Veterinary Assistant - Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital
Position Overview
Join our team as a Veterinary Assistant who supports the veterinarians and technicians in their daily tasks by cleaning and maintaining equipment, feeding, exercising and grooming patients, preparing and sanitizing surgery suites, restraining and handling patients, and clerical and administrative work. They deliver quality care for all patients and provide exceptional service. For over 20 years, Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital has been a trusted veterinary resource for the O'Fallon, MO community, offering comprehensive services from wellness and dental care to surgery and internal medicine in a warm, welcoming environment. What truly distinguishes the Gentle Doctor team is their exceptional commitment to ongoing education — their doctors complete twice the continuing education required by Missouri state law, ensuring that every patient benefits from the most current advances in veterinary medicine.
Why Join Us
Join a fast-paced, 5-doctor practice where you'll gain hands-on experience assisting with surgeries performed Monday through Friday while caring for a variety of patients, including cats, dogs, and pocket pets.
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)
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older to be considered for this position
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Minimum of 2 years experience as a veterinary technician or assistant
- Strong understanding of veterinary medical protocols, patient care and hospital operations
Preferred Skills (Nice To Have)
- Experience using veterinary management software
- Anesthesia monitoring experience
- Dental experience
Schedule
Monday through Friday 7:15AM to 6:30PM availability with alternating Saturdays 7:45AM to 1:30PM. Some availability is sufficient, alternating Saturdays is required.
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