Associate Veterinarian

Overview

Want to help pets live their best lives?

Petco is the place for you to make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome to be your whole self, and nurture your wellbeing.

Our core values capture that spirit as we work to improve lives by doing what’s right for pets and people.

We are proud to be where the pets go to find everything they need to live their best lives. We are 29,000+ strong and operate in more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, Vetco Total Care hospitals, preventive care clinics, and distribution centers. In 1999, we founded Petco Love and support thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide, helping find homes for millions of animals through in-store adoption events.

• Pet First – Protect & Empower. All pets should Live their Best Life. We put the needs of pets and pet parents at the center of everything we do.
• Foster the Fun – Connect & Bond. Our Passion for pets brings us together. We celebrate the journey of pet parenthood through district experiences, products, and services.
• Let’s Go! Own & Commit. We are stronger as One Petco team. We bring our unique superpowers and champion authenticity to drive success.

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide excellent patient care by performing physical examinations, diagnosing and treating diseases, and providing preventive care according to patient signalment, lifestyle, and environment.

• Utilize a problem-based approach that includes developing a complete problem list for every patient, a complete differential diagnoses list for each problem, a complete diagnostic plan, and appropriate treatments based on diagnostic test results to confirm or suspect diagnoses.

• Document all patient observations, findings of exams and diagnostics, treatments and medications, client interactions, and tentative and confirmed diagnoses in the medical record in a concise and detailed fashion.

• Perform routine and complex surgical procedures including spays/neuters, abdominal explorations, and mass removals.

• Perform routine and complex dental procedures including full dental examinations, evaluation of dental radiographs, and simple and complex extractions and oral surgical procedures.

• Develop treatment plans for patients undergoing day hospitalization based on complete problem-based assessment. Transition patients to overnight care as needed and communicate with referral hospitals for continuity of care.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in rounds as incoming or exiting doctor at the beginning and end of shifts.

• Disseminate knowledge to staff to improve the level of care and communication provided to hospital partners, patients, and clients.

• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Nature of Supervision

The Veterinarian will take direct supervision from the Hospital Medical Leader or Area Medical Director. The Veterinarian has discretion related to patient care but should uphold the standards set forth in the Petco Veterinary SOPs. The Veterinarian may receive guidance based on electronic medical record review to elevate patient care and should accept such feedback.

All hospital veterinarians should work together in a collegial fashion and behave in a professional and personable manner.

Planning and Problem Solving

Problem solving is central to veterinary medicine, and successful candidates should possess excellent problem-solving skills for expeditious diagnosis of patient problems.

Impact

This position contributes to the growth of a productive practice while focusing on high-quality care. It is critical to ensuring a cohesive, well-trained, and motivated team, with outcomes including employee retention, patient well-being, and customer satisfaction.

Work Environment

The majority of job duties are conducted in the Vetco Total Care veterinary full-service hospital. The role requires bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds, and standing for long periods. A significant portion of time involves direct client and pet interaction.

Education/Experience

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or equivalent from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school.

• Active licensure as a veterinarian…