Surgical Veterinary Assistant - Career Growth & Training

VCA Animal Hospitals; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Paid vacation

Sick leave

401(k)

CE allowance

Licensure tuition assistance

Vet discounts

Job summary

VCA Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kalamazoo is seeking an experienced Veterinary Assistant to join our surgery team in Portage, MI. This 24/7 hospital supports career development and offers pathways toward becoming a licensed veterinary technician.

The role involves assisting with pre-op prep, anesthesia support, instrument sterilization, patient monitoring, and post-operative care, while maintaining clear records and client communication.

Qualifications

• Experience restraining and handling patients during pre-op prep and recovery.
• Ability to prep patients for surgery including clipping and positioning.
• Support anesthesia and surgical team during procedures.
• Sterilize, pack, and organize instruments; operate autoclave.

Responsibilities

• Assist with pre-op preparation and positioning to maintain a clean, organized surgery area.
• Support anesthesia and surgical team to keep cases running smoothly.
• Monitor patients during recovery for comfort, wounds, and status.
• Maintain accurate patient records and communicate with the surgical team.
• Assist with client updates and discharge coordination.

Skills

Patient handling

Surgical prep

Anesthesia support

Instrument sterilization

Surgical suite setup

Patient monitoring

Post-operative care

Record keeping

Client communication

Fast-paced environment

Tools

Autoclave

Monitoring tools

Imaging tools

Job description

VCA Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Center of Kalamazoo is seeking an experienced Veterinary Assistant to join our surgery team in Portage, MI. This 24/7 hospital supports career development and offers pathways toward becoming a licensed veterinary technician.

The role involves assisting with pre-op prep, anesthesia support, instrument sterilization, patient monitoring, and post-operative care, while maintaining clear records and client communication.