Hospital Veterinarian II

About Petco

Petco is where the pets go to find everything they need to live their best lives. For more than 60 years, we’ve provided meals, toys, trusted supplies, and expert support from people who understand pets because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood — the boundless boops, missing slippers, late-night zoomies, and everything in between. We are 29,000+ strong and together we nurture the pet-human bond in more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics, and eight distribution centers. In 1999, we founded Petco Love, supporting thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide and helping find homes for approximately 7 million animals through in-store adoption events.

About the role

At our Vetco Total Care Full Service Veterinary Hospitals, the veterinarian position is the most immersive role in the hospital. Our hospital veterinarians live and breathe quality — in the pets they treat and the people they work with. They are supported by quality equipment (ultrasound in every hospital, heated hydraulic surgery tables, DRXR), quality supportive medical field leaders, and a quality paraprofessional team encouraged to expand their skill sets as subject matter experts in dentistry, nutrition, and more.

Responsibilities

• Provide excellent patient care by performing physical examinations, diagnosing and treating diseases, and providing preventive care according to patient signalment, lifestyle, and environment.
• Utilize a problem-based approach that includes developing a complete problem list for every patient examined, a complete list of differential diagnoses for each problem identified, a complete diagnostic plan, and appropriate treatments based on interpretation of diagnostic test results leading to confirmed or suspected diagnoses.
• Document all patient observations, findings of exams and diagnostics, treatments and medications, client interactions, and tentative and confirmed diagnoses in the medical record in a concise and detailed fashion, according to practice convention.
• Perform routine and complex surgical procedures including (but not limited to) spays/neuters, abdominal exploratory, and mass removals.
• Perform routine and complex dental procedures including full dental examination, evaluation of dental radiographs, as well as simple and complex extractions and oral surgical procedures.
• Develop treatment plans for patients undergoing day hospitalization based on complete problem-based assessment. Transition patients to overnight care as needed and communicate effectively with referral hospitals to ensure continuity of patient care.
• Participate in rounds as incoming or exiting doctor at beginning and end of shifts.
• Disseminate knowledge throughout staff to improve the level of care and communication provided to hospital partners, to both the patient and the client.

Nature of Supervision

In all activities related to the care of individual patients, the Veterinarian will take direct supervision from the Hospital Medical Leader or Area Medical Director. The Veterinarian has discretion related to decisions regarding patient care; however, it is imperative that the Veterinarian uphold the standards set forth in the Petco Veterinary SOPs. The Veterinarian should expect to receive direction and guidance based on electronic medical record review from the Hospital Medical Leader or Area Medical Director regarding patient decisions and should accept such feedback as a means to elevate patient care in the hospital. All hospital veterinarians should work together in a collegial fashion and are expected to behave in a professional and personable manner.

Planning and Problem Solving

Problem solving is at the heart of veterinary medicine, and it is expected that any successful candidate will possess excellent problem-solving skills that allow expeditious diagnosis of patient problems.

Impact

This position will impact the organization by contributing to the growth of a productive practice while focusing on a high-quality standard of care. From an overall hospital organizational standpoint, this position is critical to ensuring that we have a cohesive, well-trained, and motivated team. The desired result is the creation of an optimal environment that ensures employee retention, patient well-being, and customer satisfaction.

Education/Experience

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree or equivalent from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school.
• Active licensure as a veterinarian without contingencies in the state in which the hospital is located or ability to obtain by start date.
• Current DEA license.
• Current Controlled Substance License, if applicable, in the state in which the hospital is located or ability to obtain by start date.
• USDA Category I (minimum) Accreditation or completion within two months of hire date.
• Must be comfortable performing anesthesia and routine surgeries including but not limited to: canine and feline spays, neuters, mass removals, and dentals.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be compassionate and sympathetic, and be able to maintain a professional attitude and demeanor during emotional and stressful situations.
• Must have telephone and computer skills.
• Must be a team player willing to learn new techniques and treatments, offer creative ideas, and accept change.

Work Environment

The majority of job duties are conducted in the Vetco Total Care veterinary full-service hospital. Position requires bending, kneeling, lifting (up to 30 pounds, as necessary), and standing for long periods of time. A large amount of this partner’s time will be spent in direct contact with clients and their pets.