Licensed Veterinary Technician - Emergency Critical Care

MassVet; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Competitive pay

401(k) with employer match

Paid parental leave

Pet care discounts

Free CE courses

Job summary

Thrive Pet Healthcare Specialists in San Antonio seeks a licensed Veterinary Technician for our Emergency Critical Care team. You will triage, monitor, and support critical patients alongside veterinarians, performing nursing tasks, diagnostics, and treatments.

Expect a fast-paced hospital environment with weekend/overnight shifts. This role offers growth opportunities through ThriveU and a comprehensive benefits package. Sign-on bonus possible for eligible candidates.

Qualifications

• Active LVT credential required.
• Minimum 2 years of veterinary technician experience, preferably in emergency or critical care.
• Ability to safely lift and restrain animals and stand for long periods.
• Flexibility to work weekends, overnights, and holidays.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality emergency and critical care alongside veterinarians and the medical team.
• Perform emergency triage and prioritize patient care.
• Monitor hospitalized/critical patients, record vitals and treatment responses.
• Provide nursing care, collect samples, perform in-house diagnostics, and assist with medications.
• Assist with surgeries and advanced procedures while maintaining sterile technique.
• Communicate with clients about health concerns and care plans.
• Obtain patient histories and maintain accurate medical records in practice systems.
• Maintain clean, organized treatment areas and labs; follow safety protocols.
• Mentor and support fellow team members as needed.
• Support additional clinical and hospital duties to ensure excellent patient care.

Skills

LVT license

Emergency/ICU experience

Venipuncture

IV catheter placement

Radiographic positioning

Medication administration

Fluid therapy

Patient monitoring

Team collaboration

Restraint techniques

Education

Active LVT license

Job 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

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 PlusTM 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.