Veterinary Assistant - Surfside Animal Hospital

PetVet Care Centers' Surfside Animal Hospital is currently seeking Veterinary Assistant to join their team!

At PetVet Care Centers, our mission is to improve the lives of animals and people — providing exceptional and compassionate care at every stage — for all the moments that matter.

Because life is better with pets.

Surfside Animal Hospital has been a trusted resource for Oceanside and the greater North San Diego County community since 2010, building a strong reputation for quality, professional care delivered with a genuine compassionate touch. The hospital offers a full range of services for cats, dogs, and exotic pets including birds, rabbits, reptiles, and rodents — and goes above and beyond with same-day urgent care appointments during regular business hours, ensuring pets are never left waiting in their most stressful moments.

Why Join Us:

• Join a unique general practice that offers a highly sought-after alternative workweek schedule of four 10-hour shifts, providing greater work-life balance while maintaining full-time hours.
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate care to all patients
• Greet patients and their owners as they arrive and show them to an examining room, taking the patient's weight and other vital signs upon arrival
• Triage patients, perform physical exams, treatments, and administer medication as directed by the licensed veterinary technicians (LVT's).
• Calm and soothe anxious patients
• Assist doctors and technicians with the administration of medications or with patient restraint
• Perform laboratory tests and take radiographs
• Operate and maintain hospital equipment, including EKG, fluid pump, syringe pump, scales, anesthetic monitors, and machines, etc.
• Fill prescriptions, calculate and administer medications, maintain proper documentation, logging, and security of controlled drugs.
• Feed patients as prescribed by the attending doctor or as the client has requested; record appetites; recognize and report any unusual conditions or abnormal behaviors
• Communicate in a positive manner with clients and ensure that they feel comfortable leaving their pet(s)
• Educate clients about insurance, wellness, and medicinal plans
• Maintain the cleanliness of the hospital each day; clean equipment, kennels, and facilities using chemicals and supplies; ensure the safe use of chemicals; complete laundry
• Bath and care for patients who stay overnight; ensure that every animal released is clean and properly groomed prior to their release
• Adhere to the hospital's safety and wellness regulations
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions
• Maintain accurate medical records
• Show up for work regularly; full-time presence at work is essential for every shift
• Promote hospital products and services and support the organization
• Respond respectfully with urgency to directions given by Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or Licensed Veterinary Technicians (LVT).
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Manager; may have other assigned duties if working in a specialty area (i.e., dentistry, surgery, emergency, radiology, cardiology, neurology, internal medicine, etc.)
  
  

Qualifications (Required)

• Must be a seasoned veterinary assistant, with ability to place catheters, draw blood, perform radiology, familiarity with running labs and pharmacy. Must be comfortable doing intake/TPR in rooms.
  
  

Preferred Skills (Nice To Have)

• Need to be sharp.
• Preferably bilingual (speaks Spanish).
  
  

Schedule

• Candidates must be available to work one of the following schedules:
• Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday
• Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday
• Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
• Weekend availability is required.
• Candidates must be able to work Saturdays from the start of employment and maintain Saturday availability on a permanent basis.
• Beginning in July, candidates must also be available to add Sundays to their schedule as needed.
  
  

What We Offer

We care deeply about supporting our team members — professionally and personally. Benefits include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid Parental Leave (birth, adoption, foster)
• 401(k) with discretionary contribution
• Team Member Pet Discounts
• Emotional wellbeing support — including Calm app access and 24/7 EAP
• CE stipends and career development resources
• Grant Circle — a relief fund for team members facing personal hardship
• Local hospital culture backed by national resources
  
  

Pay Range

$22.11—$25 USD

At PetVet Care Centers, we’re committed to a Culture of Care — for pets, for the people who love them, and for the team members who make it all possible. With more than 420 hospitals across the U.S. and a team of over 11,000 dedicated professionals, including 1700 veterinarians, we offer a unique blend of local leadership and national support that helps our hospitals thrive.

Our model is built on partnership, collaboration, and local medical autonomy, empowering each hospital to deliver high-quality care while benefiting from shared resources and a strong professional community. Whether you’re providing care in a hospital or supporting operations behind the scenes, PetVet is a place where you can grow your career, stay connected to your purpose, and make a meaningful impact.

You care for pets. We care for you.

PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V

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