Inside The Life Of A Vet Assistant: Meet Abingdon Animal Medical Center's Carrington Hobbs

Meet Carrington Hobbs

The exam room tells only half the story. Step behind the scenes with us as we talk with our lead vet assistant, Carrington Hobbs, about the real craft of keeping pets calm, owners reassured, and a busy clinic running on time. From the first wag or wary stare to a smooth surgical morning, you’ll hear how small choices—tone of voice, pacing, a well-placed treat—can turn anxiety into trust.

We break down a day in the life: surgeries prepped at dawn, appointments stacked in the afternoon, and constant adjustments for the unexpected. You’ll learn why formal certification isn’t the defining factor for vet assistants here, and why compassion, patience, and a stable energy are. We share clear, actionable techniques for easing fear at the veterinary clinic: reward-based handling, gentle touch when treats won’t land, and the surprising power of a short walk to the back to reset a stressed dog or cat. These strategies help us read body language, reduce tension, and make exams more accurate and humane.

Teamwork sits at the center of our approach. Our assistant anticipates surgical needs, sets up instruments, and keeps the flow tight so we can focus on medicine. That preparation shortens anesthesia time, reduces errors, and gives every patient a calmer experience. If you’re curious about becoming a vet assistant—or simply want to understand what great veterinary care looks like—you’ll find honest insights on dedication, continuous learning, and the attitude that pets instinctively trust.

Love what you hear? Subscribe, share the show with a fellow pet person, and leave a review to help others find us. Need care now? Call or text 276-628-9655 or book at MyAbbingdonVet.com.

To learn more about Abingdon Animal Medical Center visit:
https://www.MyAbingdonVet.com
Abingdon Animal Medical Center
19586 Dennison Drive
Abingdon, VA 24211
276-628-9655

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:04):
Welcome to Tale Talk with Dr.
O'Hara, where eastern Tennesseeand Southwest Virginia's
favorite pets get the spotlightthey deserve.
It's the heart behind AbingtonAnimal Medical Center, combining
small-town charm withstate-of-the-art veterinary
care.
Whether your furry friend purrs,barks, or just steals your
socks, this is the place fortips, tails, and a whole lot of

(00:28):
tail wagging.

SPEAKER_03 (00:31):
Welcome back, everybody.
Skip Monty, co-host slashproducer back in the studio with
Dr.
O'Hara and Carrington Hobbs, whois the vet assistant at Abington
Animal Medical Center.
Carrington, how's it going?

SPEAKER_01 (00:44):
Good.
How are you?

SPEAKER_03 (00:46):
I'm doing just fine.
We appreciate you uh appreciateyou taking time out of your busy
schedule to hang out with us andtell us all about what you do.
So if you don't mind, why don'tyou kick us off by telling us
what it's like to be a vetassistant?

SPEAKER_01 (00:58):
Well, um every day's different, but um typically, you
know, we have some appointmentsin the mornings, um, we do
surgeries in the mornings, uh,and then we see appointments in
the afternoon.
So um really we just spend theday with the animals taking care
of them depending on whatthey're here for.

SPEAKER_03 (01:19):
So what kind of training or certification does
it take to be a vet assistant?
What what do you typically needto be able to become a vet
assistant?

SPEAKER_01 (01:28):
Well, to be a vet assistant, you don't have to
have any like certification.
But training-wise, um, it's justreally important that you if you
know like animals and want to bearound them, you're passionate.
Um you don't get aggravatedeasily with them.
Um because it's not always easy.
So having a good heart withanimals is probably the big

(01:51):
thing.

SPEAKER_02 (01:53):
Yeah, that's the only environment you need to be
a good and really enjoy workingwith the animals, you know, dogs
and cats and enjoy what you do.
You have that time experience,and Janet has been doing this
for five to six years.

SPEAKER_01 (02:07):
Yeah, about five years now.

SPEAKER_02 (02:09):
So, I mean, she's been doing a long time, but
she's really good.
She's like, you know, what Iwould consider her she's like my
lead assistant.
She's like the mom.
She gotta keep all the cubs inline, you know what I mean?
Yeah, do all the stuff.

