Associate Veterinarian

PETCO Animal Supplies Stores, Inc.; Brentwood (MO); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus up to $55,000

Job summary

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. seeks a licensed veterinarian to join its Vetco Total Care hospital team. You will provide comprehensive veterinary care, perform anesthesia and routine surgeries, and develop treatment plans tailored to each patient’s needs in a fast-paced hospital setting.

The role emphasizes collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, clear documentation, and compassionate client communication to ensure high-quality care for companion animals.

Qualifications

• DVM degree from AVMA-accredited school or equivalent.
• Active veterinary license in the state where the hospital is located.
• USDA Category I accreditation or completion within two months of hire date.
• DEA license required.
• Current Controlled Substance license as applicable.
• Ability to perform anesthesia and routine surgeries (canine/feline spays, dentals, mass removals).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and a compassionate, patient-centered approach.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent patient care with examinations, diagnoses and preventive care.
• Develop comprehensive problem lists, differential diagnoses, and treatment plans.
• Document medical records concisely and accurately.
• Perform routine and complex surgeries including spays/neuters and mass removals.
• Perform dental procedures including examinations, radiographs, extractions and oral surgery.
• Coordinate day hospitalization cases and communicate with referral hospitals.
• Participate in rounds and disseminate knowledge to staff.

Skills

Communication skills

Team player

Compassionate & empathetic

Anesthesia administration

Education

DVM degree (AVMA-accredited)

USDA Category I accreditation

Active veterinary licensure

DEA license

Controlled Substance license

Job description

Want to help pets live their best lives? We’re proud to be where the pets go and where the pet people go. 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 and people. Pet First – Protect & Empower. All pets should Live their Best Life. We put the needs of pets and pet parents at the center of everything we do. Foster the Fun – Connect & Bond. Our Passion for pets brings us together! We celebrate the journey of pet parenthood through distinct experiences, products, and services. Let’s Go! Own & Commit. We are stronger as One Petco team. We bring our unique superpowers and champion authenticity in everyone to drive success.

About Petco

We’re proud to be "where the pets go" to find everything they need to live their best lives for more than 60 years— from their favorite meals and toys, to trusted supplies and expert support from people who get it, because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood— the boundless boops, missing slippers, late night zoomies and everything in between. And we’re here for it. Every tail wag, every vet visit, every step of the way.

We are 29,000+ strong and together we nurture the pet‑human bond in more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers.

In 1999, we founded Petco Love. Together, we support thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide and have helped find homes for approximately 7million animals through in‑store adoption events.

Sign on Bonus Available up to $55,000

Essential Job Functions

• Provide excellent patient care by performing physical examinations, diagnosing and treating diseases, and providing preventive care according to patient signalment, lifestyle, and environment.
• Utilize a problem‑based approach that includes developing a complete problem list for every patient examined, a complete list of differential diagnoses for each problem identified, a complete diagnostic plan, and appropriate treatments based on interpretation of diagnostic test results leading to confirmed or suspected diagnoses.
• Document all patient observations, findings of exams and diagnostics, treatments and medications, client interactions, and tentative and confirmed diagnoses in the medical record in a concise and detail fashion, according to practice convention.
• Perform routine and complex surgical procedures including (but not limited) spays/neuters, abdominal exploratory, and mass removals.
• Perform routine and complex dental procedures including full dental examination, evaluation of dental radiographs, as well as simple and complex extractions and oral surgical procedures.
• Develop treatment plans for patients undergoing day hospitalization based on complete problem‑based assessment.
• Transition patients to overnight care as needed and communicate effectively with referral hospitals to ensure continuity of patient care.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in rounds as incoming or exiting doctor at beginning and end of shifts.
• Disseminate knowledge throughout staff to improve the level of care and communication provided hospital partners, to both the patient and the client.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Nature of Supervision

In all activities related to the care of individual patients, the Veterinarian will take direct supervision from the Hospital Medical Leader or Area Medical Director. The Veterinarian has discretion related to decisions regarding patient care, however, it is imperative that the Veterinarian uphold the standards set forth in the Petco Veterinary SOPs. The Veterinarian should expect to receive direction and guidance based on electronic medical record review from the Hospital Medical Leader or Area Medical Director regarding patient decisions and should accept such feedback as a means to elevate patient care in the hospital. All hospital veterinarians should work together in a collegial fashion and are expected to behave in a professional and personable manner.

Planning and Problem Solving

Problem solving is at the heart of veterinary medicine, and it is expected that any successful candidate will possess excellent problem‑solving skills that allow expeditious diagnosis of patient problems.

Impact

This position will impact the organization by contributing to the growth of a productive practice while focusing on a high-quality standard of care. From an overall hospital organizational standpoint, this position is critical to ensuring that we have a cohesive, well‑trained, and motivated team. The desired result is the creation of an optimal environment that ensures employee retention, patient well‑being, and customer satisfaction.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities, however, as stated above the Veterinarian is a de facto leader in the hospital.

Education/Experience

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or equivalent from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school.
• Active licensure as a veterinarian without contingencies in the state in which the hospital is located or ability to obtain by start date.
• Current DEA license.
• Current Controlled Substance License, if applicable, in state in which the hospital is located or ability to obtain by start date.
• USDA CategoryI (minimum) Accreditation or completion within two months of hire date.
• Must be comfortable performing anesthesia and routine surgeries including but not limited to: canine and feline spays, neuters, mass removals, and dentals.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be compassionate and sympathetic, and be able to maintain a professional attitude and demeanor during emotional and stressful situations.
• Must have telephone and computer skills.
• Must be a team player willing to learn new techniques and treatments, offer creative ideas, and accept change.

Work Environment

The majority of job duties are conducted in the Vetco Total Care veterinary full‑service hospital. Position requires bending, kneeling, lifting (up to 30 pounds, as necessary), and standing for long periods of time. A large amount of this partner’s time will be spent in direct contact with clients and their pets.

Contacts

This position will regularly communicate with clients, veterinary specialists, and companies that provide products and/or services that the practice utilizes.

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.

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