Associate Veterinarian

Veterinarian – Vetco Total Care Full Service Veterinary Hospital

The Veterinarian will provide high‑quality medical care to clients and their pets within the Vetco Total Care full‑service hospital, performing examinations, diagnostics, surgeries, and dental procedures while maintaining meticulous medical records and ensuring excellent client communication.

• 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 examined, a complete list of differential diagnoses for each problem identified, a complete diagnostic plan, and appropriate treatments based on interpretation of diagnostic test results.
• 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, according to practice convention.
• Perform routine and complex surgical procedures, including spays/neuters, abdominal exploratory, and mass removals.
• Perform routine and complex dental procedures, including full dental examination, 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 effectively with referral hospitals to ensure continuity of patient care.

• Participate in rounds as incoming or exiting doctor at the beginning and end of shifts.
• Disseminate knowledge throughout staff to improve the level of care and communication provided to hospital partners, to both the patient and the client.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

In all activities related to the care of individual patients, the Veterinarian will take direct supervision from the Hospital Medical Leader or Area Medical Director. The Veterinarian will have discretion regarding patient‑care decisions while upholding the standards set forth in Petco Veterinary SOPs and accepting guidance from the medical leader through electronic record review.

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or equivalent from an AVMA‑accredited veterinary school.
• Active licensure as a veterinarian without contingencies in the state where the hospital is located or ability to obtain by the start date.
• Current DEA license.
• Current Controlled Substance License, if applicable, in the state where the hospital is located or ability to obtain by the start date.
• USDA Category I accreditation (minimum) or completion within two months of hire date.
• Comfortable performing anesthesia and routine surgeries, including dog and cat spays, neuters, mass removals, and dental surgeries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Compassionate, sympathetic, and able to maintain a professional demeanor during emotional and stressful situations.
• Telephone and computer skills.
• Team player willing to learn new techniques and treatments, offer creative ideas, and accept change.

The majority of duties are carried out in the Vetco Total Care veterinary full‑service hospital. The position requires bending, kneeling, lifting (up to 30 pounds as necessary), and standing for long periods of time. Significant time is spent in direct contact with clients and their pets.

Salary Range: $95,600.00 – $

For a detailed overview of Petco Total Rewards, including health and financial benefits, 401K, incentives, and PTO, visit

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.