Healthcare SupportO*NET: 31-9096.00
Will AI Replace Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers?
Feed, water, and examine pets and other nonfarm animals for signs of illness, disease, or injury in laboratories and animal hospitals and clinics. Clean and disinfect cages and work areas, and sterilize laboratory and surgical equipment. May provide routine postoperative care, administer medication orally or topically, or prepare samples for laboratory examination under the supervision of veterinary or laboratory animal technologists or technicians, veterinarians, or scientists.
47out of 100
Medium Risk
AI Risk Score
47/100
Risk Level
Medium
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
26
🤖 What AI Can Do
- â–¸Record information relating to animal genealogy, feeding schedules, appearance, behavior, or breeding.
- â–¸Prepare feed for animals according to specific instructions, such as diet lists or schedules.
- â–¸Write reports, maintain research information, or perform clerical duties.
- â–¸Perform accounting duties, such as bookkeeping, billing customers for services, or maintaining inventories.
👤 What Requires Humans
- â–¸Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- â–¸Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
- â–¸Perform office reception duties, such as scheduling appointments or helping customers.
- â–¸Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
- â–¸Educate or advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, or behavior problems.
- â–¸Perform hygiene-related duties, such as clipping animals' claws or cleaning and polishing teeth.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (4)
- Record information relating to animal genealogy, feeding schedules, appearance, behavior, or breeding.
- Prepare feed for animals according to specific instructions, such as diet lists or schedules.
- Write reports, maintain research information, or perform clerical duties.
- Perform accounting duties, such as bookkeeping, billing customers for services, or maintaining inventories.
👤Requires Humans (7)
- Hold or restrain animals during veterinary procedures.
- Perform routine laboratory tests or diagnostic tests, such as taking or developing x-rays.
- Perform office reception duties, such as scheduling appointments or helping customers.
- Provide emergency first aid to sick or injured animals.
- Educate or advise clients on animal health care, nutrition, or behavior problems.
- Perform hygiene-related duties, such as clipping animals' claws or cleaning and polishing teeth.
- Perform enemas, catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, or gavages.
âš¡AI-Assisted (15)
- Monitor animals recovering from surgery and notify veterinarians of any unusual changes or symptoms.
- Fill medication prescriptions.
- Clean and maintain kennels, animal holding areas, examination or operating rooms, or animal loading or unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
- Examine animals to detect behavioral changes or clinical symptoms that could indicate illness or injury.
- Assist veterinarians in examining animals to determine the nature of illnesses or injuries.
- Administer medication, immunizations, or blood plasma to animals as prescribed by veterinarians.
- Collect laboratory specimens, such as blood, urine, or feces, for testing.
- Clean, maintain, and sterilize instruments or equipment.
Key Skills Analysis
Active Listening
Importance: 3.50/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Service OrientationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
InstructingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
MathematicsAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 2.75/5.00
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers have a medium risk of AI replacement with a score of 47/100. While some tasks can be assisted by AI, the core responsibilities require human judgment and skills.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research