Do you love animals? Have you ever thought about a career as a veterinary assistant? This course, taught by a practicing veterinarian and college instructor, will give you the information you need to prepare for work in veterinary hospitals.

What vaccinations do cats and dogs really need and how often should they be given? What is the best way to control fleas? What do you do if your dog has a cut? What is the best way to deal with an emergency situation involving a pet? This course will answer all these questions and more.

You'll learn about pet nutrition and a variety of health and safety issues. You’ll understand how to treat and prevent parasites, including roundworms and heartworms. You’ll even learn the facts of life, as it pertains to dogs and cats.

You'll explore current thoughts on spaying and neutering, and how to deal with the very emotional issues of euthanasia, pet loss, and how best to assist clients in a time of need.

Special lessons will target specific aspects of veterinary assistant duties. Did you know that a veterinary assistant needs to dispense medications just like a pharmacist? You’ll learn how to interpret medical prescriptions that look like Greek scribbles to the untrained eye.

You'll also understand the hazards of working in a veterinary setting so that you can protect yourself from x-ray exposure, infections carried by animals, and potential damage from teeth and claws.

Veterinary hospitals are small businesses, not just places of medicine, so you will also gain a complete understanding of their economics - how income is generated and where it goes. You will also explore marketing and communication because they are essential factors in making a business successful.

Even if you are already employed in a veterinary hospital, you will find this course invaluable in helping you understand the reasoning behind decisions and recommendations made by veterinarians. And if you're a pet owner, this course will help you better assess the quality of veterinary care your pets receive.

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Recommended Courses:

Students who enrolled in Become a Veterinary Assistant were also interested in the following courses:

Become a Veterinary Assistant II: Canine Reproduction

Human Anatomy and Physiology

Medical Terminology

Become a Veterinary Assistant III: Practical Skills

Syllabus:

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

A new section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

Week One

Wednesday - Lesson 01

Our first lesson will start way back at the beginning—you'll learn how ancient veterinary medicine evolved into the modern-day practice that you're accustomed to. You'll also learn why a veterinary assistant is just as important to the success of the practice as the veterinarian. In the second component of this lesson, you'll learn all about dog and cat reproduction. You'll learn the normal hormonal cycles and breeding times, and then delve into the benefits of sterilization.

Friday - Lesson 02

In this lesson, you'll learn how vaccines protect against disease. And just as important, you'll learn why they sometimes fail. We'll take a close look at how often vaccines should be given, why they may be ill-advised, and why vaccinosis is so controversial.

Week Two

Wednesday - Lesson 03

Today, we'll talk about the importance of parasites that can infest both pets and people. You'll see the worms that live in the intestines, and also get acquainted with heartworm, a nasty guy that lives in the arteries. We'll explore how parasites infect people, what they do, and how to prevent their invasion.

Friday - Lesson 04

Have you ever wondered how to pick the best food for your pet? This lesson will give you the tools to make the right decision, and how best to pass the information on to your clients. We'll also talk about the role of prescription diets in pet health.

Week Three

Wednesday - Lesson 05

This will certainly be the most emotional lesson in the entire course. The topic is euthanasia, and we'll look at it from the perspectives of both the client and the hospital employee. We'll explore the stages of grief that everyone goes through after a loss. You'll also see what the procedure entails, how to help a grieving client, and tools for assisting children with pet loss.

Friday - Lesson 06

In this lesson, you'll learn why a veterinary hospital can be a dangerous place. You'll see how X-rays, anesthetics, and certain drugs can harm you. You'll finish this lesson with Economics 101, a glimpse into the cash flow of a typical veterinary hospital.

Week Four

Wednesday - Lesson 07

This lesson will help you in a crisis. Designed like a short course in human first aid, this lesson will help you cope with almost any emergency, and we'll discuss ways that some emergencies can be prevented. There's even a segment on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, dog and cat style!

Friday - Lesson 08

What is the most important parasite affecting our pets? If you answered the flea, you're right. In this lesson, you'll learn all about this parasite that lives on the skin. You'll also hear about other crawling parasites that live in the skin (mange) and how they can be managed.

Week Five

Wednesday - Lesson 09

Did you know that, as a hospital employee, any advice you give could end up in a lawsuit? You'll see how to maintain client confidentiality and how to avoid grievances. You'll round off your study on client communications with an introduction to client education programs.

Friday - Lesson 10

As soon as you're hired as a veterinary assistant, you become a pharmacist, helping to prepare prescriptions. In this lesson, you'll find out how to do this correctly. You'll also learn about your role in keeping accurate medical records. We'll end the lesson with a short course on marketing, taking a close look at some of the best tools you can use to keep old clients and attract new ones.

