Veterinary Assistant - General Practice

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; Snohomish (WA); On-site; USD 28,929 - 33,062; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Parental leave

Medical insurance

Dental & Vision insurance

401k program

Continuing education opportunities

Student loan support

Pet perks

Job summary

Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, is seeking a compassionate Veterinary Assistant to join our General Practice team in Snohomish, WA. You will support veterinarians and technicians, assist with procedures, and help deliver excellent patient care and client experiences.

The ideal candidate has a minimum of 1 year of direct animal care experience, strong restraint and client service skills, and a willingness to learn.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 1 year of veterinary assistant/technician experience with direct animal care.
• Knowledge of animal restraint, patient handling and basic veterinary procedures.
• Strong communication and client service skills.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment with attention to detail.
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn and grow professionally.
• Ability to lift and restrain animals safely.
• Ability to obtain WA State Veterinary Medication Clerk (VMC) registration after 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Assist veterinarians and technicians with exams, treatments, diagnostics, surgery prep and nursing care.
• Safely restrain and handle patients ensuring comfort and safety.
• Collect histories, obtain samples, run in-house diagnostics, and maintain records.
• Prepare, label and dispense medications per veterinarian guidance and WA state regs.
• Maintain cleanliness and sterility of surgical suites and instruments.
• Educate clients on preventive care, treatment plans and discharge instructions.
• Keep exam rooms and treatment areas stocked and organized.
• Support hospital operations, patient flow, inventory, and administrative tasks.
• Collaborate with the team to deliver high-quality veterinary care and client satisfaction.

Skills

Animal restraint

Client service

Attention to detail

Teamwork

VMC registration requirement

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Veterinary Assistant - General Practice

Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital

Full-time

Snohomish, WA

Schedule: Tuesday/Wednesday & Friday/Saturday 7:30am- 6:30pm

Who we are

Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, is a multi-species, multi-department hospital offering:

• Small Animal General Practice
• 24-Hour Small Animal Emergency
• Integrative Medicine Services
• Large Animal Field Service
• Equine Referral Hospital with boarded specialists in Surgery and Internal Medicine
• In-house Laboratory

We have proudly served the Pacific Northwest since 1963 as a full-service, multi-species practice. With more than 20 doctors and a team of 75+ staff members, we provide professional veterinary care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. We are proud to be AAHA accredited, reflecting our commitment to the highest standards of veterinary excellence.

Our hospital is well equipped with digital radiography, ultrasound, MRI, multiple fully equipped surgical suites, telemetry, and comprehensive ICU facilities designed to support complete inpatient care. We also maintain a robust in-house laboratory.

Our team includes receptionists, veterinary assistants, licensed veterinary technicians, and doctors working together to deliver excellent care to our patients and clients. We believe the best care is provided in an environment that fosters learning, teamwork, autonomy, accountability, and a little laughter every day.

Position Summary

We are seeking a compassionate, hardworking, and team-oriented Veterinary Assistant to join our General Practice team. In this role, you will support veterinarians and veterinary technicians in delivering high-quality patient care while creating a positive experience for our clients and their pets.

The ideal candidate is passionate about animal health, enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, and is committed to practicing gold-standard medicine with kindness and professionalism.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist veterinarians and technicians with patient exams, treatments, diagnostics, surgery preparation, and nursing care.
• Safely restrain and handle patients while ensuring their comfort, safety, and well‑being.
• Collect patient histories, obtain diagnostic samples, perform in‑house laboratory testing, and maintain accurate medical records.
• Prepare, label, and dispense medications as directed by the veterinarian and within the scope of Washington State regulations.
• Clean, disinfect, package, and sterilize surgical instruments and maintain surgical suites and treatment areas according to hospital protocols.
• Educate clients on preventive care, medications, treatment plans, and discharge instructions.
• Maintain clean, organized, and properly stocked exam rooms, treatment areas, laboratories, and surgical suites.
• Support daily hospital operations, patient flow, inventory management, and administrative tasks.
• Work collaboratively with the hospital team to deliver compassionate, high‑quality veterinary care and an outstanding client experience.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED
• Minimum 1 year of veterinary assistant or veterinary technician experience with direct animal patient care
• Knowledge of animal restraint, patient handling, and basic veterinary procedures.
• Strong communication and client service skills.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast‑paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.
• Positive attitude and willingness to learn and grow professionally.
• Commitment to compassionate, high‑quality patient care.
• Ability to lift and restrain animals of various sizes safely.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Washington State Veterinary Medication Clerk (VMC) registration after 90 days of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a small animal general practice setting.
• Familiarity with veterinary software and electronic medical records.
• Fear Free handling experience is a plus.

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

• Compensation-$21-24/hr-total compensation
• Paid time off including 8 weeks of full-pay parental leave, bereavement to grieve both humans and pets, and time off for new pet adoptions
• Top‑quality medical, dental, and vision insurance plus health savings account and flexible spending account
• Pet perks include free exams, discounts on products and services, and more at all Thrive Pet Healthcare locations
• Generously subsidized backup and ongoing care support for children, adults, and pets
• Mental health benefits including coaching and therapy sessions
• 401k program
• Continuing education and development support through our library of free CE courses and paid time off to complete
• Scholarship opportunities and student loan support program
• and so much more!

Compensation negotiable based on credentials and experience with an hourly pay rate starting at $21-24/hour. The actual rate offered will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

Thrive Pet Healthcare is one of the first veterinary services offering a comprehensive continuum of care for pets’ primary, specialty, and acute needs. Through a nationwide community of over 360 veterinary providers, and an industry-leading membership program, Thrive Pet Healthcare provides personalized, accessible care through every stage of a pet’s life and health. Founded by veterinarians, the organization provides industry-first benefits for practice staff while elevating privately held veterinary hospitals with innovative service and technology solutions. By focusing on the needs of care providers and professional collaboration, Thrive Pet Healthcare is supporting the well‑being of the industry and raising the national bar for veterinary excellence.