Kennel assistants help ensure that animals have a better way of life.
Working with animals is a demanding job, requiring professionals who can provide exceptional care. Animal shelters, adoption organizations and veterinary hospitals have boarding kennels to house recuperating animals or those waiting to find a home. Each establishment also has kennel assistants who must perform a variety of duties so the animals stay healthy and safe.
Regular Feeding Schedule
A primary duty of a kennel assistant is to feed animals a well-balanced diet and provide plenty of water. He must keep food dishes clean and feed animals at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the early evening.
He also is responsible for cleaning water bowls and replenishing them two or more times per day. If animals are following a customized feeding schedule, these instructions must be adhered to as well.
Cleaning and Laundry
Cleaning up after animals is another job duty of a kennel assistant. Animals want to keep themselves clean. Kennel assistants help with this by scooping the animals' bathroom areas, in addition to disinfecting the insides of kennels and floors where animals may have accidents.
Kennel assistants may also launder animal bedding, clean out cages and provide new bedding. If cat boxes are used in the kennel, these need to changed and disinfected regularly also.
Bathing and Grooming
Bathing is essential for keeping animals healthy and clean. If an animal is healthy to start with, kennel assistants will have to bathe them at least once a week. If an animal is suffering from flea infestation, mange or another skin affliction, additional care will have to be given.
Kennel duties also include administering flea dips and flea treatments such as sprays, powders and gels. Assistants also help groom animals, including trimming nails, brushing or clipping their hair and keeping their ears clean and free of mites.
Training, Exercise and Attention
Animals enjoy human contact, and part of a kennel assistant's job is to provide that. She walks animals, teaching them simple commands and giving them affection and attention.
Not only do animals have one-on-one time with kennel assistants, if they behave and interact well with others, dogs may get to go on walks with other dogs, and cats play with other cats.
Health and Medical Treatment
Another duty of a kennel assistant is to help administer daily medications. Some animals may be in recovery and have to take an antibiotic. Older animals may require a daily vitamin or a joint support supplement.
Topical medications may need to be applied also, especially if the animal is recovering from an injury or surgery. Another daily duty for kennel assistants is cleaning animals' teeth. This is done with a small toothbrush and specialty treats that counteract plaque.
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