Week Six

Wednesday - Lesson 11

This lesson is probably the most controversial: Here, you'll learn all about alternative therapies that some veterinarians are applying in their practices, including acupuncture, homeopathy, herbs, and chiropractic care. And when it comes to pet food, is commercial, home-cooked, or raw the best choice? We'll examine the plusses and minuses of each possible diet.

Friday - Lesson 12

In our last lesson, we'll take a close look at animal behavior. You'll delve into how best to train puppies and kittens, and more importantly, how to share the information with your clients. At the end of the course, you'll see how everything you’ve learned can be put together for a comprehensive health plan covering everything from behavior, vaccinations, and nutrition to castration, euthanasia, and alternative therapies.

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Jeff Grognet.

Jeff Grognet has been a companion animal veterinarian for 25 years. He was a pioneer in the field of veterinary assistant teaching, developing his first course almost 20 years ago. The overwhelming success of his veterinary receptionist/assistant college courses led him to expand his teaching into other areas in high demand, including pet first aid, and alternative medical therapies for companion animals. He practices with his wife at a Veterinary Hospital in BC, Canada. Jeff has published a large and diverse number of articles over the last 20 years. He is a regular contributing author to several magazines as well as a weekly newspaper columnist.

Requirements:

Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

Student Reviews:

"Absoultely 100% worth every bit of taking this course. Jeff did a great job with the arrangement of assignments and content. I felt the content was very useful and fitting the level of this course description. It more than met my expectations. WONDERFUL COURSE!"

"As a pet owner and not someone who works in the field i found this course to be everything i had hoped. It has given me the knowledge to take better care of my pets and to feel confident when seeking help or prevention from my veterinarian."

"As a professional petsitter, I found this course most helpful and the instructor both knowledgeable and compassionate. I wish all vets were this good and that he practiced in my area, so that I could take all my companion animals to him. I am continuing my studies in animal care and health sciences...thank you for providing this course!"

"A very worthwhile course for anyone with pets, volunteers at shelters or even a veterinary assistant!"

"Dr. Grognet's online course 'Becoming a Veterinary Assistant' was very well planned, with well written and easy to understand lessons. Interesting websites were offered so we could further delve into each topic. The teacher was very responsive to his students in the discussion area. Would highly recommend this instructor to anyone, and the course to anyone who wants to work in a veterinary hospital and/or take better care of their pets."

"Dr. Jeff was a great instructor. I enjoyed this class immensely. It was interesting and informative beyond my expectations."

"Even though I have worked in a veterinary clinic, have a multiple pet household and work as a animal massage and care provider, I found this course was a valuable refresher. It was up to date, informative and comprehensive. Dr. Jeff offers both professional and heart felt instruction and lessons that show his dedication to both the animal patient and the human client. For a person with no experience, this course is invaluable. Even the seasoned assistant will benefit from another Doctor's perspective. I very much enjoyed this course."

"Excellent course. I enjoyed this course so much that I have signed up for Jeff Grognet's next course "Canine Reproduction". I would definitely recommend this course to others."

"Excellent course - well worth the time and money spent. As a professional petsitter, I feel this course offered a wide range of information which will enable me to provide better care for my clients and their pets. I also feel more confident in my knowledge and the service I am able to provide. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone in the pet care fieldour four-legged companions."

"For me, I had no previous experience with animals. I was never even allowed to have a pet. This course was amazing at teaching me pet care, nutrition, and what really goes on inside the vet office. I feel as though I now have enough knowledge to answer any questions that people may have. I also feel that this course is good for any age...I am 21 and I know I can feel comfortable and smart and not inadequate in an animal working environment! Thanks so much for the course!"

"Great course! Dr. Jeff presented a solid base of general information along with useful references for additional in-depth study. The discussion sections were informative and all questions were answered promptly in a helpful, non-threatening atmosphere. This was my first experience with an on-line course, and I'd definitely take another."

"I am a volunteer in a Humane Society no-kill facility and this course has been very helpful for me. I am a recently retired RN nurse practitioner so I have a lot of health care education and experience for people and this course provided a lot of practical information for companion animals. It was a pleasure to take this course."

"I am in my late 40's, and my mom owned a kennel my whole life, until she passed last year. That being said, I was amazed at the things I remember her doing as I read the lessons, but never really knew exactly why. It was so enlightening. I learned so much that made sense to me, now that I am older. The instructor was very clear, and understanding. My final word is, no matter how long you have been around animals, there is so much to learn in this course. Very well worth your time. Thanks for a wonderful job!"

"I did a lot of reading on my own pertaining to most of these topics before taking this course. I was surprised by how much more I learned through this course. It took everything I already knew to a greater depth. It also gave me insight into the workings of a veterinary practice that will help my understanding of the decisions and procedures made by my veterinarian and staff."

