Veterinary Assistant

Petco • Bastrop, TX

17d • Onsite

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 and helps create a welcoming, coordinated, and motivated hospital team focused on patient needs and an exceptional customer experience. The position contributes to efficient day-to-day hospital operations, high-quality care, employee retention, patient well-being, and customer satisfaction.

The Veterinary Assistant works under the direct supervision of veterinarians and veterinary technicians for patient care, and takes overall direction from the HOM/HLOD or supervising technician for the shift. The position has no immediate supervisory duties. Most work takes place in the veterinary hospital, with substantial direct contact with clients and pets. The job involves bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary, and standing for long periods.

Requirements

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Compassionate and sympathetic demeanor, with the ability to remain professional during emotional and stressful situations.
• Telephone and computer skills.
• Ability 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, including bending, kneeling, lifting up to 30 pounds as necessary, and standing 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.

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 patient 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 at the veterinarian’s direction, and help maintain electronic medical records.
• Schedule appointments, educate clients, 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, assist with recovery monitoring, and prepare patients 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 a doctor, and safely walk canine patients when needed for elimination.
• Assist in training new staff and disseminating knowledge as directed by the HOM/HLOD.
• Keep the hospital environment neat and clean, performing regular cleaning as needed and according to a maintenance schedule.
• Perform additional duties as assigned and provide backup phone and front desk support as needed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: No Education Listed