Veterinary Assistant

The Whole Pet Vet Hospital & Wellness Center; Los Gatos (CA); On-site; USD 33,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401k with company match

Paid time off

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Bonus up to $500

Job summary

The Whole Pet Vet Hospital & Wellness Center in Los Gatos, CA is seeking an experienced Veterinary Assistant with a focus on surgical and procedural support. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys surgery and wants to build technical skills in a fast-paced general practice.

You will work closely with veterinarians and technicians to prep patients, assist with anesthesia and surgery, maintain a clean, organized surgical environment, and provide compassionate care throughout the day.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience as a veterinary assistant
• Fear Free Certification or willingness to become certified
• Hands-on experience supporting anesthesia, including monitoring and recovery
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow established protocols
• Familiarity with surgical preparation, instrument handling, and maintaining a clean surgical environment
• Experience with dental procedures and dental radiography
• Familiarity with venipuncture, intravenous catheter placement, and laboratory sample collection

Responsibilities

• Preparing surgical and procedure areas, including equipment, instruments, and supplies
• Supporting veterinarians and technicians during surgical, dental, and other procedures
• Assisting with anesthesia monitoring and patient recovery under the direction of the veterinary team
• Cleaning, sterilizing, and maintaining surgical instruments and equipment while keeping treatment areas clean, organized, and safe
• Maintaining stocked treatment and surgical areas while working collaboratively with the veterinary and client service teams

Skills

Anesthesia support

Surgical preparation

Dental procedures

Dental radiography

Venipuncture

IV catheter placement

Laboratory sample collection

Sterilization & asepsis

Fear Free

Job description

The Whole Pet Vet Hospital & Wellness Center is seeking an experienced Veterinary Assistant to join our team with a special focus on supporting our surgical and procedural cases. This is an excellent opportunity for a Veterinary Assistant who enjoys working in surgery, wants to build their technical skills, and thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative general practice environment.

You’ll work closely with our veterinarians and technician team to prepare patients for procedures, support anesthesia and surgery, maintain a clean and organized surgical environment, and provide attentive patient care throughout the day. We value team members who are dependable, eager to learn, and take pride in providing excellent care to both patients and their families.

You’ll also have the opportunity to cross-train with our Client Service Representative team and provide front-desk support as needed, making this a great fit for someone who enjoys a versatile, team-oriented role.

In this position, you will take an active role in:

• Preparing surgical and procedure areas, including equipment, instruments, and supplies
• Supporting veterinarians and technicians during surgical, dental, and other procedures
• Assisting with anesthesia monitoring and patient recovery under the direction of the veterinary team
• Cleaning, sterilizing, and maintaining surgical instruments and equipment while keeping treatment areas clean, organized, and safe
• Maintaining stocked treatment and surgical areas while working collaboratively with the veterinary and client service teams

Schedule and compensation:

• Compensation: $24 - $28 per hour, for each hour worked
• This is a full-time position with a 5/8 schedule and availability needed Monday through Friday.

Full-time Benefits Package*:

• Bonus package: Up to $500 depending on experience
• Health package: Medical, dental, and vision insurance with HSA options and choice of United Healthcare or Kaiser Permanente
• Life insurance and disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401k with company match starting in 2027
• Paid time off in accordance with site policy and applicable law

*Part-time team members may be eligible for limited benefits in accordance with company policy and state law

Minimum qualifications and skill set:

• 3+ years of experience as aveterinary assistant
• Fear Free Certification or willingness to become certified
• Proficiency in the following skills:
  • Previous hands-on experience supporting anesthesia, including anesthesia monitoring and patient recovery
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to follow established protocols
    
  • Familiarity with surgical preparation, instrument handling, and maintaining a clean surgical environment
  • Experience with dental procedures and dental radiography
  • Familiarity with venipuncture, intravenous catheter placement, and laboratory sample collection

About us:

The Whole Pet Vet Hospital and Wellness Center in Los Gatos, CA is a modern, progressive practice with a team of 8 DVMsoffering comprehensive and integrative care, including rehabilitation and acupuncture. We practice Fear Free handling to promote the comfort and well-being of our patients and take a thoughtful, whole-patient approach to veterinary medicine.

We are a fun, hardworking team that takes high-quality medicine seriously without taking ourselves too seriously. We value collaboration, open communication, continued learning, and supporting one another throughout the day. We encourage our team to ask questions, develop their skills, and work together across roles to provide excellent care to our patients and the people who love them. We are committed to fostering a positive team culture where people can continue to grow while doing meaningful work and enjoying the people they work alongside.

Pay Range

$24 - $28 USD

The Whole Pet VH & WC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in the job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us. Hiring decisions will be based on merit, qualifications and the legitimate needs of the business.

Voluntary Self-Identification

As an equal opportunity employer, we invite applicants to voluntarily self-identify demographic information for compliance and reporting purposes. Completion of this form is entirely voluntary and refusal to provide this information will not subject you to any adverse treatment.

Any information provided will be kept confidential and maintained in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. This information will not be used in making hiring decisions.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.