Veterinary Assistant
Department: Veterinary Assistants
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Dallas, Texas
Description
A Nurse Aid provides daily care, feeding and exercise of boarding pets. They also pay close attention to pets’ status such as signs of stress and changes in eating or elimination habits, promptly notifying technicians and veterinarians when a pet needs medical attention. The Nurse Aid interacts with clients in person. A Nurse Aid must pay close attention to details, understand and follow proper feeding and sanitation procedures and monitor boarding pets. In addition, a Nurse Aid provides support to the Veterinary Assistants and Technicians in keeping the Treatment and Surgery area of the hospital stocked and clean.Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:
- Provide compassionate care to boarding pets
- Care for boarding animals, including cage cleaning, exercising, feeding, observing signs of illness and controlling the spread of parasites and infectious diseases
- Report abnormal activity to doctors and technicians
- Recognize emergency situations, enlisting the aid of doctors and technicians
- Mark cage cards correctly for eating, drinking and elimination habits
- Feed and water animals according to schedules
- Clean, disinfect and dry cages and runs as needed
- Clean and disinfect cat litter boxes
- Clean and disinfect all food and water bowls
- Wear personal protective equipment required for the area and maintain the personal protective equipment in good working order.
- Move pets to other areas so runs can be disinfected; return animal to correct run after the run is clean and dry.
- Replace soiled bedding and launder it
- Operate washer and dryer to clean kennel bedding and hospital/ surgical laundry
- Give baths to animals that qualify for a bath before they go home
- Perform “TLC” play times or walks for clients who have requested it
- Take pets to treatment area for medical services to be administered
- Record and label all personal belongings
- Talk with owners, return all personal belongings and review boarding report card with client
- Spot clean animals and check over before being discharged
- Maintain sanitary conditions throughout kennel
- Assist doctors and technicians with restraint as needed during appointments
- Be able to communicate with clients about the status of their animals
- Collect any samples requested by the doctor or technician
- Know proper animal restraint techniques
- Maintain food and supply storage areas
- Understand infectious diseases and how to control and prevent their spread
- Ensure hospital patients go home well groomed and in an appropriate medical state
Skills Knowledge and Expertise
- High school diploma or GED required
- Preferred have at least 1 year of veterinary medicine experience
- Must be a bright, friendly, and effective communicator in order to communicate with clients, visitors, veterinarians, and other hospital staff. (It’s okay if you talk to animals, too!)
- Must be able to sit, stand, walk, and move freely for extended periods of time
- Must be able to lift 50 squirming pounds
- Must be able to work in a veterinary environment with exposure to infection or contagious diseases
Benefits
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Health Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision insurance
- Employee discounts
- Flexible schedules
- 401K with company match
- Career development and training