Veterinary Assistant General Practice

VCA Animal Hospitals, Inc; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous hospital discounts for your/p

Discounted pet food

Scrub allowance

Job summary

VCA Colonial Animal Hospital in Ithaca, NY is seeking a compassionate and dedicated experienced Veterinary Assistant to join our general practice team. You will be part of every patient's care from exams to post-visit care, assisting with exams, prep for procedures, and supporting the veterinary team.

This full-time position includes weekend rotation and a comprehensive benefits package through VCA Total Rewards, with opportunities for growth, continued education, and pet discounts.

Qualifications

• Compassionate, dedicated veterinary assistant with experience in general practice.
• Ability to assist with exams, procedures, and patient handling.
• Strong communication with veterinarians, technicians, and clients.
• Comfort with multi-tasking in a busy hospital environment.

Responsibilities

• Monitors hospitalized patients, observing and reporting changes to the veterinary team.
• Brings a hands-on approach to pharmacy support, treatments, procedures, and diagnostics.
• Prepares treatment areas, exam rooms, and surgical suites, maintaining a clean, organized, and sterile environment.
• Supports patient husbandry for hospitalized patients — feeding, walking, cage cleaning, bedding changes, and comfort care.
• Assists with laboratory procedures and basic diagnostic testing.
• Administers medications and helps maintain accurate patient records.
• Assists with client communication, education, and coordination around patient intake and discharge.
• Communicates clearly with veterinarians, technicians, and the broader care team to keep patients moving smoothly through the day.
• Stays calm, adaptable, and efficient across a variety of cases and species

Skills

Monitors patients

Pharmacy support

Exam room prep

Lab procedures

Medication administration

Client communication

Team collaboration

Adaptability

Job description

VCA Colonial Animal Hospital is seeking a compassionate and dedicated experienced Veterinary Assistant to join our general practice team.

Working as a veterinary assistant means being part of every patient's care from the moment they walk in to the moment they head home — assisting with exams, prepping patients for procedures, working as a veterinary team during treatments and diagnostics, and helping keep the whole hospital running smoothly.

You'll build hands-on skills across a wide variety of cases, from wellness visits to more involved procedures, working closely alongside veterinarians and technicians every step of the way. It's a role built for variety and growth, where every day brings something new and every patient benefits from the care you help provide.

Compensation: $19.00 - $21.00/ hour dependent on experience, and skill set.

Potential Schedule: Full-time, weekend rotation required.

Learn more about us here: https://vcahospitals.com/colonial

Veterinary Assistant Skills

• Monitors hospitalized patients, observing and reporting changes in behavior, comfort, and vital signs to the veterinary team
• Brings a hands-on approach to pharmacy support, treatments, procedures, and diagnostics.
• Prepares treatment areas, exam rooms, and surgical suites, maintaining a clean, organized, and sterile environment
• Supports patient husbandry for hospitalized patients — feeding, walking, cage cleaning, bedding changes, and comfort care
• Assists with laboratory procedures and basic diagnostic testing
• Administers medications and helps maintain accurate patient records
• Assists with client communication, education, and coordination around patient intake and discharge
• Communicates clearly with veterinarians, technicians, and the broader care team to keep patients moving smoothly through the day
• Stays calm, adaptable, and efficient across a variety of cases and species
  
  

We're looking for someone positive, motivated, and ready to bring ideas to the table — our team meets frequently, and your input genuinely shapes how we grow. We protect our culture fiercely, and that means hiring people with the determination to rise above obstacles, wear multiple hats, and show up for their team.

Our team includes veterinarians and support staff who have been dedicated to the practice for 20 and even 30+ years—a testament to our strong culture and sense of community.

Beyond professional growth and career fulfillment, we value time spent together as a team. We enjoy potlucks, group activities, and local fundraisers, and proudly support a community outreach program that provides veterinary care for the pets of homeless individuals. We are a well‑rounded, compassionate team united by our commitment to making a meaningful difference—both within our hospital and throughout our community.

VCA Total Rewards Benefits Package:

Career Growth & Education

• VCA-sponsored Veterinary Technician National Exam + employer-paid test prep
• Paid yearly NAVTA membership & state credential renewal
• VCA-sponsored scholarships and generous discounts to Penn Foster's Veterinary Technician Program
• Woof University: free, RACE-approved CE, training and job support webinars on demand
• Free subscriptions to Vetfolio and Plumb's online formulary, plus substantial VETgirl savings
• Unlimited access to Mars Veterinary Health library (2,000+ journals, 600+ textbooks)
• Nationwide hospital transfer opportunities
  
  

Time Off & Family Support

• Paid vacation and paid sick days
• Paid parental leave & fertility benefits
• Paid bereavement days
  
  

Health & Wellness

• Free mental health support through the Cigna Life Assistance Program & Lyra
• Free Headspace subscription (meditation and sleep support)
  
  

Perks for You & Your Pets

• Generous hospital discounts for your personal pets, including free vaccines
• Discounted Hills or Royal Canin pet food delivered to your home
• 3 pairs of scrubs per year
  
  

Compensation & Financial Security

• 401(k) retirement savings with employer contribution
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with HSA/FSA options
• Multiple, flexible health insurance plans to fit your needs
• 100% employer-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Employer-paid basic life insurance
• and more!
  
  

Take a moment to watch what life as a veterinary technician at VCA looks like, straight from a technician's point of view: https://vimeo.com/684755121/10c909cbf5

Why VCA

VCA is one of the largest networks of animal hospitals in the country — but you'd never know it from the way we operate. Every hospital keeps its own identity, its own team, and its own culture, while giving you access to the resources, mentorship, and career opportunities of a national organization behind you. You get the best of both: the tight-knit feel of a local practice and the backing, benefits, and growth potential of an industry leader.

We're genuinely invested in your career — not just your job. From continuing education to credential support to nationwide transfer opportunities if life takes you somewhere new, we build the kind of support system that helps technicians build real, lasting careers, not just punch a clock. This is a place where your work is seen, your growth is prioritized, and your future in this field matters to us.

Interested in this opportunity?

Apply!

We look forward to hearing from you.

The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development)

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com

If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.

Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!

The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development)

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com