I do not believe that anyone except licensed Veterinary Technicians should be placing IV catheters in patients. It may seem like such a simple minute aspect in the grand scheme of things when it comes to patient care, but it supports so much more! Hydration, medications (some of which could be caustic to the patient if delivered outside of the vein), quick access in cases of emergency, and so forth. And to place one with good aseptic technique is also a task that I, as well as all of my fellow educated and licensed technicians, were taught to do. Allowing assistants to do this task would definitely be a mistake.