Veterinary Assistant - Dentistry

Pulse Veterinary Specialists & Emergency; Sherwood Park; On-site; CAD 41,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Pulse Veterinary Specialists & Emergency in Sherwood Park, AB, is seeking a Veterinary Technologist Assistant to support the dental team. You will assist RVTs and veterinarians, prepare surgical suites, sterilize instruments, manage supplies, and provide compassionate nursing care.

Ideal candidates have at least 2 years with animals, some veterinary assisting experience, and a willingness to grow within the clinic's collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of experience working with animals.
• Minimum 1 year of experience as a Veterinary Assistant preferred.
• Veterinary Medical Assistant program is considered an asset but not required.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.

Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional patient care and support a high standard of compassion and professionalism.
• Prepare surgical suites, including room set-up and turnover.
• Perform decontamination, sterilization, and storage of instruments.
• Operate and maintain surgical and hospital equipment.
• Assist RVTs and Veterinarians with procedures and patient care.
• Support inventory management of supplies and pharmaceuticals.
• Provide basic nursing care for hospitalized patients.
• Communicate clearly with teams to foster collaboration.
• Follow SOPs and safety regulations.

Skills

Animal handling

Customer service

Communication

Adaptability

Time management

Organization

Active listening

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Education

Two years animal experience

One year veterinary assistant experience

Veterinary Medical Assistant program asset

Job description

Position Summary

The Veterinary Technologist Assistant (TA) plays a key role in supporting the dental veterinary team by assisting with a variety of procedures and treatments, while consistently modeling exceptional patient care and collaborative teamwork at Pulse Veterinary Specialists & Emergency.

The Dentistry TA reports to the Lead Specialty Registered Veterinary Technologist (RVT) and works collaboratively with three Board-Certified Veterinary Dentists, the Dentistry Support Team, and other specialty services to ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care.

The ideal candidate values maintaining a collegial working culture and prioritizes embracing the strategy, commitments, and goals of the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide exceptional patient care and support a high standard of compassion and professionalism.
• Maintain hospital cleanliness by following established internal and external cleaning schedules, proactively identifying opportunities to uphold and improve cleanliness standards.
• Prepare surgical suites, including room set-up, efficient turnover between procedures, and thorough post-procedure clean-up.
• Perform decontamination, inspection, assembly, sterilization, and proper storage of surgical instruments and supplies.
• Conduct quality assurance testing to ensure sterilization processes are effective and compliant.
• Operate, clean, and perform routine departmental maintenance on surgical and hospital equipment.
• Identify and report equipment issues or malfunctions promptly to the appropriate supervisor.
• Assist RVTs and Veterinarians with procedures, treatments, and patient care as directed.
• Safely restrain patients as required during examinations and procedures.
• Support inventory management of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, including ordering, receiving, storage, and handling.
• Provide basic nursing care for hospitalized patients, including feeding, bathing, and overnight care.
• Assist with practice management software, including accurate client and patient record maintenance.
• Communicate clearly and proactively with your teams, fostering strong interdepartmental collaboration.
• Follow all hospital standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support efficient and safe operations.
• Comply with all federal and provincial animal health, workplace health, and safety regulations.
• Adhere to hospital health and safety policies at all times.

Other duties may be assigned as required.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have:

Education and Experience

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with animals.
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience working as a Veterinary Assistant preferred.
• Completion of a Veterinary Medical Assistant program is considered an asset but not required.
• Must be at least 18 years of age in accordance with Occupational Health & Safety requirements.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Comfortable handling a wide variety of animals and communicating effectively with pet owners.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic clinical environment.
• Strong customer service skills with a compassionate, client-focused approach.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing priorities and remain calm under pressure.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Proven active listening, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Motivated to continuously improve, contribute to practice growth, and pursue professional development.

We thank all interested candidates for applying, however, only candidates considered for an interview will be contacted.