Veterinary Technician (RVT) - Dermatology, Alta Vista Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centre

VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RRSP employer match (5%)

Paid time off and CE allowance

Benefits and memberships

Paid certification memberships

Mental health resources and EAP

Job summary

Alta Vista Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, is seeking a Registered Veterinary Technician to join our Dermatology team. You’ll support dermatology diagnostics, imaging, and patient care in collaboration with our specialists, providing guidance to pet parents throughout treatment.

With a minimum of 2+ years’ experience, you will assist with anesthesia, diagnostics, and patient monitoring in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2+ years of experience as a practicing Veterinary Technician.
• Experience with anesthesia, CRIs, and mechanical ventilators.

Responsibilities

• Assist veterinarians with dermatology diagnostics and procedures (skin scrapings, cytology, biopsies).
• Prepare patients and equipment maintaining aseptic technique.
• Monitor patients under sedation/anesthesia and report vital changes.
• Coordinate daily bookings and prepare caseload files for the Dermatology team.
• Communicate with pet owners and provide discharge instructions and invoicing.
• Maintain accurate medical records and support continuity of care.

Skills

Veterinary Technician experience

Team collaboration

Patient care

Tools

Anesthesia equipment

Job description

Registered Veterinary Technician - Dermatology

• Department: Dermatology
• Location: Ottawa, ON
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Level: Minimum 2+ years as a practicing Veterinary Technician
• Job Status: Existing
• Compensation: $25.00 to $35.00 per hour, depending on experience and skills.
• Work Schedule: 4-Day work week

Alta Vista Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centre welcomes a Veterinary Technician to join our Dermatology team in Ottawa, Ontario.

As a veterinary technician in our Dermatology department, you’ll be the heart of our patient care. You’ll partner with our specialists to guide pets safely through diagnostic imaging, procedures, and post-operative recovery, while helping worried pet parents feel informed, supported, and reassured throughout their pet's healing process.

What You'll Do

Dermatology Procedures & Patient Care:

• Assist veterinarians with dermatological diagnostics and procedures, including skin scrapings, cytology, biopsies, and sample collection.
• Prepare patients, equipment, and instruments for procedures while maintaining aseptic technique and prioritizing patient safety and comfort.
• Monitor patients under sedation and general anesthesia, assessing vital parameters, including heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), blood pressure, and temperature.
• Recognize and promptly report changes in patient status, providing attentive post-anesthetic monitoring and recovery care.

Caseload Coordination & Team Collaboration:

• Coordinate daily bookings and prepare caseload files and medical information for veterinarians and the Dermatology team.
• Facilitate timely communication between specialty departments, pet owners, and the ICU and treatment teams.
• Collaborate with veterinary technicians and medical teams to support patient monitoring, treatment workflows, and smooth shift transitions

Client Communication & Inpatient Support:

• Provide compassionate support to pet owners by communicating hospitalization updates and explaining discharge instructions, home-care plans and invoicing.
• Assist with inpatient care, treatment plans, and patient monitoring while prioritizing comfort, safety, and well-being.
• Maintain accurate medical records and help ensure continuity of care throughout treatment and recovery.

What You Bring

• Minimum 2+ years of experience as a practicing Veterinary Technician.
• Experience with, and willingness to enhance, technical skills: anesthesia, CRI’s, & mechanical ventilators.
• Fast-paced environment adaptability.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a warm, collaborative approach to working with colleagues and supporting pet parents.
• You take pride in accurate charting and record-keeping.
• Strong problem-solving abilities.

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
• 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’ve been 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 multidisciplinary specialty departments all under one roof – including Critical Care, Surgery, Neurology, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, Behaviour, Anesthesia and Dentistry. Together, we are committed to delivering exceptional patient care and a positive, sustainable work environment every 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. Most recently, we received 2026 Great Place to Work® Certification™ Canada.

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