Veterinary Assistant

PETS FIRST VETERINARY HOSPITAL • Full-time • Thousand Oaks, California, United States • USD $22 - USD $30 / hour • 2m ago

Benefits:

401(k) matching
Bonus based on performance
Free food & snacks
Free uniforms
Health insurance
Opportunity for advancement
Profit sharing
Training & development

ABOUT US:
Pets First is an appointment-based urgent care/ER bridging the gap between general practice and traditional emergency hospitals. We offer low-cost hospitalization when appropriate and emergency dental care (with RVT-supported radiography and prophylaxis within RVT scope). We collaborate closely with board-certified veterinary specialists—criticalists, surgeons, internists, cardiologists, and dentists—to elevate patient outcomes and team learning.

SCHEDULE:

Soft Open: January 9, 2026 – June 2026
- Operating Fri–Mon, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Expansion: Transition to 5–7 days/week with the Grand Opening in June 2026
- Opportunity for a fixed or rotating schedule at expansion, based on team preferences and hospital needs

COMPENSATION: $22–$30/hour to start, based on skills and experience

BENEFITS AND PERKS

Flexible Scheduling
Career Advancement Opportunities
Structured Training & Development (RVT or other clinical pathways)
Competitive Compensation
Revenue-Sharing
Premium Health Insurance (HMO or PPO)
401(k) Matching
Employee Pet Insurance
Culture-driven, supportive working environment

RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical Support (under RVT/DVM supervision)

Triage & rooming: capture thorough histories, vitals (TPR/weight/pain score), and help prioritize cases using protocols
Practice low-stress handling and restraint for exams, imaging, and treatments
Prepare treatment/surgery/dental areas; assist with instrument care and sterilization (autoclave)
Assist with sample collection and processing (urine, fecal, ear/skin cytology) per protocols
Radiography assistance: positioning/restraint and radiation-safety compliance
Patient care & monitoring: comfort rounds, nutrition/hydration support, timely reporting; document accurately in the EMR
Pharmacy support (prep/label/dispense) within VACSP rules and under DVM direction
Run approved in-house tests; maintain logs and precise EMR entries

Client Interaction, Phones & Coordination

Answer phones and perform call triage using decision trees; schedule and set expectations with warmth and clarity
Guide clients through visit flow; review estimates/consents (with RVT/DVM) and support check-in/checkout
Deliver discharge reinforcement (home-care/medication instructions) and complete follow-up calls per protocol
Assist with issue resolution professionally, escalating to the RVT/DVM/Manager as appropriate

Operations & Quality

Inventory support: stocking, counts, expiration checks, and vendor coordination assistance
Uphold safety and compliance (OSHA/Cal-OSHA, radiation safety, DEA/Board documentation under supervision)
Contribute to a safe, organized, and patient-ready environment as part of routine standards
Participate in team trainings/case reviews; offer ideas to improve workflow and patient experience

TRAINING AND GROWTH

Structured skill progression with RVT mentorship and checklists (triage, anesthesia support, dentistry support, diagnostics)
Shadow opportunities with RVTs/DVMs and exposure to specialty collaboration (critical care, IM, surgery, cardiology, dentistry)
Guidance on RVT pathway planning (scope, competencies, exam readiness resources)

QUALIFICATIONS

Prior experience as a VA or in animal care (GP, urgent care, ER, shelter) preferred
Willingness to obtain and maintain a California Veterinary Assistant Controlled Substance Permit (VACSP) promptly after hire (or current VACSP) required
Strong low-stress handling, organization, and teamwork skills
Excellent communication and client-service skills; calm under pressure
Comfortable with EMR/computers; able to lift ~50 lbs safely and stand for extended periods Evening/weekend availability within the schedule above

Pets First Veterinary Hospital is an equal opportunity employer. All medical decisions are made by veterinarians; duties remain within the California scope of practice for Veterinary Assistants and are performed under RVT/DVM supervision.