Veterinary Assistant

Petco; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading pet care provider in Houston seeks a Veterinary Assistant to provide excellent medical care and customer service in a fast-paced environment. Responsibilities include assisting veterinarians, managing patient records, and ensuring a clean work area. Ideal candidates should have at least a year of relevant experience and strong communication skills. This role demands compassion and professionalism in caring for pets and clients.

Qualifications

• Preferred: at least 1 year of experience in a veterinary practice or equivalent animal care experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Compassionate and professional demeanor in emotional or stressful situations.

Responsibilities

• Greet clients and patients; record weight and vital signs.
• Assist doctors with appointments, surgery, and dentistry.
• Perform patient restraint and obtain laboratory samples.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Compassionate and professional demeanor

Telephone and computer skills

Ability to work in a team

Education

1 year of experience in a veterinary practice or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Join to apply for the Veterinary Assistant role at Petco.

Petco is a category-defining health and wellness company focused on improving the lives of pets, pet parents and Petco partners. We are 29,000 strong and operate 1,500+ pet care centers in the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, including 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. We’re focused on purpose-driven work, and strongly believe what’s good for pets, people and our planet is good for Petco.

Position Purpose

The purpose of this position involves providing excellent medical care to Vetco Total Care full-service hospital patients and delivering phenomenal customer care to their owners. The Veterinary Assistant represents the mission and values to all clients. The Veterinary Assistant sets the tone for technical and customer support in the hospital and collaborates with the team to foster cohesion and motivation.

Essential Job Functions

• Greet clients and patients arriving for appointments, escort to exam room, record weight and vital signs, and document the visit in the EMR. Collect thorough patient histories.
• Assist doctors with appointments (routine and emergency), surgery, dentistry, and euthanasia under supervision from the veterinarian credentialed veterinary technician, HOM and HLOD.
• Perform patient restraint, obtain and process laboratory samples, handle and dispense medications, and help maintain the EMR.
• Schedule appointments, provide client education, relay test results, and maintain client/patient records.
• Help prepare patients for surgical and dental procedures and assist in anesthetizing, monitoring vital parameters, recovering, and preparing discharge or transfer to overnight care.
• Under supervision, perform in-hospital treatments, administer injectable and oral medications, provide intravenous fluid therapy, maintain patient care, and exercise safe handling of canine patients.
• Assist in training of new staff and dissemination of knowledge as required.
• Keep hospital environment neat and clean and perform regular cleaning according to a maintenance schedule.

Other Duties And Responsibilities

• Perform additional duties as assigned
• Provide backup phone and front desk support as needed

Nature of Supervision

In all activities related to patient care, the incumbent takes direction from veterinarians and Veterinary Technician, with overall supervision from the HOM/HLOD or supervising technician for the shift.

Planning and Problem Solving

All team members play a role in ensuring smooth day-to-day hospital operations and an optimal patient and client experience.

Impact

This position contributes to the growth of productive practice and supports a cohesive, well-trained, and motivated technical team to ensure patient well-being and customer satisfaction.

Education/Experience

• Preferred: at least 1 year of experience in a veterinary practice or equivalent animal care experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Compassionate and professional demeanor in emotional or stressful situations
• Telephone and computer skills
• Team player willing to learn, adapt, and contribute ideas

Work Environment

The majority of duties are conducted in the Veterinary Hospital. Ability to bend, kneel, lift up to 30 pounds, and stand for long periods. Significant client and pet interaction.

Equal Opportunity

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.