Veterinary Assistant - ICU, Alta Vista Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centre

VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP match

CE allowance

Paid time off

Wellness days

Job summary

Alta Vista Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centre in Ottawa, ON is seeking a Veterinary Assistant to join our ICU Treatment team. The role involves triaging patients, performing nursing care for emergency cases, and supporting diagnostics including X-rays and in-house labs.

Excellent communication with pet parents is essential, along with adaptability for a fast-paced environment. The position offers full-time hours with a flexible schedule, competitive compensation, and benefits through AVSE

Qualifications

• Clear communication with teammates and pet parents.
• Calm, reassuring presence in fast-paced or urgent situations.
• Strong problem-solving and multitasking abilities.

Responsibilities

• Perform patient triage, vital checks, and nursing care for hospitalized and emergency patients.
• Administer hourly treatments, including medication administration, pain assessments, nutrition, and compassionate patient care.
• Support diagnostic workflows, including digital X-rays, in-house lab work, and anesthetic monitoring.
• Perform accurate dosage calculations for fluids and pharmaceuticals.
• Deliver clear, empathetic progress updates to pet parents.
• Keep treatment wards clean, organized, and prepared for incoming cases, assisting teammates across departments as needed.

Skills

Clear communication

Composure under pressure

Proactive organization

Team player

Physical ability

Schedule flexibility

Job description

Veterinary Assistant

Department: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Treatment

Location: Ottawa, ON

Employment Type: Full-time

Position Type: Existing position

Compensation: $18.00 to $25.00 per hour, depending on experience

At Alta Vista Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centre. we are welcoming Veterinary Assistants to join our Intensive Care Unit Treatment team in Ottawa, Ontario.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform patient triage, vital checks, and nursing care for hospitalized and emergency patients.
• Administer hourly treatments, including medication administration, pain assessments, nutrition, and compassionate patient care.
• Support diagnostic workflows, including digital X-rays, in-house lab work, and anesthetic monitoring.
• Perform accurate dosage calculations for fluids and pharmaceuticals.
• Deliver clear, empathetic progress updates to pet parents.
• Keep treatment wards clean, organized, and prepared for incoming cases, assisting teammates across departments as needed.

What You Bring

• Clear Communication: Fluent in English, with warm, effective written and verbal skills for connecting with teammates and pet parents.
• Composure and Care: A calm, reassuring presence during fast-paced or urgent situations.
• Proactive Organization: Strong problem-solving skills, sound judgment, and the confidence to manage multiple priorities.
• Team Player: A positive, supportive attitude with a deep commitment to confidentiality and compassionate care.
• Physical Capability: Comfortably able to lift up to 25 kg (55 lbs) and support patient movement.
• Schedule flexibility: Variable weekly rotation of day, evening, overnight, and weekend shifts. This position reports directly to the ICU/Treament department manager.

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 hospital

At Alta Vista Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centre (AVSE), we are a proud, trusted part of the Ottawa veterinary community for over six decades! With our new location, we have an expansive, purpose-built hospital. Designed from the ground up for advanced medicine and team well-being, our facility brings 24/7 emergency care and extensive multi-disciplinary specialty departments all under one roof – including Critical Care, Surgery, Neurology, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, and Dentistry. When you join us, you’ll work alongside a collaborative, supportive group of board-certified specialists, emergency veterinarians, and skilled technicians who believe in fostering true mentorship, championing full scope of technical practice, and delivering exceptional patient and client care every single day.

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.