Veterinary Assistant

Merrifield Animal Hospital; Merrifield (VA); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Merrifield Animal Hospital is hiring a Part-Time Veterinary Assistant. You will work 2–3 days per week with rotating Saturday shifts. No nights, on-call shifts, or holiday hours. Join a supportive team focused on compassionate, high-quality care for dogs and cats.

You’ll triage, assist, and monitor patients across exams, treatments, and procedures, while expanding your veterinary skills in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Compassionate patient care with teamwork mindset.
• Experience with preventive care and vaccines preferred.
• Diagnostic skills including radiographs and in-house labs.
• Strong client and teammate communication is essential.

Responsibilities

• Triage patients, obtain histories, vitals, and assessments.
• Assist veterinarians during examinations, treatments and procedures.
• Provide nursing care, patient monitoring, and pain scoring.
• Prepare medications, vaccines, and treatments as directed.
• Perform venipuncture, catheter placement, and fluid therapy.
• Obtain radiographs and maintain imaging standards.
• Run in-house lab tests and interpret results.
• Support surgical and dental procedures, monitoring and recovery.
• Educate clients with clear discharge instructions.
• Maintain accurate medical records and clinic cleanliness.
• Collaborate with team and participate in ongoing training.

Skills

Compassionate care

Strong technical skills

Teamwork

Safe patient handling

Preventive care knowledge

Diagnostic skills

Professional communication

Documentation

Attention to detail

Willingness to ask for help

Positive attitude

Lifelong learning

Cattitude

Tools

Radiographs

Venipuncture

In-house lab work

Monitoring equipment

Job description

Who we are:

Merrifield Animal Hospital is Hiring a Part-Time Veterinary Assistant!

Position Details

Role: Veterinary AssistantStatus: Part-TimeSalary: Competitive and based on experienceSchedule: 2–3 days per week with rotating Saturday shifts; no nights, on-call shifts, or holiday hours

Benefits Highlights

Financial Rewards that Grow with You: Competitive pay, 401(k) matching, tuition support, and referral bonuses.

Wellness & Peace of Mind: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with supplemental options; up to three weeks of paid parental leave; generous PTO; and employee pet discounts.

Professional Growth & Recognition: Quarterly team bonuses, continuing education allowance, state veterinary technician license reimbursement, VTNE exam fee reimbursement, professional development opportunities, and uniform allowance.

Lifestyle Perks You’ll Appreciate: Six paid holidays, an Employee Assistance Program, and an employee discount program.

Must Love Dogs. Must Appreciate Cattitude.

Is your dating profile tagline “Must Love Dogs,” but you secretly believe cats run the world? Same.

If you love it all—from puppy kisses to kitty headbutts—Merrifield Animal Hospital might be your people.

We’re looking for a Part-Time Veterinary Assistant who brings compassion, strong technical skills, and a team-first attitude to patient care. Around here, remarkable results happen because people help each other, communicate openly, and genuinely appreciate the humans working beside them.

We believe in a “better together” culture where wins are shared, challenges aren’t faced alone, and being yourself isn’t just allowed—it’s encouraged.

Why Our Veterinary Assistants Love It Here

• 2–3 day workweeks with flexibility to support work-life balance
• No nights, on-call shifts, or holiday hours
• Rotating Saturday shifts
• A supportive team that genuinely helps each other—no egos, no drama
• A “better together” culture built on teamwork and mutual respect
• Leaders who listen, value your ideas, and appreciate your contribution
• Opportunities to use and expand your veterinary technical skills
• Fear Free and low-stress patient handling principles
• Regular lunch breaks
• Mentoring and support as you grow and advance your career
• A workplace where your unique awesomeness is worth celebrating
• Birthdays, new babies, anniversaries, milestones, and little wins that deserve recognition
• Occasional coffee runs, ice cream parties, and meals on us

What Our Veterinary Assistants Do

As a Veterinary Assistant, you’ll work alongside our veterinarians and veterinary team to provide compassionate, high-quality care from intake through discharge. You’ll:

