Veterinary Assistant - Hohenwald Animal Hospital

PetVet Care Centers; Tennessee; On-site; USD 19,000 - 25,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Parental leave

401(k) plan

Pet discounts

Wellbeing resources

CE stipends

Job summary

PetVet Care Centers is seeking a Veterinary Assistant at Hohenwald Animal Hospital in Tennessee. You will support veterinarians and technicians, handle animal care tasks, assist with medical procedures, maintain records, and ensure a safe, clean hospital environment.

The role requires comfort with dogs and cats, the ability to lift and move equipment, and a willingness to work a schedule including weekends. Experience in a veterinary setting and Avimark knowledge are a plus.

Qualifications

• Applicants must be 18 years or older.
• Must be comfortable around dogs and cats.
• Ability to work with or around sick animals, hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and odors.

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate care to all patients.
• Greet clients and their pets and record vital signs.
• Assist veterinarians with exams, treatments, and medications.
• calmly soothe anxious patients and restrain as directed.
• Perform laboratory tests and radiographs.
• Maintain medical records and ensure accurate documentation.
• Keep hospital areas clean and safe; operate equipment.

Skills

Lifting

Animal handling

Patient care

Teamwork

Tools

Avimark

Job description

PetVet Care Centers' Hohenwald Animal Hospital is currently seeking Veterinary Assistants to join their team!

At PetVet Care Centers, our mission is to improve the lives of animals and people — providing exceptional and compassionate care at every stage — for all the moments that matter.

Because life is better with pets.

We deliver the Ultimate Care Experience — every pet, every client, every time. That starts with a Culture of Care that supports our team members as much as the pets and clients we serve.

With more than 400 locally led hospitals and over 11,000 team members nationwide, we offer:

• Local autonomy with national support
• Career mobility and development opportunities
• A collaborative, inclusive environment where your wellbeing comes first

You care for pets. We care for you.

Position Overview

Join our team as a Veterinary Assistant who supports the veterinarians and technicians in their daily tasks by cleaning and maintaining equipment, feeding, exercising and grooming patients, preparing and sanitizing surgery suites, restraining and handling patients, and clerical and administrative work. They deliver quality care for all patients and provide exceptional service.

Hohenwald Animal Hospital in Hohenwald, Tennessee, is a full-service veterinary practice providing comprehensive care for companion animals and livestock, all in one location. Known for its broad service offering and compassionate team, the hospital delivers high-quality, dependable care with a strong community focus.

Why Join Us

• We are a fast-paced rural mixed practice animal hospital. We not only treat dogs and cats, but also horses, cows, chickens, goats, alpacas and more.
• Due to our location, we also see everything from annuals to urgent care daily, making every day interesting. We work closely with the community and several humane societies.
• If you want to join a great team and stay busy and learn something new every day, then we are for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate care to all patients
• Greet patients and their owners as they arrive and show them to an examining room, taking the patient's weight and other vital signs upon arrival
• Triage patients, perform physical exams, treatments, and administer medication as directed by the licensed veterinary technicians (LVT's).
• Calm and soothe anxious patients
• Assist doctors and technicians with the administration of medications or with patient restraint
• Perform laboratory tests and take radiographs
• Operate and maintain hospital equipment, including EKG, fluid pump, syringe pump, scales, anesthetic monitors, and machines, etc.
• Fill prescriptions, calculate and administer medications, maintain proper documentation, logging, and security of controlled drugs.
• Feed patients as prescribed by the attending doctor or as the client has requested; record appetites; recognize and report any unusual conditions or abnormal behaviors
• Communicate in a positive manner with clients and ensure that they feel comfortable leaving their pet(s)
• Educate clients about insurance, wellness, and medicinal plans
• Maintain the cleanliness of the hospital each day; clean equipment, kennels, and facilities using chemicals and supplies; ensure the safe use of chemicals; complete laundry
• Bath and care for patients who stay overnight; ensure that every animal released is clean and properly groomed prior to their release
• Adhere to the hospital's safety and wellness regulations
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions
• Maintain accurate medical records
• Show up for work regularly; full-time presence at work is essential for every shift
• Promote hospital products and services and support the organization
• Respond respectfully with urgency to directions given by Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT).
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Manager; may have other assigned duties if working in a specialty area (i.e., dentistry, surgery, emergency, radiology, cardiology, neurology, internal medicine, etc.)

Qualifications (Required)

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this position
• Must be comfortable around dogs and cats
• Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors
• This is a strenuous job that requires a lot of lifting, cleaning, and constant motion. May involve some climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have)

• Competency in restraining animals is a plus
• Previous veterinary experience
• Knowledge and previous use of Avimark would be helpful but not required
• Some animal experience, veterinary hospital or shelter experience, is preferred

Schedule

• Full-Time, schedule will consist of three to four weekday shifts and two to three Saturdays shifts a month
• Weekday shifts begin at 7:45AM CST and Saturdays begin at 7:30AM CST
• Schedule will also include occasional Saturday evening kennel shift with pay differential and Sunday kennel shift in rotation with other team members. Sunday kennel shift also includes a shift differential
• There will also be one to four Holiday kennel shifts required per year that will be drawn for at the beginning of the year
• Schedule will be posted 2 weeks to 2 months out from current date. Schedule is flexible within reason

What We Offer

We care deeply about supporting our team members — professionally and personally. Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid Parental Leave (birth, adoption, foster)
• 401(k) with discretionary contribution
• Team Member Pet Discounts
• Emotional wellbeing support — including Calm app access and 24/7 EAP
• CE stipends and career development resources
• Grant Circle — a relief fund for team members facing personal hardship
• Local hospital culture backed by national resources

At PetVet Care Centers, we’re committed to a Culture of Care — for pets, for the people who love them, and for the team members who make it all possible. With more than 400 hospitals across the U.S. and a team of over 11,000 dedicated professionals, including 1700+ veterinarians, we offer a unique blend of local leadership and national support that helps our hospitals thrive.

Our model is built on partnership, collaboration, and local medical autonomy, empowering each hospital to deliver high-quality care while benefiting from shared resources and a strong professional community. Whether you’re providing care in a hospital or supporting operations behind the scenes, PetVet is a place where you can grow your career, stay connected to your purpose, and make a meaningful impact.

You care for pets. We care for you.

PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V

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