"I don't know where to start. I enjoyed every thing about this course. I don't understand how Dr. Jeff has the time to do all he does, just the amount of time he puts in this course is exceptional. The animal and human world is lucky to have someone who puts such effort, compassion, and love into helping us all."

"I enjoyed being a part of this class. And I learned a great deal from this course that I can use at my place of employment. Thanks."

"I enjoyed this class very much…Dr. Jeff was absolutely wonderful! He answered all questions asked in a very easy to understand format. I will definitely look for other classes taught by him! Thank you Dr. Jeff!"

"I felt I got a lot out of this course and even though we have a lot of animals at our house I never knew things I felt should have been told to me. This course also help me look at what I want for me and a veternarian. I am so glad I took this course. It should be recommended even for those who do not want to be an assistant but take care of dogs and cats. Thank yoy very much."

"I felt that Dr. Jeff is very thorough and would be very proud to work with and for such a Doctor. He seems to care very much for his patients AND their owners."

"I felt that this course was extremely well written and the material was very well handled and explained by the instructor and in a way that anyone could understand…I feel quite a bit more educated and capable of approaching this line of work. All of the questions I had about this material before I went into this course were addressed and thoroughly answered. It's almost as if he knew what I was wondering about. A great experience with a very good teacher, and I am very glad to have been the benefactor of his knowledge. Thank you."

"I found this course and teacher wonderful. There is always more to learn about any subject, and i am interested in learning more, but this course was very comprehensive, helpful, and enjoyable. Thank you for a great experience."

"I found this course to be an excellent introduction to becoming a veterinary assistant. I feel that I now have a clear understanding of what a career in the veterinary assistant field would entail. I would recommend this course to anyone considering this field."

"I found this course to be very informative and beneficial not only as a pet owner but also as I attend college to become a Registered Veterinary Technician. Dr. Jeff did a great job with the lesson plans, easy to understand, great additional suggestions for more information and quite informative. Thanks for the opportunity to take part in such a great program."

"I greatly enjoyed this course and would recommend it to anyone who is at all interested in animals, as the information gained allowed me to not only get insight into what I may choose as a future career, but has also helped me make responsible choices when it comes to my pet's health care."

"I had learned a lot and from this class, and it will really help me in the future."

"I just wanted to say thanks to all associated with this course. It is very valuable to people like myself with odd work schedules or limited resources for finding a babysitter, etc. I have learned a lot and have had even more fun watching and interacting with my pets."

"I like the way the instructor relates the course materials ie.very short and brief. This has answered almost all my questions about primary pets care. Thanks."

"I love animals and took this class hoping it will help get my foot in the door at a veterinarian clinic. I have learned so much about how to better care for my babies. The course was interesting and informative and very easy to read and understand. I recommend anyone with pets to take this if for no other reason than you love your pets and want the best for them. I'm glad I took it."

"I loved the course I discovered many new things and can better assist clients at the Hospital where I work."

"I loved this course and plan on taking the next one. I learned so much. It was put together very well. Thank you !!!!!!!"

"I realize after taking this course that I have been settling for second best when it comes to the care of my dog. I am much more informed now and can either seek out another Vet or be more assertive with the one we have now."

"I really enjoyed taking the course this way and although I have worked in the vet field for 15 yrs., found the course helpful."

"I really enjoyed this course. I have 13 cats that I rescued from the local shelter and I hope to get a job in the future as a vet receptionist as well. I feel that this course gave me valuable knowledge to use in my home as well as familiarized me with the basic workings of a veterinary practice and the duties of a vet assistant/receptionist. I also liked Dr. Jeff's style- down to earth and friendly. Thanks! I had fun and learned a lot."

"I really enjoyed this course. Sorry it's over. I am eager to learn more and hopefully find a clinic that will offer me the opportunity to put my love of animals and beginners skills to good use. Thank you!"

"I really learned a lot from this course even though I work in a vet's office. I truly feel more knowledgeable about my job, and strongly recommend anyone who works with animals take this course."

"I really liked the way this class was organized & the professional & helpful tone the instructor set for the class. It was great to be able to interact with the instructor & other students. I appreciated the quality of the information in the class and the clarity with which this information was delivered. I would highly recommend this class to others!"

"I really loved this course and I would recommend this course to anyone and everyone who loves animals. I can't wait for the next course comes out. I am really considering on becoming a veterinary assistant after taking this course."

"I think this is a great course for any pet owner, especially new pet owners. It gave the right amount of important and useful topics to be better aware of conditions that could present problems for pets. I also think it provided important information that will make the annual exam process a more interactive experience between client and vet. Thanks."

"I thought this course was great, and I enjoyed reading about the lessons. The lessons were easy to read and follow along. Dr. Jeff was very helpful, you can tell he really cares about pets and his students. I throughly enjoyed this class. A+"

"I truly appreciated this course and the in-depth discussions and material presented in each lesson. I especially enjoyed the coverage pertaining to alternative practices since they are becoming so popular with pet owners."

