Veterinary Assistant

Petco•Shrewsbury, MA

12h

About The Position

The Veterinary Assistant provides medical and customer care to patients and their owners at a Vetco Total Care full-service hospital. The role supports veterinarians and veterinary technicians with appointments, procedures, patient monitoring and treatment, records, and hospital operations, while representing Petco’s mission and values. The Veterinary Assistant helps maintain a cohesive, motivated team and an environment focused on patient well-being and customer satisfaction. The position works primarily in a veterinary hospital and involves frequent direct contact with clients and pets. It requires bending, kneeling, standing for extended periods, and lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary. The assistant takes direct supervision from veterinarians and veterinary technicians for patient care, and receives overall direction from the HOM/HLOD or the supervising technician for the shift. The position 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 work as a team player, learn new techniques and treatments, offer creative ideas, and accept change.
Ability to perform the listed 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 electronic medical records.
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, collect and process laboratory samples, handle and dispense medications at the veterinarian’s direction, 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 with anesthesia.
Under supervision, monitor patients under anesthesia and during recovery, and prepare them for discharge or transfer to an overnight care facility.
Under supervision, provide in-hospital treatments for sick patients, including 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 as necessary for elimination.
Assist with training new staff and sharing knowledge as directed by the HOM/HLOD.
Keep the hospital neat and clean, performing cleaning as needed and according to the maintenance schedule.
Perform additional duties as assigned.
Provide backup phone and front desk support as needed.
Support efficient day-to-day hospital operations, teamwork, high-quality care, employee retention, patient well-being, and customer satisfaction.