You would give nursing care to sick and injured animals.

Your work would support a veterinary surgeon (vet). You would also play an important role in educating owners on good standards of animal care and welfare.

Many of the owners you talk to may be upset or anxious about their pets, so it would be important to have a kind and reassuring manner. You would also have to be very gentle with the animals you work with, as many of them will be fragile.

Tasks would vary with each animal, but in general you would:

• Prepare and carry out nursing care plans

• Hold animals and keep them calm during treatment

• Give injections and drugs as instructed by the vet

• Take blood, urine and other samples from animals, and carry out laboratory work at the practice

• Sterilise instruments

• Take x-rays

• Prepare animals for operations

• Help vets during operations

• Carry out minor procedures such as removing stitches

• Talk to clients about the care and progress of their animals

• Take care of animals staying in house (feeding, cleaning cages, grooming and exercising)

• Hold special clinics

• Give owners advice about caring for their animals

You might also have administration and reception duties.

• British Veterinary Nursing Association

• British Equine Veterinary Association