Veterinary Assistant - Surgery

VCA Animal Hospitals; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wage

401(k)

Paid vacation and sick time

Medical, dental & vision insurance

Generous pet care discounts

Job summary

VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, CO is seeking a veterinary assistant for our surgery department. This full-time position involves working in the operating rooms and assisting surgeons and neurologists while delivering excellent patient care and client communication.

You will participate in anesthesia-related duties, monitor patient vitals, document thoroughly, and help manage exams and procedures.

Qualifications

• Experience in veterinary medicine as an assistant is preferred.
• New graduates must have a strong interest in surgery and keen ability to apply knowledge and advance quickly.

Responsibilities

• Assist surgeons and technicians in anesthesia-related tasks including monitoring and recovery.
• Analyze disease processes and patient needs to support treatment decisions.
• Inspire and mentor students and new associates in the team.
• Ensure documentation is accurate, thorough, and complete.
• Maintain a clean, safe hospital environment and support staff as needed.

Skills

Client communication

Patient care

OR assistance

Anesthesia support

Tools

CT

MRI

Job description

VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital is seeking a veterinary assistant to join our team in our surgery department.

Location: Denver, CO

Pay: $20.00 - $24.00/hr.

Application deadline: 9/30/2026

Full-time, 5x8 hour shifts

Our veterinary assistants are responsible for the technical duties, client communication and patient care related to their role and department. Our assistants are involved in the operating rooms along with helping in the running of the appointments with the surgeons and neurologists.

VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital has an exciting history (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_Vets). We were established in 1971, became a 24 hour hospital in 1974, and we aren’t slowing down. We take pride in providing outstanding, innovative patient care. We are so proud of the hospital and team we work with and we want you to join us.

Benefits of working with our highly skilled team.

• .Hands-on learning, didactic training, and collaboration on case management and treatment to provide the highest quality patient care.
• Multi-modal monitoring equipment.
• Utilization of advanced technology; CT, MRI, arthroscopy.

Responsibilities:

• All tasks related to assisting the surgeons and technicians including, maintain/monitoring, and recovering patients from anesthesia.
• Think analytically through disease process and patient needs.
• Inspire and teach students and new associates.
• Ensure documentation is appropriate, thorough, and complete.

Qualifications:

• Experience in veterinary medicine as an assistant is preferred.
• New graduates must have a strong interest in surgery and keen ability to apply knowledge and advance quickly.

As a member of the VCA team, you will support the Technician and Doctor teams by creating a positive, low-stress atmosphere for our clients and patients. Your mission will be to win the confidence of every pet parent—by delivering an outstanding client experience—so we can provide exceptional care to every patient. The skills that will be utilized include, but are not limited to:

• Restraining and assisting in patient exams and routine procedures.
• Taking detailed medical histories and patient vitals.
• Filling prescriptions (as allowed by law).
• Performing laboratory work and diagnostic imaging.
• Providing compassionate care for our hospitalized animals.
• Maintaining medical records.
• Assisting our wonderful Doctor and Technician staff as needed.
• Maintaining a clean, safe hospital environment.

Why Join the VCA Family?

We are passionate about supporting Veterinary Assistants and are committed to your continuing education and personal career development. VCA is a community of dedicated professionals that will encourage you to explore everything a Veterinary Assistant career has to offer. At VCA, we are committed to equity, inclusion, and diversity and strive to be a place where a talented mix of people want to come, stay, and do their best work. In addition, we support a work environment where you can focus on your career, happiness, and the patients you serve. Below are some of the many benefits of joining the VCA team!

• Access to the people and financial resources of a large veterinary community
• Leadership opportunities
• Career development programs
• Opportunities to give back through strong Shelter partnerships and VCA Charities
• Continuing education opportunities
• Tuition support and sponsorships
• Free mental health and wellness subscriptions (Head Space)
• Referral bonuses
• Competitive wage
• Medical, dental & vision insurance
• Generous pet care discounts
• Life, long and short-term disability insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid vacation and sick time
• 401(k)

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