Veterinary Assistant, Critical Care, Calgary Animal Referral and Emergency Centre

VCA Canada Ltd.; Calgary; On-site; CAD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP employer match (5%)

Paid CE allowance

Vacation/Personal wellness days

Uniform allowance

Mental health resources

Job summary

The CARE Centre in Calgary, part of VCA Canada within Mars Veterinary Health, is seeking a full-time Critical Care Veterinary Assistant to join a 24/7 emergency and referral hospital. You will assist RVTs and veterinarians, care for patients, and communicate with clients about ongoing care and costs.

The role requires energy, reliability, and strong organizational skills to thrive in a fast-paced team-based environment. A continuing education allowance supports growth and learning.

Qualifications

• Previous veterinary clinic experience is required.
• Energetic, self-motivated and able to multitask in a fast-paced hospital.
• Strong interpersonal skills for client communication and teamwork.

Responsibilities

• Assist RVTs and veterinarians with daily tasks and patient care.
• Perform proper restraint techniques during assessments and treatments.
• Assist with sample collection, radiographs and ultrasounds.
• Provide daily client updates and financial updates.
• Maintain hospital treatment areas and general cleanliness.
• Support care for patients including feeding, walking and housing.

Skills

Organization

Teamwork

Multitasking

Patient care

Communication

Job description

Veterinary Assistant Department: Critical Care Location: Calgary, AB

The Calgary Animal Referral and Emergency Centre (CARE Centre) is welcoming a full-time Critical Care Veterinary Assistant to join our dedicated and dynamic pet healthcare team. The CARE Centre is a 24-hour emergency and referral specialty hospital. We are committed to supporting pet owners and the veterinary community by providing the highest level of emergency and referral care. The primary role of the Critical Care Tech Assistant is to assist the RVTs and veterinarians with daily tasks and patient care. They are also the hands-on caregivers for our patients in the hospital, including feeding, walking and general cleanliness of patients and their housing to make their stay most comfortable.

Perform proper restraint techniques when assisting RVTs and veterinarians in assessing and treating patients.

Assist veterinarians and RVT's while they collect samples, take radiographs and perform ultrasounds.

Client communication, including daily updates on how the pet is doing and giving financial updates.

Provide physical and emotional support for patients.

Help to maintain the hospital treatment areas and ensure general cleanliness.

Other duties as needed for general maintenance of the ICU and hospital.

Our team members are passionate about pets and their people. The ideal candidate will be energetic, self-motivated, outgoing and possess strong organizational skills. The CARE Centre is a fast-paced environment, so the ability to multitask is essential. Strong interpersonal skills are necessary to thrive in our strongly team-based environment, as well as to provide the exceptional client experience the CARE Centre is known to offer.

An interest in continual learning is supported with a continuing education allowance. Previous or equivalent veterinary experience in a clinic setting is required.

Schedule:

In this role, candidates must be available to work 40 hours per week on 12-hour rotating shifts, 7 days a week (including weekdays/weekends and overnights) to accommodate the C.A.R.E. Centre's 24-hour hospital. Rotation is typically 4 on, 4 off.

What We Can Offer You

Competitive compensation that reflects your skills, experience, and the role. RRSP Employer Group Match Program (5%) to help you save for the future. Paid time off for continuing education, vacation, sick days, and personal wellness days. Annual CE Allowance.

Benefits:

• Minimum 24 hours per week for eligibility, with flexible options.
• Paid annual certification memberships and uniform allowance.
• Mental health support tools and resources: Virtual health care (telemedicine), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and digital wellness tools supporting mindfulness, sleep, and physical fitness.
• Various career development pathways.
• Generous personal pet care discounts and lifestyle perks, including exclusive shopping discounts and access to a wellness app

Our Story

VCA Canada is a network of veterinary hospitals, with our head office in Calgary, Alberta, committed to positively impacting pets, people, and local communities for nearly 45 years. We have compassion for the neighbourhoods we serve and every pet within them, not just those we see in our hospitals. Every VCA Canada hospital location takes pride in its legacy of excellence, earning the trust of pet owners by delivering the highest quality of medicine to keep pets happy and healthy. In 2017, VCA Canada became part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, solidifying an even stronger commitment to ensuring the strength and stability of the veterinary profession and our commitment to pet parents nationwide. VCA Canada is also passionate about providing an industry-leading Associate experience to over 4,000 Canadians employed across the country. In 2026, for the third year in a row, we were named one of Alberta's Top Employers, which recognizes organizations whose head offices are located within the province and lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Additionally, we were selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People 2026, which recognizes employers across Canada that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work and programs for young people starting their careers. Most recently, we received 2026 Great Place to Work Certification Canada.

A leader in veterinary care, VCA Animal Hospitals is committed to taking care of the future of veterinary medicine. We are a family of hometown animal hospitals determined to positively impact pets, people and our communities. From primary care to emergency, urgent and specialty care, VCA delivers world-class medicine and hometown care to more than four million pets each year. We invest in cutting-edge tools, training and technology that enable Associates across our national network of hospitals to lead the industry today and into tomorrow. Among our talented 35,000 Associates are nearly 7,000 veterinarians – including 500 who are board-certified specialists – nearly 4,000 credentialed technicians and over 10,000 veterinary assistants – all dedicated to giving pets the very best in medical care. The future of veterinary medicine is in our hands.