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YORKTOWN, N.Y. Of all the rewards that come with working as a veterinary assistant, Petra Vyklicka says one of the greatest is the close relationships she has built with her patients and their owners.
Its wonderful to see a puppy for the first time, and you still know him after eight or nine years. Were here for our clients and sometimes become like part of the family, she says of her staff at Yorktown Animal Hospital.
As part of her job, Vyklicka aids staff veterinarians in administering X-rays, blood tests, basic checkups and more for the dogs and cats that come into the facility. Her work may be a far cry from her field of study, which includes a Masters degree in large animal science earned in the Czech Republic, but it is conducive to her interests. As a child growing up, she wanted a dog but couldn't have one because of her sister's allergies. Vyklicka instead went to her grandmothers house to play with her cat.
As one of her daily tasks, Vyklicka checks the ears, mouth and skin of each animal dropped off for boarding at Yorktown Animal Hospital to make sure it isn't sick upon arrival. She then reports her observations to a veterinarian should there be a need for treatment. In some cases, the owner may not even know their cat or dog is sick. If a dog needs dental work, for example, the animal hospital will perform the service in time for pickup.
This veterinary assistant moved to Yorktown from Manhattan eight years ago when her husband landed a job at an IBM location based in Westchester.
Im spending time with the animals and making sure they are comfortable, adds Vyklicka. "Sometimes the human touch goes a long way."
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