SPEAKER_03 (02:23):
You're the mom.
Wow.
Well, how uh Carrington, how doyou support both the medical
team and pet owners duringappointments?

SPEAKER_01 (02:30):
Animals, when they come here for appointments, even
if it's just a simpleappointment, they're usually
nervous, um, just like when kidsgo to the doctor.
So um comforting the animals,making sure that we tell them
it's okay.
You know, we talk to them justas you would talk to a kid.
Um And then a lot of times theowners are nervous too.

(02:52):
Um it's just like, you know, ifyou've got young kids and you
take them to the doctor as aparent, you're nervous too.
Um so just comforting the ownertoo, and we just let them know
that they'll be okay and that wealways take the best care of the
pet.

SPEAKER_03 (03:06):
Give us some examples.
How do you create a welcomingenvironment and and chill out a
nervous pet?

SPEAKER_01 (03:13):
Well, we have lots of treats um in our exam rooms
and here in the back.
So um we offer everybody treats.
Usually with nervous dogs,offering them a treat is the way
to you know, build trust withthem.
Um some dogs will turn a treatdown, but most of the time they
won't.
If they turn the treat down,then we'll just give them extra

(03:34):
pets, extra hugs, and just talkto them.

SPEAKER_02 (03:37):
We kind of learn, I've learned over the years too,
sometimes is taking if they'renervous, we take the dog or the
cat away from mom and dad.
It's kind of weird, and thenspend some individual time with
them, like me and theassistants, and then they get
comfort in realizing they kindof see the hospital, the back,
and then they realize kind ofoh, everything's cool here.
I can be okay without mom anddad.

(03:58):
And they're actually oftentimesmuch easier to deal with that
way.
And then when we bring them backinto the exam room to talk to
mom and dad, they they can be anew dog cat.
They're like, Oh, that's cool,you know, no big deal.

SPEAKER_03 (04:09):
Huh.
Interesting.
Actually, I've I've seen a vetdo that to me before because my
dog was freaking out.
Very cool.
Well, if um from both of yourperspectives, um if any of our
listeners, viewers areinterested perhaps in pursuing a
vet assistant positionsomewhere, if that's something
that that uh is their calling,what qualities do you think make

(04:33):
somebody especially great inthis role?

SPEAKER_02 (04:36):
Well, if I'm gonna speak like Carrington, I mean,
like I said, she's like mom,first of all, dedication.
You know, you have to bededicated, and she is.
Your energy's gotta be good.
If you're gonna be I mean,that's one thing.
Dogs and cats can sense energy,I mean, to the core.
It's probably one they're veryemotionally, you know, they got

(04:57):
great emotional senses.
So you gotta have that, and youhave to be willing to, I mean,
learn.
Um and because there's more toit.
I mean, you uh, you know, likeCarrington, she preps all my
surgery stuff.
You know, when I have surgerythe next day, she makes sure
it's all ready to go.
So basically I just have to walkinto the surgery, you know what
I mean?
But it's just years ofrepetition and knowing and

(05:20):
working as a team.
Me and her have to work as ateam.
You gotta be a good team member.

SPEAKER_03 (05:26):
And just about anything.
You gotta be a good team member.
Carrington, what about from yourperspective?

SPEAKER_01 (05:31):
Um, well, pretty much everything Doc said, but I
would add to um, you know, tohave a good attitude.
Um, it's always important tohave a good attitude, especially
here, um, because we just do abunch of different things and
it's not always easy.
Sometimes it's stressful.
Um, so just keeping a goodattitude is important too.

SPEAKER_03 (05:51):
All right, very cool.
Well, thanks.
We'll let you get back to it.
And uh, Doc, we'll uh we'll seeyou in the next episode.
Carrington, maybe we can haveyou back sometime.

SPEAKER_01 (05:59):
Okay, thank you.

SPEAKER_00 (06:04):
Thanks for joining us on Tale Talk with Dr.
O'Hara.
If your four-legged familymember needs a checkup, a
stylish groom, or just a cozyplace to stay, give us a call or
text at 276-628-9655 or visitmyabbingdonvet.com to book your
appointments.
Abingdon Animal Medical Center,a small town field with state of

(06:27):
the art care and plenty of bellyrubs.