Experienced Veterinary Assistant

Vetcor; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) matching

Tuition support

Referral bonuses

Health insurance

Job summary

Horton Animal Hospital Discovery, part of Vetcor, is seeking an experienced Veterinary Assistant to join our team. You will support clinical care, client communication, and patient management in a fast-paced environment.

We offer a compressed schedule (3x12-hour or 4x10-hour shifts, including weekends) and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth. Candidates with 1–2 years of small animal practice experience, including critical care and ER, are

Qualifications

• 1–2 years in a small animal practice, including critical care and ER (required)
• Strong client communication and service orientation
• Comfort with fast-paced hospital environment

Responsibilities

• Interact with clients in exam room; collect histories and vital signs
• Perform venipuncture and place IV catheters
• Assist with diagnostic imaging and anesthesia monitoring
• Help manage surgical patients and post-op care
• Maintain clean, organized hospital and patient areas

Skills

1–2 years veterinary experience

Critical care / ER experience

Client service skills

Team player

Job description

Who We Are

Position Details

Horton Animal Hospital Discovery is Hiring an Experienced Veterinary Assistant!

Position Details

Role: Veterinary Assistant

Status: Full-time

Salary: Competitive wage based on experience and skill set

Schedule: 3 x 12-hour shifts or 4 x 10-hour shifts including weekends

Experience: At least 1–2 years in a small animal practice, including critical care and ER experience

Benefits Highlights

Financial Rewards that Grow with You: Competitive pay, 401(k) matching, tuition support, and referral bonuses

Wellness & Peace of Mind: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with supplemental options; up to three weeks of paid parental leave; generous PTO; and employee pet discounts

Professional Growth & Recognition: Quarterly team bonuses, continuing education allowance, state veterinary technician license reimbursement, VTNE exam fee reimbursement, professional development opportunities, and uniform allowance

Lifestyle Perks You’ll Appreciate: Six paid holidays, an Employee Assistance Program, and an employee discount program

Looking for a Veterinary Assistant role where your ideas are heard, your opinions are valued, and teamwork is a core value, not just a buzzword?

We’re building something special at Horton Animal Hospital Discovery, and this is your chance to be part of it. We’re looking for an experienced Veterinary Assistant who brings creative ideas, sharp critical thinking, and a drive to be the best at what they do. If this sounds like the team you’ve been looking for but thought didn’t exist, you may have just found it.

We believe in a "better together" philosophy and appreciate the diversity each team member brings to our practice. We also believe in having a great life outside the hospital. Our 3x12-hour and 4x10-hour schedules reflect how much we value self-care, giving you more days off each week to rest and recharge.

Why Our Experienced Veterinary Assistants Love It Here

• Work a compressed schedule of three 12-hour or four 10-hour shifts, with more full days off every week
• Be part of a growing hospital where your voice helps shape how we work
• Join a team led by two hospital managers and two DVM chiefs of staff who are dedicated to making sure every team member feels respected, valued, and supported
• Get mentoring and support as you grow your skills, including training in anesthesia monitoring and surgical assistance
• Enjoy a fridge that’s always stocked with drinks and snacks, plus occasional coffee runs, potlucks, and meals on us
• Use your veterinary skills to make a real difference in your community
• Be celebrated for your unique awesomeness in a clinic culture that values each person

What Our Experienced Veterinary Assistants Do

• Interact with clients in the exam room, taking verbal histories and TPRs
• Perform venipuncture to obtain blood samples for diagnostic testing
• Place IV catheters
• Run diagnostic lab work procedures
• Assist with diagnostic imaging, including positioning and restraint for radiographs
• Provide safe, compassionate patient restraint for medical procedures
• Manage hospital and surgical patient intake and discharge
• Fill prescriptions
• Complete medical documentation and billing
• Monitor anesthesia and assist in the surgical suite, with training and experience
• Help maintain and sterilize surgical instruments and laundry
• Keep the hospital and patients clean, hygienic, and well maintained

Responsibilities may vary based on hospital needs as well as your experience, training, certifications, credentials, and assigned responsibilities.

What You’ll Bring

• At least 1–2 years of experience as a Veterinary Assistant in a small animal practice, including critical care and ER experience (required)
• Familiarity with standard veterinary hospital procedures and protocols
• Availability to work weekends and nights
• Strong communication and client service skills, with the tact and diplomacy to handle sensitive conversations
• A professional, friendly, and welcoming approach with clients and patients
• A commitment to treating every animal humanely and with compassion, whatever the situation
• A team-first attitude that supports the hospital’s ethical principles and standards of practice
• Dependability and regular attendance
• Ability to stand for the majority of 8- to 12-hour shifts
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds unassisted

Financial Benefits

Benefits You Can’t Beat

• A flexible approach to compensation that reflects your skill set and future performance
• 401(k) matching & Roth Retirement Savings Plan
• Flexible Spending Account (full-time only)
• 529 Savings Plan
• Tuition Support Program
• Referral bonus program

Wellness Benefits

• Health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision (full-time only)
• Supplemental insurance, including accident, critical illness, hospital, short- and long-term disability, legal plan, and employee, spouse, and child-dependent life insurance (full-time only)
• Up to three weeks of full pay for the birth or adoption of a child (full-time employees only; available after one year of service). In states with paid family leave programs, this benefit does not apply.
• Sick Time / Paid Time Off
• Free or discounted lab work for all employee pets
• Pet discounts on services and products
• Pet food discount program

Workplace Benefits

• Quarterly Team Rewards Bonus Program
• State veterinary technician license reimbursement
• VTNE exam fee reimbursement
• Professional development opportunities
• Continuing education allowance
• Uniform allowance

Lifestyle Benefits

• Six paid holidays (full-time only)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee discount program

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of Horton Animal Hospital Discovery and Vetcor. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all employees. Every team member enriches our diversity by exposing us to various ways to understand and engage with the world. That’s why we’re committed to a workplace culture where employees are comfortable being their authentic selves, feel a complete sense of belonging, and are empowered to reach their highest potential.