Experienced Veterinary Assistant

Embassy Veterinary Center; Saint Petersburg (FL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

CentralPet Express Care in St. Petersburg, FL is seeking an experienced Veterinary Assistant to join a fast-paced, client-focused team.

You’ll support veterinarians with examinations, diagnostics, and procedures, while helping manage walk-ins and same-day appointments after-hours. The role emphasizes compassionate care, strong communication with clients, and teamwork; prior urgent care or high-volume practice experience is valued, with opportunities to grow skills in anesthesia, radiology, and

Qualifications

• Has previous experience as a Veterinary Assistant in a veterinary hospital, urgent care, emergency, or high-volume practice.

Responsibilities

• Assisting veterinarians with examinations, treatments and procedures
• Obtaining and recording accurate patient histories and vital signs
• Safely restraining and handling dogs and cats
• Preparing patients for procedures and surgery
• Assisting with anesthesia and surgical preparation/monitoring
• Placing and maintaining IV catheters
• Collecting blood, urine and other diagnostic samples
• Running in-house laboratory testing
• Assisting with radiographs and other diagnostic procedures
• Administering vaccines and medications as directed
• Monitoring hospitalized and recovering patients
• Communicating concerns promptly to veterinarians
• Providing compassionate patient care and maintaining a clean, safe environment
• Preparing medications and discharge instructions
• Educating clients about medications, treatments and at-home care
• Assisting with walk-in and same-day patient flow
• Helping maintain inventory, treatment areas and equipment
• Supporting the entire team wherever you're needed

Skills

Veterinary Assistant

Urgent care

Emergency care

High-volume practice

Job description

Experienced Veterinary Assistant

Are you an experienced Veterinary Assistant who wants to do more than simply get through the day? At CentralPet Express Care, every shift is different, every patient matters, and your skills actually make a difference. We are a modern veterinary express care practice in the heart of St. Petersburg, designed for the way pet owners actually need veterinary care today. We see walk-ins and same-day appointments, provide care during evenings and weekends, offer in-house diagnostics, wellness and illness care, dental services, and scheduled surgical procedures. We move with purpose—but we never lose sight of the reason we're here: to help pets feel better and give their people peace of mind.

This Isn't Your Typical Veterinary Assistant Job

CentralPet was built around compassion + convenience + great medicine. Our team helps pets who may have been sick overnight, developed a sudden problem, or simply can't wait several days for an appointment with their regular veterinarian. We triage patients based on urgency, work efficiently, communicate with clients throughout the visit, and get pets the care they need without the stress and expense of a traditional emergency hospital. That means you'll have the opportunity to use your skills every day—not just restrain pets and clean kennels. You'll be part of the medicine.

What Makes CentralPet Different?

Fast-Paced & Never Boring
Walk-ins, same-day appointments, urgent illnesses, minor injuries, diagnostics and procedures mean no two shifts look exactly alike. Real Veterinary Medicine
You'll work alongside our veterinary team providing hands-on patient care, diagnostics, treatments and procedures. Modern Medicine & Diagnostics
Our clinic offers in-house diagnostic and laboratory services so our team can get answers quickly and make informed treatment decisions. Evenings & Weekends
We're open when many traditional veterinary practices aren't—including evenings and weekends—because pets don't always get sick during convenient business hours. A Team That Cares
Our culture is fast, friendly and professional, while keeping compassionate patient care at the center of everything we do. We believe great medicine and a great client experience should go hand in hand. Work in St. Pete!
CentralPet is located in downtown St. Petersburg, serving St. Pete and surrounding communities including Gulfport, Treasure Island and Pinellas Park.

What You'll Be Doing

As an experienced Veterinary Assistant, you'll be an important part of the patient-care team and will help keep the hospital running smoothly. Your responsibilities may include:

• Assisting veterinarians with examinations, treatments and procedures

• Obtaining and recording accurate patient histories and vital signs

• Safely restraining and handling dogs and cats

• Preparing patients for procedures and surgery

• Assisting with anesthesia and surgical preparation/monitoring based on training and experience

• Placing and maintaining IV catheters

• Collecting blood, urine and other diagnostic samples

• Running in-house laboratory testing

• Assisting with radiographs and other diagnostic procedures

• Administering vaccines and medications as directed

• Monitoring hospitalized and recovering patients

• Recognizing changes in patient condition and communicating concerns promptly

• Providing compassionate patient care and maintaining a clean, safe environment

• Preparing medications and discharge instructions

• Educating clients about medications, treatments and at-home care

• Assisting with walk-in and same-day patient flow

• Helping maintain inventory, treatment areas and equipment

• Supporting the entire team wherever you're needed

Most importantly: you'll be someone our doctors and teammates can count on.

We're Looking for Someone Who...

Has previous experience as a Veterinary Assistant in a veterinary hospital, urgent care, emergency, or high-volume practice

Is confident handling dogs and cats of varying temperaments and medical needs

Understands that patient safety and compassionate care come first

Can stay calm, organized and professional when the pace picks up

Communicates clearly with veterinarians, teammates and pet parents

Is comfortable learning new skills and taking initiative

Takes pride in doing things correctly—not just quickly

Is dependable and understands the importance of being part of a team

Brings a positive attitude and genuinely enjoys working with both animals and people

Bonus points if you have experience with:

Surgery • Anesthesia • Venipuncture • Catheter placement • Radiology • In-house laboratory • Dental assisting • Urgent care • Emergency medicine

The CentralPet Culture

We don't believe a great veterinary team has to choose between excellent medicine and enjoying where they work.

We're building a team that is:

Professional when it matters.
Compassionate when it counts.
Fast when patients need us.
Supportive of one another.
And still able to have a little fun along the way.

If you're the person who sees a busy treatment area and thinks “Okay, where do you need me?” rather than waiting to be told what to do, you may be exactly who we're looking for.

What You'll Get in Return

We believe talented veterinary professionals should be recognized for what they bring to the team.

You'll find:

• Competitive, experience-based compensation

• Opportunities to grow your veterinary skill set

• A collaborative and supportive team environment

• Exposure to urgent care, diagnostics, wellness and procedures

• A modern practice focused on efficient, high-quality medicine

• Leadership that values initiative and teamwork

• Opportunities for continued professional development

• A workplace where your contribution matters

Ready for a Different Kind of Veterinary Practice?

If you're an experienced Veterinary Assistant looking for a position where your skills are valued, your voice matters, and every shift gives you an opportunity to make a difference, we'd love to meet you.

Come be part of the team that's changing the way St. Petersburg gets veterinary care.