Emergency Veterinarian

VCA Seaside Animal Hospital; San Marcos (CA); On-site; USD 195,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Sign-on bonus $25,000

CE allowance & professional dev.

Overnight shift stipend $500

Collaborative ER team

Access to board-certified specialists

Job summary

Veterinary Specialty Hospital - North County in San Marcos, CA is seeking an experienced Emergency Veterinarian to join a well-established ER team. Enjoy two compensation models: a $195,000 base salary plus 25% production for 13 shifts per month, or a $150,000 base plus 25% production for 10 shifts per month, with a $25,000 sign-on bonus.

The role offers a 13-hour schedule option, a $500 overnight shift stipend, and robust support from RVTs, VTSs, and specialists.

Qualifications

• DVM or equivalent degree with eligibility for California veterinary licensure.
• Completion of a rotating internship or 2–3+ years of emergency medicine experience.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality emergency and critical care to a diverse caseload of companion animals.
• Evaluate, diagnose, and develop treatment plans for urgent/emergent cases.
• Provide comprehensive emergency care with skilled case management and collaboration with specialists.

Skills

Emergency medicine

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

DVM or equivalent

California licensure eligibility

Job description

Job Description

Emergency Veterinarian

$25,000 Sign-On Bonus

Full-Time Emergency Veterinarian opportunity in San Marcos, California

Compensation: $195,000 base salary + 25% production for 13 shifts per month OR $150,000 base salary + 25% production for 10 shifts per month

Schedule: You choose-10 or 13 shifts per month | 13-hour shifts | $500 stipend for each overnight shift

Why Join Veterinary Specialty Hospital - North County (VSHNC)?

At Veterinary Specialty Hospital - North County, collaboration is at the heart of how we practice medicine.

We are seeking an experienced Emergency Veterinarian to join a well-established ER team within a highly collaborative emergency and specialty hospital. From informal consultations to integrated case management, our doctors work across specialties to deliver exceptional medicine while supporting one another throughout the process.

Our ER team includes approximately 10 emergency veterinarians and is supported by experienced RVTs, VTSs, and support staff. With two criticalists providing seven-day-a-week coverage and in-house cardiology joining an already robust group of specialty services, you'll have access to the expertise and resources needed to thoroughly work up cases and provide outstanding patient care.

You’ll also have the flexibility to choose the schedule that works best for you-10 or 13 shifts per month-allowing you to build a career that supports your professional and personal priorities.

As part of Ethos Veterinary Health, your voice, growth, and expertise truly matter.

Location Highlight

Located in beautiful North County San Diego, San Marcos offers a welcoming community and exceptional quality of life with convenient access to both the coast and everything greater San Diego has to offer.

Enjoy year-round sunshine, hiking and outdoor recreation, nearby beaches, restaurants, breweries, and easy access to surrounding North County communities while building your career in one of Southern California's most desirable regions.

Perks & Benefits

Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off (including sick leave and vacation), short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance.

• $25,000 sign-on bonus


• Choice of two compensation and scheduling models:
  
  
  
  • $195,000 base salary + 25% production for 13 shifts per month
  
  
  • $150,000 base salary + 25% production for 10 shifts per month
  
  
  
  


• $500 overnight stipend per overnight shift


• Health, dental, and vision insurance


• CE allowance and professional development support


• Paid time off


• Retirement savings options


• Employee assistance programs


• Experienced RVT, VTS, and support staff


• Seven-day-a-week Critical Care coverage


• Access to a comprehensive team of board-certified specialists


• Collaborative case management and specialty consultation

ER ABVP Guided Program

ER ABVP Guided Program - The ER ABVP Guided Program offers a path that meets you where you are, allowing you to reach your emergency career goals without the need for an internship. Ideal for emergency practitioners within the Ethos network looking to deepen their expertise in emergency practice, this path allows you to stay in your current Ethos network hospital, enjoying your full wages and benefits while practicing at an Ethos hospital and pursuing board certification.

In your day-to-day, you will:

• Deliver high-quality emergency and critical care to a diverse caseload of companion animals.


• Evaluate, diagnose, and develop treatment plans for patients presenting with urgent and emergent medical conditions.


• Provide comprehensive emergency care through a balanced mix of receiving new emergency cases, triaging incoming patients, and managing hospitalized patients throughout their course of treatment.


• Perform emergency procedures and stabilize critically ill or injured patients using evidence-based medicine.


• Collaborate closely with specialists across Internal Medicine, Surgery, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Cardiology, Medical Oncology, and Critical Care.


• Work alongside experienced RVTs, VTSs, emergency veterinarians, and support staff to provide seamless patient care.


• Communicate clearly and empathetically with pet owners during stressful and emotional situations.


• Contribute to a positive, team-focused hospital culture built on collaboration, education, mentorship, and continuous learning.

What You Bring

• DVM or equivalent veterinary degree with eligibility for California veterinary licensure.


• Completion of a rotating internship or 2-3+ years of emergency medicine experience.


• Confidence managing emergency cases and making sound clinical decisions in a fast-paced environment.


• Strong communication skills with a compassionate, client-centered approach.


• A collaborative mindset and commitment to exceptional patient care.


• A passion for continuous learning, teamwork, and advancing emergency veterinary medicine.

Join Us

At Ethos, this isn't just a job-it's an opportunity to practice medicine at the highest level and help shape the future of veterinary care.

At VSH North County, you'll join a collaborative emergency and specialty team where expertise is valued, specialties work together, and you'll have the resources and support to deliver exceptional medicine.

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is where you come to practice world-class medicine, and help shape what veterinary care becomes next.

Across our network of 140 specialty and emergency hospitals, science moves forward, standards are elevated, and innovation is put into practice every day. You'll work alongside respected veterinary leaders in academic-caliber hospitals designed for learning, teaching, and discovery.

Here, mentorship is a two-way street. You'll share your expertise, learn from others, and continue to grow, clinically, professionally, and personally.

At Ethos, you inspire hope, deliver exceptional care, and pursue veterinary medicine at its highest level, together.

Benefits for this role may include health insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement benefits, paid time off (including sick leave and vacation), short-term and long-term disability, and life insurance.

Ethos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ethos does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.