"It was perfect for me. I just started working in a Vet Clinic and it has helped so much. THANK YOU!"

"I very much enjoyed this course. This is my first step at becoming a vet assistant. I also have more knowledge about my own pets and have more of an idea about what I should be looking for in a veterinarian and questions I should be asking."

"I work in a vet hospital and found this course to be very helpful."

"I would highly recommend anyone with pets to take this course. Dr. Jeff did an excellent job in keeping everything about pet care interesting and very informative. It has definitely been a learning experience. I have truly enjoyed taking this course."

"Liked the fact that the instructor presented both sides of some controversial topics and invited us to decide for ourselves. Also liked his ability to use "integrative" health care."

"My first online classroom experience was wonderful. I hated to take the final exam and see it end."

"Really enjoyed the course: easy to read, comprehend and more in depth information than I anticipated. Supplementary information was very helpful. Good beginning for entering into the field and to being a better family member to my loved one."

"Thank you. I really enjoyed the class and it has already helped me in my role at the clinic I work in. We had a client call the other day to find out the gestational period for her dog and I was able to answer right away!"

"The instructor for this course was outstanding. I learned a lot more than I expected to and I really enjoyed it."

"The instructor was excellent! He has good experiences and brings them to the class. I wish there was a vet in my area with the knowledge Jeff has."

"The on-line learning environment is perfect for me in my current location (the Caribbean). Having been recently employed by a vet as a receptionist, the subject matter was thorough enough for me to assist our clients in certain areas and to better support the hospital staff. I hope to continue my education and perhaps secure a training position as a veterinary assistant/technician when I return to the mainland next spring. Thank you, Dr. Jeff, for the many hours of dedicated work that went into this course for the benefit of your students! I've recently enrolled in "Speed Spanish" in order to better serve our Latino clients here in the islands."

"This class was wonderful. As a pet lover and someone who is interested in pursuing an animal related career, this course was VERY helpful. The assignments and quizzes helped to review the material I had just read. I would recommend this course and Dr. Jeff to anyone!!!"

"This course contains useful information to students and pet owners alike. I found it to be very helpful in my job as an animal control officer. I highly recommend the class to all animal owners."

"This course was so knowledgeable. I felt that I learned so much in a short time, it seemed to cover a lot of information in twelve lessons. I recommend this course to anyone who is interested in becoming a veterinary assistant or just wants to be more informative about their pets."

"This course was very informative. I learned a lot of things that I didn't know and things that are going to help me get my pets healthier. I feel like a better pet owner since I took this course!"

"This is one of the best classes I have ever taken!"

"This is the first on-line course I've taken. I enjoyed it very much and learned much more than I expected. It covered many topics and related areas of interest and gave me access to several useful web sites. Thank you, Dr. Jeff!"

"This should be a required course for all new cat & dog owners! Wonderful information that will make my two dogs, two cats, and me happier and healthier. Dr. Grognet makes the information easy to comprehend. Many thanks!"

"This was a great course and the instructor was superb!"

"This was a very helpful refresher course for me. I have worked at a Veterinary Emergency Clinic and at The South Carolina Surgical Referal Center over the past 8 years, and this course has really helped to refresh my memory! I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to experienced vet tech's and to anyone just starting out."

"this was my 1st time to take an online course- i was pleased w/ the information that our instructor gave to us besides the additional links for us to check out- he seemed to be involved w/ each of us, as if we were there w/ him learning on the job- i now can take this info & use it everyday in my home, plus have it help me towards getting into a field w/ a vets office. thanks-"

"This was my first experience with an on-line course. It was the best introduction I could have had. Dr. Grognet has created a really great course. It is highly informational and easy to comprehend. It is obvious from the individual lessons and the extra information sites that he provides, that Dr. Grognet has done extensive research in preparation for creating this course. He has done a thorough job and he deserves a lot of credit. He also managed to find the time to add personal interaction with his students. I found his comments on my assignments very supportive and his answers to my questions very helpful. Who could ask for more?"

"VERY good class. Would like to see a Vet Tech 2. Thanks soo much. I learned a lot and will keep studying the material."

"Well-organized course. Good supplementary info and links for further info. Interesting material. Dr. Grognet did an excellent job with the class and provided thoughtful responses to students' questions in the discussion area. I enjoyed this course and would recommend it to others. Thank you again."

"Wow! I have enjoyed this class so much. I hate to see it end. Dr. Jeff is a wonderful teacher...I'm already signed up for his next two classes and looking forward to the challenge."

"WOW! I learned a lot and found it was more challenging than I thought it would be. I feel confident that it provided me with enough knowledge to take better care of my own dogs and I look forward to the next course. I believe I will take a couple more before I make a decision on where to take my self career wise."