Veterinary Assistant - Sun Valley Animal Center

Sun Valley Animal Center; Idaho; On-site; USD 22,000 - 37,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Paid parental leave

401(k) with discretionary contribution

Team Member Pet Discounts

Calm app and emotional wellbeing支持

CE stipends and career development

Job summary

Sun Valley Animal Center is seeking a Veterinary Assistant to support veterinarians and technicians in daily tasks, including patient care, equipment maintenance, and clerical duties. The role emphasizes teamwork, attention to detail, and compassionate service in a busy clinical setting.

The position welcomes individuals with veterinary experience or strong animal-handling skills, offering opportunities for professional growth in a well-established hospital in Idaho.

Qualifications

• 18 years of age or older
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Previous veterinary clinical experience
• Strong animal handling and patient-care skills
• Ability to assist with diagnostics, treatments, anesthesia, surgery, and recovery
• Excellent communication and teamwork
• Commitment to patient safety and high-quality medicine
• Reliable, professional, and compassionate approach to patient and client care

Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate care to all patients
• Greet patients and their owners and take weight and vital signs
• Triage patients and assist with physical exams, treatments and medications
• Calm and soothe anxious patients
• Assist doctors and technicians with medications and restraints
• Perform laboratory tests and take radiographs
• Maintain hospital equipment and records
• Promote hospital products and services and support the organization

Skills

Animal handling

Patient care

Communication

Teamwork

Reliability

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

Veterinary Assistant - Sun Valley Animal Center

PetVet Care Centers' Sun Valley Animal Center is currently seeking a Veterinary Assistant to join our 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.

Sun Valley Animal Center in Ketchum, Idaho is looking for a compassionate and skilled Veterinary Technician to join our team in beautiful Ketchum, Idaho. We’re proud to provide high-quality veterinary care while maintaining a collaborative, supportive environment where team members can continue to grow their skills and careers.

The ideal candidate is passionate about patient care, enjoys working as part of a team, and brings strong technical skills, attention to detail, and excellent communication. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to be part of a well-established hospital while enjoying the incredible lifestyle that the Sun Valley community has to offer.

What You’ll Love AboutSun Valley Animal Center:

• Collaborative, experienced veterinary team
• Opportunity to work alongside skilled veterinarians and grow your technical skills
• Diverse and interesting caseload
• Commitment to high-quality medicine and compassionate patient care
• Supportive environment focused on teamwork and professional development
• Located in Ketchum, Idaho, with exceptional access to hiking, biking, skiing, and the outdoors

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
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Previous veterinary clinical experience
• Strong animal handling and patient-care skills
• Ability to assist with diagnostics, treatments, anesthesia, surgery, and recovery
• Excellent communication and teamwork
• Commitment to patient safety and high-quality medicine
• Reliable, professional, and compassionate approach to patient and client care

Preferred Skills (Nice to Have)

• Lack of these does not exclude candidates:
• Anesthesia and surgical experience
• Experience with laboratory diagnostics and catheter placement

Schedule: Primarily weekdays and some Saturdays (8AM-6PM)

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

$17 — $27 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

Why Consider Our Ketchum Hospital?

At Sun Valley Animal Center, our team members all share the same passion for making and keeping animals healthy.

Our hospital truly is an excellent place to work, with a highly skilled team focused on 'best in practice' veterinary care.

We are very supportive of individuals looking to grow their veterinary careers and look forward to hearing from you.

We invite you to explore your veterinary career options with Sun Valley Animal Center, where you'll be a respected member of a team that loves animals and values the contributions from every individual on the team.