Veterinary assistant

Position Title : Veterinary Assistant

Reports To : Hospital Manager or Technical Supervisor

Department : Technical Support Staff

Employee Status : Non-Exempt

Job Summary : Assist doctor and other hospital staff by care and cleaning of patients and facilities including completing patient treatments, assisting in surgery and all other animal care functions as well as other tasks involved in the operations of a veterinary hospital.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities :

• Previous experience or training / education working in a veterinary facility preferred.
• Must be friendly, outgoing, people oriented.
• Excellent communications skills.
• Must be capable of being cross-trained for front office receptionist duties that will be expected in the job.
• Telephone and computer skills are necessary.
• Must be a team player willing to learn new techniques and treatments and to accept change.

Education and Experience :

High School Diploma.

Physical Requirements :

• Dependable attendance is required.
• Any allergies to animals must be controllable through medication.
• Must be able to lift 40 pounds.
• Must be willing to work long or irregular hours under pressure conditions.
• This position requires the ability to walk, bend, stand and reach constantly during a minimum 8-hour day.
• Visual acuity sufficient to maintain accurate records, recognize people and understand written directions.
• Fine motor skills adequate for utilizing hospital equipment such as electric clippers, syringes, radiology equipment, laboratory equipment, computers, etc.

Duties :

The following is a list of essential job requirements. This list may be revised at any time and additional duties not listed here may be assigned as needed.

Job functions and job responsibilities include, but are not limited to : V

1. Client Relations

2. Nursing Care

3. Housekeeping / Maintenance

4. Examinations / Assessments

5. Record Keeping

6. Anesthesia

7. Surgery

8. Radiology

9. Dentistry

10. Laboratory

11. Pharmacy

12. Marketing

Nursing Care :

• Compassionate nursing care is the top priority for all patients.
• Make certain all patients are kept clean and as comfortable as possible.
• Assist in treating hospitalized animals under veterinary supervision.
• Continuously monitor all patients admitted to the hospital.
• Ensure all patients are clearly identified including entry on hospital day sheet, cage card, and ID collar.
• Assist veterinarians to direct traffic (patients and care) and leverage staff time.
• Efficiently organize daily duties and medical-surgical procedures to best utilize staff’s time.
• Participate in client communication and education, explaining administration of medications, follow-up care, diet recommendations and general animal care.
• Flexibility in working hours is required to ensure that the job is done properly.

Housekeeping and Maintenance of Hospital :

Make certain entire hospital both inside and outside, including treatment, surgery, kennels, runs, parking lot and entry is kept extremely clean throughout the day (so that a client could come back and see their pet without any notice).

This includes your own clothing and appearance.

Advise Medical Director or Technical Supervisor of any conditions that are unsafe, including unrecognized hazards or infractions of safety rules.

Anesthesia :

• Understand how to maintain and use our inhalation anesthetic machines.
• Administer certain anesthetics under direct doctor supervision.
• Monitor anesthesia under direct doctor supervision.
• Familiarity with procedures and antidotes for an anesthesia emergency.

Surgery :

• Understand how to prep animals for aseptic surgery.
• Understand aseptic technique in the surgery room and participate in maintaining sterile conditions.
• Know the names and general uses of surgical instruments and equipment.
• Maintain and sterilize surgical instruments and packs.
• Be willing and able to assist the doctor with certain surgical procedures.

Radiology :

• Position animals properly to the radiographs.
• Know how to properly use positioning devices so that patients may be radiographed without the requirement of assistants holding animals in place whenever possible.
• Develop radiographs.
• Maintain and care for all radiology equipment.
• Practice all safety regulations in regard to radiology.

Laboratory :

• Draw blood samples.
• Collect stool and urine samples.
• Prepare lab request forms.

Pharmacy :

• Create prescription labels, fill prescriptions and dispense medications as directed by a doctor.
• Control inventory and assist in ordering medications and supplies.
• Maintain proper storage and safekeeping of drugs as directed by a doctor.

Marketing :

• Understand, participate and support planned VCA marketing events and programs.
• Present marketing promotions to clients in a professional manner.

This position pays $$ hourly.

If you are a current associate, you need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.

Benefits : We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation / sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed.

It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job.

Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development).

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at

Last updated : 2024-05-20

Salary : $16 - $17