Licensed Veterinary Technician - Emergency Critical Care

Thrive San Antonio; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 46,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Competitive pay

401(k) with employer match

Mental health resources

Paid parental leave

Purr-ental leave for adopting a pet

Subsidized backup childcare and elder-

Job summary

Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists in San Antonio is seeking a Licensed Veterinary Technician for Emergency Critical Care. This full-time LVT will triage, monitor hospitalized patients, assist with treatments and procedures, and collaborate with the medical team to deliver exceptional patient care.

The role requires active LVT credentials and at least 2 years in emergency/urgent care, with flexibility for weekends, overnights, and holidays. A $5,000 sign-on bonus is offered as part of the package.

Qualifications

• Active Licensed Veterinary Technician credential is required.
• At least 2 years of veterinary technician experience, preferably in emergency, specialty, or urgent care.
• Strong technical skills include venipuncture, IV catheter placement, radiographic positioning, drug calculations, medication administration, fluid therapy, and monitoring.
• Ability to safely lift/ restrain animals and stand for extended periods.
• Flexibility to work weekends, overnights, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Partner with veterinarians and the medical team to deliver high-quality care, support efficient patient flow, advocate for pets, and provide a positive client and patient experience.
• Perform emergency triage by assessing patient status, identifying urgent needs, communicating concerns to the medical team, and helping prioritize patient care.
• Monitor hospitalized and critical care patients, including vital signs, pain levels, treatment response, and changes in patient status.
• Perform patient nursing care and laboratory testing, including sample collection, in‑house diagnostics, medication support, fluid therapy, and accurate documentation.
• Assist with surgeries, emergency procedures, and advanced treatments while supporting patient safety, sterile technique, and efficient medical team workflow.
• Communicate with clients about individualized pet health concerns
• Obtain relevant patient history from clients and maintain accurate, comprehensive medical records and charts using practice systems.
• Use safe restraining techniques, follow standard protocols, and sustain clean, sterile, organized treatment areas, exam rooms, and labs.
• Be willing to guide, mentor, and support fellow team members.
• Support additional clinical and hospital responsibilities as needed to help the team provide excellent patient care.

Skills

Emergency veterinary care

Venipuncture

IV catheter placement

Radiographic positioning

Drug calculations

Medication administration

Fluid therapy

Patient monitoring

Lifting / restraining animals

Team communication

Weekend/overnight/holiday flexibility

Education

Licensed Veterinary Technician

2+ years emergency/urgent care experience

Job description

Description

Licensed Veterinary Technician – Emergency Critical Care

Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists

2426 Ceegee St, San Antonio, TX 78217

Join our team and earn a $5,000 sign-on bonus!

Schedule: This is a full-time 4x10 schedule with day, night, and swing shifts available, including weekends and holidays based on hospital needs.

About You

As an Emergency and Critical Care LVT, you’ll be a valued part of a team that provides compassionate, hands‑on care when pets and their families need it most. This role is a great fit for a skilled, caring technician who thrives in a fast‑paced emergency and specialty setting and enjoys supporting triage, monitoring hospitalized patients, assisting with treatments and procedures, and partnering closely with the medical team to deliver exceptional patient care.

Role Responsibilities:

• Partner with veterinarians and the medical team to deliver high-quality care, support efficient patient flow, advocate for pets, and provide a positive client and patient experience.
• Perform emergency triage by assessing patient status, identifying urgent needs, communicating concerns to the medical team, and helping prioritize patient care.
• Monitor hospitalized and critical care patients, including vital signs, pain levels, treatment response, and changes in patient status.
• Perform patient nursing care and laboratory testing, including sample collection, in‑house diagnostics, medication support, fluid therapy, and accurate documentation.
• Assist with surgeries, emergency procedures, and advanced treatments while supporting patient safety, sterile technique, and efficient medical team workflow.
• Communicate with clients about individualized pet health concerns
• Obtain relevant patient history from clients and maintain accurate, comprehensive medical records and charts using practice systems.
• Use safe restraining techniques, follow standard protocols, and sustain clean, sterile, organized treatment areas, exam rooms, and labs.
• Be willing to guide, mentor, and support fellow team members.
• Support additional clinical and hospital responsibilities as needed to help the team provide excellent patient care.

Experience & Skills Requirements:

• Required: Active Licensed Veterinary Technician credential and at least 2 years of veterinary technician experience, preferably in emergency, specialty, or urgent care.
• Demonstrates strong technical skills, including venipuncture, IV catheter placement, radiographic positioning, drug calculations, medication administration, fluid therapy, and patient monitoring.
• Able to safely handle, lift, and restrain animals, including dogs, cats, exotics, and small pocket pets, and stand for extended periods of time, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Knowledge of basic veterinary practices, procedures, and terminology
• Strong organizational skills, computer proficiency, and attention to detail in a fast‑paced clinical environment.
• Flexibility to work weekends, overnights, and holidays

You’ll Grow With Us

Here, you can grow your career as best fits you through access to comprehensive learning and skillset programs. You can build your skills and earn credentials through:

• Our vast, diverse, and free library of continuing education courses - ThriveU
• Live, virtual interactive workshops to develop valuable leadership skills
• A program designed to teach you the fundamentals of running a pet hospital

And, with so many locations nationwide, you can find and move into any specialty, hospital type, or environment. Join us and provide your best care at a clinic that is deeply rooted within its community and bolstered by the resources of Thrive Pet Healthcare.

Benefits – our care in action

Thrive offers a suite of benefits to support team members’ emotional, physical, professional, and financial wellbeing. In addition to our health and life insurance, and short- and long- term disability plans, we offer eligible team members:

• Competitive pay
• 401(k) with employer match
• Mental health resources, including easy access to therapy through Lyra Health
• Paid parental leave
• Purr-ental leave for when you adopt a pet
• Subsidized backup childcare and elder care
• Expert advice, support and network discounts for fertility and family planning
• FREE CE courses
• Pet perks and veterinary service discounts
• Student loan support tools and assistance

*Some benefits shown are only for full‑time team members who work 30 hours or more per week. Certain Benefits may be subject to waiting periods or length of service requirements.

About the Hospital

In 2024, the renowned ER hospital in San Antonio expanded into a modern facility offering veterinary specialty medicine alongside emergency care. Equipped with advanced technology such as CT, MRI, linear accelerator, ultrasound, and an in‑house blood bank, the facility also features a full pharmacy. With over 25 years of experience in emergency medicine and critical care, the team fosters a friendly, collaborative work environment that reflects the hospital’s core values.

We offer 24‑hour emergency and urgent care for dogs, cats, exotics, and small pocket pets in the San Antonio area. We are the 2nd ER hospital in the country to be Fear‑Free® certified.

About Thrive

Thrive Pet Healthcare creates the future of pet well‑being through medical excellence, innovative technology, and a connected community of teams and partners. Today, its network of 360+ primary, emergency, and specialty hospitals across the U.S. cares for pets of all ages and health needs, while portfolio companies provide tools and technology that help veterinary teams work smarter and deliver better care.

Thrive invests in its people—through mentorship, leadership programs, continuing education, and well‑being initiatives—so teams can grow and feel supported. For pet owners, convenient solutions such as a mobile app, digital booking, Thrive Plus TM membership, HereFurYou Helpline, an online pharmacy and flexible financial options* make accessing quality care simpler— giving families the peace of mind their pets deserve.

Learn more at thrivepetcare.com.

We welcome you to join our story and join where #WeThriveTogether.