For people who want to care for patients with tails, fur, paws and claws, the College of Southern Maryland is offering its veterinary assistance training program courses at the Leonardtown Campus this spring. The courses were previously exclusive to the La Plata Campus .
Veterinary assistants are primarily responsible for helping a veterinary technician or veterinarian.
They have excellent animal skills that enable them to control, restrain, comfort and calm animals. The veterinary assistant also has good nursing, clean-up and people skills and basic math and science knowledge as well as animal grooming skills. The program can benefit a variety of people, including breeders, groomers, Humane Society workers, veterinary staff looking for formal training or people wanting to go on to become a veterinary technician or a veterinarian. The four courses in the program are taken sequentially, beginning with Outpatient Care . In this course, participants are provided with training in basic veterinary medicine and effective client communications.