Experienced Veterinary Assistant

SmartRecruiters, Inc.; Ankeny (IA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation & Sick Time

Continuing Education Allowance

Tuition Reimbursement

Referral Bonus

Bereavement Program

Job summary

Priority Pet Urgent Care in Ankeny, IA invites a dedicated Veterinary Assistant to join our new state-of-the-art facility opening in late December 2026. You will assist in triage, restraint, lab sample collection, diagnostics, and anesthesia monitoring while delivering compassionate client service.

Evening and weekend shifts are required; growth through hands-on and virtual training is provided, with opportunities to advance as the hospital expands.

Qualifications

• Minimum 1 year of veterinary assistant experience is required.
• Ability to properly restrain pets during procedures.
• Evening and weekend shift availability.
• Compassionate and calm team player with good communication.

Responsibilities

• Restrain animals and assist with triage of incoming patients.
• Collect and analyze lab samples, perform radiographs.
• Provide nursing care for medical and hospitalized cases.
• Administer medications and assist with anesthesia management.

Skills

Veterinary Assistant

Animal restraint

Communication skills

Team player

Tools

Radiography

Lab equipment

Job description

Priority Pet Urgent Care is excited to bring a brand-new, state-of-the-art urgent care hospital to Ankeny, IA, opening in late December, 2026!

Open daily from 3pm - 12 midnight, Priority Pet Urgent Care is designed to provide convenient, high-quality care for pets with urgent medical needs while creating an exceptional experience for clients and team members.

Our mission is simple: provide easy access to quality veterinary care while ensuring every client knows their pet is our priority. We value teamwork, accountability, compassion, and excellence, and we are committed to creating an environment where our teams can grow and succeed alongside the hospital.

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

Animal restraint, triage of incoming patients, collection and analysis of lab samples, diagnostic imaging, management and nursing care of medical and hospitalized cases with varying degrees of stability, administration of medications, effective communication of treatment plans with clients, surgical preparation and assistance, and anesthetic management.

Must be able to withstand unpleasant odors and noises. May be exposed to bites, scratches, animal waste and potentially contagious diseases.

Whether you’re looking to just be a master of your role or trying to grow into that next career move, you’ll have opportunities through a variety of virtual and hands on, interactive training and continuing development.

Qualifications

• An experienced Veterinary Assistantwith a minimum of 1-year experiencerequired.
• Must be able to properly restrain pets.
• Evening and weekend shift availability.
• Compassionate and calm team player.
• Ability to multi-task.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• Proficient in sample collection, obtaining medical histories, processing laboratory tests and radiographs, andanesthesia monitoring are a bonus!
• Self-starter with the desire to continue to advance your knowledge and skillset.

Additional Information

We offer our staff:

• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time for ALL Employees
• Paid Bereavement Program
• Paid Parental Leave Program
• Continuing Education Allowance (applies to licensed/registered/certified roles)
• Tuition Reimbursement Program Available to any AVMA Accredited Veterinary Technology Program
• Referral Bonus Program for most positions!
• Additional Benefits May Also Be Available(i.e. Personal Pet Discounts, Holiday Pay, Uniform Allowance, Bonuses etc.)

Hiring eligibility may be contingent to a candidate authorizing and completing a satisfactory pre-employment screening.

*Note – some benefits may only be available to or vary slightly for full time employment status vs part time status.