Veterinary Assistant (Rotating Shift) - Creature Comforts Veterinary Hospital

PetVet Care Centers; Ankeny (IA); Hybrid; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus up to $1,000

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid Parental Leave

401(k) with discretionary contribution

Team Member Pet Discounts

Calm app access and 24/7 EAP

CE stipends and career development

Job summary

PetVet Care Centers’ Creature Comforts Veterinary Hospital in Ankeny, IA seeks a Veterinary Assistant to support veterinarians and technicians in daily tasks. The role includes cleaning and maintaining equipment, feeding and grooming patients, preparing surgery suites, restraining animals, and handling clerical duties.

Earn a sign-on bonus up to $1,000 based on experience. Join a team offering local autonomy with national support, career development, and a culture of care.

Qualifications

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this position
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Anyone with some type of animal care background or education.

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate care to all patients
• Greet patients and owners, take patient weight and vital signs
• Triage patients, assist with examinations, treatments and medications
• Assist doctors and technicians with administration of medications or patient restraint
• Perform laboratory tests and take radiographs
• Maintain hospital equipment and clean facilities
• Fill prescriptions, document medications and maintain proper records
• Adhere to safety, wellness and regulatory procedures

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Any animal care background or education

Job description

Bring your skills to PetVet and earn a sign-on bonus of up to $1,000.00 based on your experience!

PetVet Care Centers' Creature Comforts Veterinary Hospital is currently seeking a Veterinary Assistant 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 420 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.

Creature Comforts Veterinary Hospital in Ankeny, Iowa stands out for its uniquely accessible approach — open 7 days a week, with extended hours until 8pm every day, making quality veterinary care available even for the busiest families across Ankeny, Altoona, Bondurant, Des Moines, and Polk City. The team provides comprehensive care from wellness exams and vaccinations to dental care and nutritional counseling, all within a warm, welcoming environment where both clients and patients are made to feel genuinely valued.

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

• Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this position
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Anyone with some type of animal care background or education.

Schedule

• Three 12 hour shifts, rotating in one full weekend (Saturday & Sunday) every 4th week
• Can be flexible, schedule will be out 3 months in advance

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

Pay Range

$19.85 — $24.26 USD

At PetVet Care Centers, we’re committed to aCulture 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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