Veterinary Assistant

Petco•Arvada, CO

14d

About The Position

The Veterinary Assistant provides medical care support to patients at a Vetco Total Care full-service hospital and customer care to their owners. The role represents Petco’s mission and values, supports technical and customer service operations, and contributes to teamwork and a positive hospital environment. Patient needs come first, and staff are expected to help deliver exceptional customer experiences and resolve issues promptly where possible. Working under the supervision and direction of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and hospital leadership, the assistant supports appointments, procedures, patient treatment, records, client communication, and hospital upkeep. The position contributes to efficient day-to-day hospital operations, high-quality care, employee retention, patient well-being, and customer satisfaction. The majority of duties take place in a veterinary hospital, with frequent direct contact with clients and pets. The role has no immediate supervisory duties.

Requirements

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Compassionate and sympathetic, with the ability to maintain a professional attitude and demeanor during emotional and stressful situations.
Telephone and computer skills.
Willingness to learn new techniques and treatments, offer creative ideas, and accept change.
Ability to perform the duties with or without reasonable accommodation.
Ability to bend, kneel, lift up to 30 pounds as necessary, and stand for long periods.

Nice To Haves

At least one year of previous experience working in a veterinary practice, or sufficient relatable animal-care experience to ensure excellent performance of the listed skills.

Responsibilities

Greet clients and patients, escort them to exam rooms, obtain weights and vital signs, and record information in the electronic medical record.
Collect patient histories and document visits in electronic medical records.
Assist doctors with routine and emergency appointments, surgery, dentistry, and euthanasia under supervision.
Restrain patients, obtain and process laboratory samples, handle and dispense medications as directed by the veterinarian, and help maintain medical records.
Schedule appointments, provide client education, relay test results to doctors and clients, and maintain and update client and patient records.
Prepare patients for surgical and dental procedures and assist doctors or veterinary technicians with anesthetizing patients.
Under supervision, maintain patients safely under anesthesia while monitoring vital parameters, monitor recovery, and prepare patients for discharge or transfer to an overnight care facility.
Under supervision, perform in-hospital treatments for sick patients, including administering injectable and oral medications and intravenous fluid therapy.
Keep patients clean, watered, and fed when indicated and directed by the doctor, and safely walk canine patients when needed for elimination.
Assist with training new staff and sharing knowledge as directed by hospital leadership.
Keep the hospital neat and clean, performing regular cleaning as needed and according to the maintenance schedule.
Perform additional duties as assigned and provide backup phone and front desk support as needed.