• Triage patients and obtain thorough histories, vitals, and patient assessments
• Assist veterinarians during examinations, treatments, and procedures
• Provide attentive nursing care and patient monitoring, including TPRs, pain scoring, wound care, and other supportive care
• Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, and treatments as directed
• Perform venipuncture, catheter placement, fluid therapy, and sample collection
• Obtain high-quality radiographs while maintaining imaging standards
• Run in-house laboratory testing, including CBC/chemistry, urinalysis, cytology, fecals, and other diagnostics
• Support surgical and dental procedures, including preparation, monitoring, recovery, and instrument care
• Monitor anesthesia and patient vitals during procedures and maintain accurate records
• Practice Fear Free and low-stress handling techniques to help keep patients safe and comfortable
• Educate clients about patient care, medications, discharge instructions, and preventive care with compassion and clarity
• Maintain accurate, concise, and up-to-date medical records and patient charts
• Keep treatment and exam areas clean, stocked, and organized while following infection-control protocols
• Collaborate with teammates to maintain an efficient workflow and positive hospital culture
• Participate in ongoing training and professional growth opportunities

What You’ll Bring

We’re looking for a Veterinary Assistant who combines hands‑on patient care skills with professionalism, compassion, and a willingness to jump in when teammates need help.

You’ll bring:

• Safe and effective patient handling and restraint skills
• Knowledge of preventive care and vaccines
• Diagnostic skills, including radiographs, phlebotomy, sample collection, and in‑house laboratory work
• Professional and compassionate communication with clients and teammates
• Clear, concise documentation of patient care and client interactions
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high‑quality patient care
• A collaborative, team‑first approach
• A willingness to ask for help when you need it and offer help when others do
• A positive, supportive attitude grounded in teamwork and mutual respect
• A desire to continue learning and strengthening your veterinary skills
• And, of course, the right cattitude—because anything is pawsible

The Extras You’ll Actually Feel

At Merrifield Animal Hospital, truly appreciating each other is more than something written on a motivational poster. We believe people do their best work when they’re supported, respected, and comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.

That means leaders who listen, teammates who help each other, and a culture that makes time to celebrate birthdays, new babies, anniversaries, milestones, and everyday wins.

Your schedule matters, too. With 2–3 day workweeks, rotating Saturdays, no nights, no on‑call shifts, no holiday hours, and regular lunch breaks, you’ll have more room for life outside the hospital.

You’ll also have opportunities to use your veterinary skills to make a difference in your community, along with mentoring and support as you advance your career. After all, the more you know, the better off we all are.

And because good teams deserve a little fun, don’t be surprised by the occasional coffee run, ice cream party, or meal on us.

Benefits You Can’t Beat

This position is part‑time. Benefit eligibility varies based on employment status and plan requirements. Full‑time‑only benefits are identified below so candidates can clearly see the distinction.

Financial Benefits

• A flexible approach to compensation that reflects your skill set and future performance
• 401(k) matching & Roth Retirement Savings Plan
• Flexible Spending Account (full‑time only)
• 529 Savings Plan
• Tuition Support Program (full‑time only)
• Referral bonus program

Wellness Benefits

• Health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision (full‑time only)
• Supplemental insurance, including accident, critical illness, hospital, short‑and‑long‑term disability, legal plan, and employee, spouse, and child‑dependent life insurance (full‑time only)
• Up to three weeks of full pay for the birth or adoption of a child (full‑time employees only; available after one year of service). In states with paid family leave programs, this benefit does not apply.
• Sick Time / Paid Time Off
• Free or discounted lab work for all employee pets
• Pet discounts on services and products
• Pet food discount program

Workplace Benefits

• Quarterly Team Rewards Bonus Program
• State veterinary technician license reimbursement
• VTNE exam fee reimbursement
• Professional development opportunities
• Continuing education allowance
• Uniform allowance

Lifestyle Benefits

• Six paid holidays (full‑time only)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee discount program

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values at Merrifield Animal Hospital and Vetcor. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working and learning environment for all employees. Every team member enriches our diversity by bringing different perspectives and ways of understanding and engaging with the world. That’s why we’re committed to a workplace culture where employees are comfortable being their authentic selves, experience a true sense of belonging, and are empowered to reach their highest potential.