My name is Jennifer and I graduated with my associate degree in veterinary medicine about a year ago. I work in a 2 doctor small animal practice in Campbell, California.

My day usually start at 7 AM, doing treatments for any animals that are hospitalized and any boarding animals.

During treatments, I am constantly adding animals to our board for minor/major procedures for the day. The doctor usually comes in by 8 AM, and starts to see appointments. She usually bring animal patience back for treatments, tells us what bloodwork needs to be drawn, x-rays, or if we need to start IV (intravenous) fluids.

Our doctors like to be in surgery by 10 AM. Which means we have to have catheters in them, drugs calculated and drawn, prep the patient, anesthetize, and transfer to surgery. I'm usually in surgery anywhere from a half hour to 2 hours monitoring the patient. Then I take the animal to recovery and stay with then until they are awake.

By this time its usually lunch, if I get one. I then have to clean the instruments and sterilize them. Owners usually start calling to find out how there pet is doing, so I'm on the phone about 30 minutes a day.

Once evening rolls around, it's time to release the animals to their owners. I basically go over post-op directions, home care, and answer any questions they may have.

Finally, at the end of the day I make sure all the drugs I used are recorded, and usually can't wait to sit down.

In between all of that, I'm still reading fecals, ear smears, drawing blood, restraining animals for the doctor, clipping up hot spots and everything else there is.

If you are not in this field, remember, it's hard work, but it's well worth it!