
• People who are considering becoming a veterinarian but are also considering other roles within a clinic
• Anybody who works with or volunteers with animals, such as in a kennel, rescue center, or a vet clinic
• People considering a career as a veterinary technician and who would like a glimpse into the challenging and rewarding work of animal care

Career path

• This course is suitable for anyone who handles animals at work or as a volunteer in a shelter
• The course is a useful stepping stone to your animal-care degree or professional path in a veterinary clinic or hospital
• Studying an accredited course will give professionals a competitive advantage over their rivals
• Certification will prove to employers that you are serious in your wish to land a dream job with animals or are ready for a promotion

Certification

Creator

Dr Pippa Elliott, BVMS MRCVS

Expertise: Animal Health and Wellness, Veterinary

Dr Pippa Elliott, BVMS MRCVS, is a veterinarian with 27 years' experience in companion animal practice. As a child, Pippa was pony-mad and can't remember a time when she didn't want to be a vet. She started volunteering at her local clinic at the age of 14, and it was a dream come true when she was accepted for vet school. She graduated from the University of Glasgow, UK. Her knowledge and dedication has helped transform the lives of thousands of students and pets from around the world.