Veterinary Assistant Program

Learners will explore anatomy and physiology by system, gaining an understanding of how each system works individually and in coordination to maintain health and homeostasis. The course also covers common diseases and conditions affecting each body system, emphasizing the importance of
recognizing normal versus abnormal findings.

Students learn correct medical terminology for use in communicating with other veterinary professionals. Medical terms will be broken down into roots, prefixes, and suffixes. Terminology will be presented relating to body systems, common diagnostic procedures, and anatomical directions.

This course introduces the fundamentals of small animal nutrition, including essential nutrients and their roles in maintaining health. Students will learn to
assess and calculate dietary needs for different life stages, lifestyles, and health conditions, with a focus on veterinary prescription diets and weight management. Emphasis is also placed on developing skills to effectively educate clients on proper nutrition and feeding practices.

This course introduces the fundamentals of small animal nutrition, including essential nutrients and their roles in maintaining health. Students will learn to assess and calculate dietary needs for different life stages, lifestyles, and health conditions, with a focus on veterinary prescription diets and weight
management. Emphasis is also placed on developing skills to effectively educate clients on proper nutrition and feeding practices.

Students will learn proper restraint techniques for a variety of situations, such as during physical exams, venipuncture, and surgical preparation. We will also
discuss the use of common safety and training equipment, while recognizing normal and abnormal animal behavior. There is a large emphasis on patient and personnel safety, reading animal body language, and fear free handling techniques. Disinfection, sanitation protocols, equipment maintenance and workplace standards such as WHMIS and hazardous waste disposal will also be discussed in greater detail.

Students will gain knowledge of routine care tasks such as grooming, bathing, bandaging, and basic treatments, as well as an introduction to handling and caring for common companion and exotic animals. The course also covers foundational knowledge of common diseases, zoonotic risks, and isolation
protocols.

Students will learn to safely collect and handle urine, fecal, and blood samples, prepare specimens for testing, and identify common internal and external parasites. In addition, students will learn to assist the veterinarian or veterinary
technician with the production of diagnostic quality radiographs, with an emphasis on radiation safety for staff and patients. This includes patient restraint, positioning, equipment care, and quality control.

This course introduces veterinary assistant students to the basics of veterinary pharmacology, including drug classification, development, and safe handling.
Students will learn prescription requirements, labeling and dispensing procedures and legal considerations for controlled substances. The course also covers medication storage and disposal, routes of administration, vaccine handling, and companion animal vaccines. Students will gain competency in dosage calculations and essential veterinary math.

This course prepares veterinary assistant students for their role in surgical support. Students will learn how to set up the surgery suite, maintain aseptic technique, and identify and care for surgical instruments and equipment. The course also covers patient preparation, anesthesia basics and monitoring,
sterile field setup and draping, and assisting the surgical team during procedures. In addition, students will learn essential post-operative care, including recovery monitoring, pain recognition, and suture care and removal.

This course will educate veterinary assistant students about the most common emergencies that could be encountered and the assistant’s role in these situations. They will learn how to triage, receive, and set up for multiple types of emergencies such as GDV, respiratory distress, and urinary obstructions to name just a few. They will learn their role in CPR, how to deliver oxygen to small  animal patients, and how to work as a team for the wellbeing of critically injured or ill patients.

Emphasis in this area is placed on giving the student competence in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office software, which is becoming the software of choice for most of today’s medical offices. The student becomes familiar with the operation of Microsoft 365 including Word, Excel, and Outlook. The student will also learn to leverage digital communication tools effectively and utilize web-based resources for efficient office administration.

This course focuses on career development and workplace readiness for veterinary assistant students. Students will learn how to set professional goals, build strong employability skills, and present themselves effectively in both online and in-person settings. Key topics include resume and cover letter writing, job searching, interview preparation, and professional networking. The course also covers workplace expectations such as professionalism, attendance, harassment awareness, and transitioning from student to employee. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to confidently enter the workforce and
manage their early career development.

This course provides hands-on training in veterinary clinical and surgical support skills. Students will practice safe animal restraint using low-stress handling techniques, and the correct use of safety tools such as muzzles and restraint aids, while focusing on patient behaviour and safety. Students will also gain
experience in surgical preparation, including scrubbing in, sterile gowning and gloving, patient draping, and preparing and wrapping surgical packs. Emphasis is placed on aseptic technique, safety, and professional clinical practice.

This course provides hands-on, practical training designed to build confidence and competence in essential veterinary assistant skills. Students will gain with routine clinical procedures such as ear cleaning and nail trimming. The course also includes preparation and handling of laboratory samples, including fecal, blood, and urine specimens, with an emphasis on accuracy and proper technique. In addition, students will be introduced to basic radiographic procedures and positioning techniques with a focus on radiation safety protocols.