Veterinary Assistant

Overview

Create a healthier, brighter future for pets, pet parents and people. If you want to make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome to be your whole self and nurture your wellbeing, Petco is the place for you. Our core values capture that spirit as we work to improve lives by doing what's right for pets, people and our planet.

• We love all pets like our own
• We're the future of the pet industry
• We're here to improve lives
• We drive outstanding results together
• We're welcome as we are

Petco is a category-defining health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets, pet parents and Petco partners. We are 29,000 strong and operate 1,500+ pet care centers in the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, including 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. We're focused on purpose-driven work, and strongly believe what's good for pets, people and our planet is good for Petco.

The purpose of this position involves providing excellent medical care to Vetco Total Care full-service hospital patients and offering outstanding customer service to their owners. The Veterinary Assistant represents the mission and values to all clients. Our Veterinary Assistants set the tone for technical and customer support in the hospital and help foster cohesion and motivation within the practice.

All hospital staff are responsible for performing duties in a way that creates an environment where:

• The patient’s needs come first.
• Team members understand they have the power to do what it takes to create an exceptional customer experience.
• Contentious issues are dealt with and resolved when possible.
• Exceptional teamwork and commitment to shared goals benefit the entire organization.

The incumbent must be able to perform all listed duties with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Greet clients and patients arriving for appointments, escort them to an exam room, obtain weight and vital signs, and record the electronic medical record. Veterinary Assistants will collect thorough patient histories and document the patient visit in the EMR.
• Assist doctors with appointments (routine and emergency), surgery, dentistry, and euthanasia, under supervision from the veterinarian, credentialed veterinary technician, HOM and HLOD.
• Perform patient restraint, obtain and process laboratory samples, handle and dispense medications as directed by the veterinarian, and help maintain the electronic medical record.
• Schedule appointments, provide client education, relay test results, and maintain and update client/patient records.
• Help prepare patients for surgical and dental procedures and assist the doctor and/or veterinary technician in anesthesia, monitoring vital parameters, supervising recovery, and preparing for discharge or transfer to an overnight facility.
• Under supervision, perform in-hospital treatments for sick patients, administer injectable and oral medications, provide intravenous fluids, keep patients clean and fed as directed, and walk canine patients as needed for elimination.
• Assist in the training of new staff and share knowledge as required under the direction of a veterinarian or veterinary technician.
• Keep the hospital environment neat and clean; perform regular cleaning per a maintenance schedule.

• Perform additional duties as assigned
• Provide backup phone and front desk support as needed

In all patient care activities, the incumbent takes direction from veterinarians and veterinary technicians. For overall supervision, direction comes from the HOM/HLOD or the supervising technician for the shift.

All team members play a crucial role in ensuring day-to-day hospital operations are efficient and provide an optimal experience for patients and clients.

This position contributes to the growth of a productive practice and maintains a high standard of care. It supports a cohesive, well-trained, and motivated technical team, aiming to create an environment that supports employee retention, patient well-being, and customer…