Veterinary Assistant

# Veterinary Assistant

## About the Role

Banfield Pet Hospital is seeking a caring, dependable, and hands-on **Veterinary Assistant** to support veterinarians, veterinary technicians, pets, clients, and hospital team members in a busy pet hospital environment. This role is an important part of the hospital team and helps maintain continuity of quality veterinary care while supporting the safety, comfort, and well-being of pets, clients, and associates.

The Veterinary Assistant will assist with animal handling, patient care support, procedure preparation, hospital cleanliness, client service, and daily workflow coordination. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working with animals, supporting medical teams, helping clients, and contributing to a clean, organized, and compassionate veterinary care environment.

The ideal candidate is patient, attentive, team-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced hospital setting. They should be willing to learn, able to follow medical and safety protocols, and committed to providing a positive experience for pets and their owners.

## Key Responsibilities

* Support veterinarians and veterinary technicians during exams, treatments, procedures, and daily patient care.
* Assist with safe and compassionate animal handling, restraint, movement, and comfort during visits.
* Help prepare exam rooms, treatment areas, surgical areas, equipment, and supplies for appointments and procedures.
* Support patient care activities such as weighing pets, preparing samples, setting up supplies, cleaning kennels, and assisting with basic care needs.
* Help maintain continuity of care by communicating clearly with veterinary team members and following hospital procedures.
* Monitor pets for comfort, safety, stress, and general well-being while they are in the hospital.
* Clean and disinfect exam rooms, treatment areas, cages, kennels, equipment, instruments, floors, and common areas according to hospital standards.
* Restock supplies, maintain organized work areas, and ensure needed materials are available for the veterinary team.
* Assist with laboratory sample preparation, diagnostic support, pharmacy preparation, and medical record updates as directed by licensed team members.
* Help prepare pets and materials for procedures, including exams, vaccinations, diagnostics, dental cleanings, and surgical support activities.
* Provide friendly and professional support to clients during check-in, check-out, appointment flow, and general hospital interactions.
* Communicate client questions, pet concerns, and care-related observations to veterinarians, veterinary technicians, or hospital leadership.
* Follow all hospital safety protocols, sanitation standards, animal-handling guidelines, and infection-control procedures.
* Support efficient hospital workflow by helping move pets, supplies, records, and information where needed.
* Assist with appointment flow, patient discharge preparation, and coordination between front-office and medical teams.
* Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling client and patient information.
* Contribute to a respectful, compassionate, and team-focused hospital environment.

## Required Qualifications

* Interest in animal care, veterinary medicine, pet health, or hospital support.
* Ability to work safely and compassionately with dogs, cats, and other pets in a veterinary hospital setting.
* Strong communication and teamwork skills.
* Ability to follow directions, procedures, safety standards, and hospital protocols.
* Strong attention to detail and commitment to cleanliness, organization, and patient safety.
* Comfortable working in a hands-on role that may involve animal handling, cleaning, lifting, standing, and moving throughout the hospital.
* Ability to remain calm, patient, and professional when working with pets and clients.
* Dependable attendance, punctuality, and willingness to support a busy hospital team.
* Ability to learn veterinary terminology, hospital systems, medical workflows, and care procedures.

## Preferred Qualifications

* Prior experience in a veterinary hospital, animal shelter, boarding facility, grooming facility, pet care center, or animal-related role.
* Experience handling dogs and cats of different sizes, temperaments, and medical needs.
* Familiarity with basic veterinary procedures, exam-room support, sample handling, kennel care, or animal restraint.
* Experience in customer service, healthcare, hospitality, or another client-facing environment.
* Interest in pursuing a career as a veterinary technician, veterinary assistant, veterinarian, or animal care professional.
* Comfort using computers, electronic medical records, scheduling tools, or basic office systems.

## Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is compassionate, reliable, and eager to support pets and the people who care for them. This person understands that veterinary care requires teamwork, attention to detail, patience, and a strong commitment to safety.

The right candidate should be comfortable working directly with animals and supporting both medical and non-medical tasks. They should be willing to clean, prepare rooms, assist with procedures, help clients, restock supplies, and step in wherever the hospital team needs support.

This person should enjoy learning, accept feedback well, and take pride in helping create a calm, clean, and caring environment for pets, clients, and associates.

## Work Environment

This role is performed in a Banfield pet hospital environment and involves frequent interaction with pets, clients, veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and hospital support staff. The Veterinary Assistant may spend much of the day standing, walking, bending, lifting, cleaning, handling pets, preparing rooms, and assisting with patient care.

The position may involve exposure to animal hair, odors, cleaning supplies, medical equipment, noise, and pets that may be anxious, excited, ill, or difficult to handle. The successful candidate should be comfortable following safety procedures and working in a fast-paced, hands-on veterinary care setting.

Schedules may include weekdays, evenings, weekends, or holidays depending on hospital needs.

## Compensation and Benefits

Compensation will be based on experience, qualifications, location, and overall fit for the role. Benefits may include:

* Competitive hourly pay
* Full-time or part-time employment, depending on hospital needs
* Health, dental, and vision benefits for eligible associates
* Paid time off
* Retirement plan options
* Training and professional development opportunities
* Career growth opportunities in veterinary medicine
* Pet care discounts or wellness plan benefits, depending on company policy
* Supportive hospital team environment
* Opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of pets and clients

## Equal Opportunity Statement

Banfield Pet Hospital is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, skills, and business needs. Banfield is committed to maintaining a respectful, inclusive, and compassionate workplace for associates, clients, and pets.