How Long Does It Take To Become A Vet Assistant?

Female vet assistant playing with puppies

Interested in becoming a vet assistant? Because it doesn’t require a university degree, it’s a decently accessible career to break into. That being said, how long it takes you to become a vet assistant depends entirely on the path you take to get your education and hands-on experience. Use this information to approximate how long…

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Veterinary Assistant Requirements

Veterinary Assistant Requirements

In all my years in this industry, the most common questions I get asked are “how do I get as lucky as you to work with animals all day?” or perhaps the more common “if someone wanted to work in a veterinary office, what requirements would they need?” Firstly, thank you, I do love my…

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What is Kennel Cough?

What is Kennel Cough

Are you boarding this holiday season? Are you having your pets groomed? Do you know where your neighbor’s dogs have been recently? All of these situations can cause concern for susceptibility to the disease commonly known as “kennel cough.” Here are a few tidbits you may wish to know prior to speaking to your veterinarian.…

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New Veterinary Assistant School in St. Louis

Image of man at Veterinary Assistant School holding a cat

ST LOUIS, MO – January 13, 2020 – With the recent closing of Vatterott College, not far behind Hickey and Sanford Brown, the St. Louis veterinary community is left with an unprecedented demand for qualified pet professionals.  The Academy of Pet Careers hopes to fill this void by opening St. Louis’ only Vet Assistant School.  …

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Common Myths About Leptospirosis

Dog with Leptospirosis playing in water

Leptospirosis is a disease caused by a bacteria called leptospira spp. Since leptospirosis can be transmitted between animals and humans, it is labeled as a “zoonotic disease” according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A leptospirosis infection can cause animals and humans severe health issues including symptoms that can lead to death…

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Sequential Overload in Pets

Sequential Overload in Pets Infographic

Stress isn’t all bad.  Stress is needed to avoid potential dangers; it’s part of animals’ natural responses to threats: if they don’t respond to threats in nature, they don’t survive!   Some level of good stress (eustress) is even needed for learning. Learn more in this blog on The Canine Learning Stress-O-Meter.   Certainly, too…

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How Much Stress Is Too Much Stress?

The Canine Learning Stress-O-Meter Infographic

In the force free training world (aka positive reinforcement), we try to minimize the amount of stress our pets experience during training. But in order to answer how much stress is too much stress, we must first understand a little bit more about “stress.”   Types of Stress There are two types of stress an…

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Giving Our Pets Choices

Choices Image, The Academy of Pet Careers

So much of our pets’ lives are dictated by us. We determine when they have access to outside, food, water, resting areas and games. We decide what food they eat. We restrict our dogs’ movements by attaching a leash to them when we take them out. We determine when, or if, they have play dates…

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The Power of Happy Visits

Happy Visits Image, The Academy of Pet Careers

Is your dog afraid to go to the vet’s office or grooming salon? Do they resist going through the door? Does she pant, pace or drool? Does she suddenly start shedding while waiting in the lobby? You and your dog are not alone. And when one dog is fearful, they exude stress hormones which every…

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