Veterinary Lab Assistant - Emergency and Critical Care

Thrive Pet Healthcare; La Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with employer contribution

Continuing education/ scholarships

Job summary

Thrive Pet Healthcare's Pet Emergency & Specialty Center La Mesa seeks a Veterinary Lab Assistant to perform in-house diagnostic testing, handle specimens, and maintain lab quality to support rapid patient care. The role works closely with veterinarians, technicians, and other departments to ensure accurate reporting and timely decisions.

You will operate in a fast-paced environment, participate in training, and uphold safety standards while contributing to a community-focused team that values

Qualifications

• Proficient in IV catheter placement, blood work, and IV/IM/SQ injections.
• Proficient in various forms of veterinary software.
• Team player who is eager to learn and self-motivated.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment with strong communication.

Responsibilities

• Perform in-house diagnostic testing and process lab samples.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and ensure timely reporting of results.
• Prioritize STAT testing to support emergency stabilization.
• Coordinate with veterinarians and staff to ensure specimen integrity.
• Maintain clean, safe lab areas and document results accurately.
• Provide after-hours support as needed and mentor teammates.

Skills

IV catheter placement

Blood work

IV/IM/SQ injections

Vet software systems

Team player

Eager to learn

Fast-paced environment

Verbal and written communication

Multitasking under pressure

Tools

Vet software platforms

Job description

Description

Description

Emergency and Critical Care - Veterinary Lab Assistant

At Pet Emergency & Specialty Center La Mesa, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, we take action to empower your best care for pets, their families, and yourself.

We are a community of400clinics forming an extraordinary network of unparalleled resources and people. Through outstanding learning and career options, comprehensive benefits, and abundant support, you’ll be nurtured and appreciated for who you are and what you bring to the table. We come together in both the joys and heartaches of our profession to lift each other up through laughter and empathy.

And, we have plenty of fun along the way!

Who We Are:

At Pet Emergency & Specialty Center, our team is dedicated to providing quality care to our patients and elevating our client experience.

We have several different specialists including Critical Care, Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Avian and Exotics. Collaboratively we strive to provide the highest level of care, education, and understanding to our clients, their pets, and our referring veterinarians.

What We Are Looking For:

Pet Emergency & Specialty Center is looking for a Veterinary Lab Assistant to join our Emergency and Critical Care Team.

As a Lab Assistant, you will play an important role in pets’ lives by performing in-house diagnostic testing, processing laboratory samples, maintaining laboratory equipment, and ensuring accurate and timely reporting of results to support patient diagnosis and treatment. This position works closely with veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and other hospital departments to facilitate efficient patient care and maintain high standards of laboratory quality and safety.

Role Responsibilities:

• STAT Testing and turnaround times, prioritize urgent diagnostic testing to support emergency stabilization and treatment decisions.
• Quality assurance, Perform quality control, troubleshoot analyzer errors, and help ensurre consistency and reliability of results.
• Use safe restraining techniques, follow standard protocols, and sustain clean, sterile, organized treatment areas, exam rooms, and labs.
• Be willing to guide, mentor, and support fellow team members.
• Cross- department communication: Coordinate with doctors and teams regarding specimen integrity, delayed results, and repeat testing.
• After hours support: Maintain laboratory readiness and workflow during nights, weekends and holidays, if applicable.
• Perform routine and specialized diagnostic testing, including hematology, clinical chemistry, electrolytes, urinalysis, cytology preparation, coagulation testing, and other laboratory procedures as assigned.
• Collect, receive, label, prepare, and process blood, urine, fecal, tissue, and other diagnostic specimens.
• Ensure accurate documentation, data entry, and timely communication of laboratory results to the appropriate medical team.
• Maintain adequate laboratory supplies, monitor expiration dates, and communicate inventory needs.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe laboratory environment in accordance with hospital protocols and applicable safety standards.
• Recognize abnormal or questionable results and promptly notify the appropriate veterinarian.
• Participate in staff training competency assessments, and continuing education as appropriate.
• Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and collaboration with the veterinary healthcare team.

Experience & Skills Requirements:

• Proficient in IV catheters placement, blood work, and IV, IM and SQ injections
• Proficient in various forms of veterinary software
• Team player
• Eager to learn and is self-motivated
• Enjoys a challenging and fast-paced environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to multi-task under pressure

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and move throughout the workday.
• Ability to handle laboratory specimens, equipment, and supplies.
• Ability to perform repetitive fine motor tasks and work eith micoscopes and laboratory instruments.
• Ability to safely handle biological specimens, chemicals, and other laboratory materials using appropriate protective equipment.

You’ll Grow With Us

Here, you can grow your career as best fits you through access to comprehensive learning and skillset programs. You can build your skills and earn credentials through:

• Ourvast, diverse, and free library of continuing education courses -ThriveU
• Live, virtual interactiveworkshops to develop valuable leadershipskills
• A program todesigned to teach youthe fundamentals ofrunning apethospital
• Earn your AVMA-CVTEA Accreditation and become a Vet Tech through our fully accredited distance learning program for veterinarytechnicians
• Scholarshipopportunities andtuition reimbursement

And, with so many locationsnationwide,you can find and move into any specialty, hospital type, and environment. Join us and provide your best care at a clinic that is deeply rooted within its community and bolstered by the resources of Thrive Pet Healthcare.

Benefits – our care in action

We provide benefits spread comprehensively across your mental, physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing designed to meet your needs as a unique individual. Some key benefits include:

• Paidtime offincluding 8-weeks of full-pay parental leave, bereavement to grieve both humans and pets, andtime offfor new petadoptions
• Top quality medical, dental, and vision insuranceplushealth savings account and flexible spending account
• Pet perksincluding free exams, discounts on products and services up to 75 percent off, and more at all Thrive Pet Healthcare locations
• Generously subsidizedbackup and ongoing care supportfor children, adults, and pets
• Mental health benefitsincluding coaching and therapysessions
• 401k with employer contributionand no waiting period
• Continuing education anddevelopment supportthroughour libraryoffree CE coursesand paid time off tocomplete
• Scholarship opportunitiesandstudent loan supportprogram

and so much more!

Compensation negotiable based on credentials and experience with a hourly pay rate starting at $20-28/hr. The actual rate offered will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.

4 Day Work Week (10 hour shifts). Sunday - Wednesday 10a - 8:30pm

At Thrive Pet Healthcare, we celebrate and embrace the uniqueness and diversity ofall ofour team members, pet parents, and pets. We strive to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture where all team members belong and feel empowered.