Experienced Veterinary Assistant – Treatment & Surgery

Vancouver Downtown Pet Hospital | Vancouver, BC
$20–$23/hour, based on experience | Full-time or Part time

Ready to put your veterinary skills to work in a team that values what you do?

Vancouver Downtown Pet Hospital is looking for an experienced, compassionate, and clinically confident Veterinary Assistant to join our treatment and surgery team.

We know that outstanding veterinary assistants make a real difference. From safely handling a frightened patient to supporting a smooth surgical procedure, your skills, judgment, and attention to detail help keep our patients safe and our hospital running well.

If you enjoy hands-on clinical work, thrive in a busy small-animal hospital, and want to be part of a collaborative team where your contributions are recognized, we would love to hear from you.

Why join our team?

- Competitive hourly pay: $20–$23, based on relevant experience.
- Flexible scheduling: Full-time or part-time opportunities.
- Employee wellness benefit: Free annual physical examination.
- Benefits for your own pets: Generous discounts on veterinary care, food, and pet products.
- Clinical skill development: Structured opportunities to develop your skills and broaden your experience.
- Supportive team environment: Work alongside veterinarians and registered veterinary technologists who value communication, teamwork, and continued learning.
- Modern, paperless workflow: Use our fully paperless electronic medical records system.
- Convenient downtown location: Excellent access to public transportation.




- A workplace that respects your time: We value thoughtful scheduling, teamwork, and reasonable work-life boundaries.

What you'll doHands-on treatment and surgical support

- Safely restrain and handle dogs and cats, including fearful, stressed, and reactive patients, using low-stress handling techniques.
- Assist with surgical preparation, instrument management, intraoperative support, and post-anesthetic recovery.
- Support veterinarians and RVTs with treatments, procedures, and day-to-day patient care.
- Collect and process in-house laboratory samples.
- Maintain accurate patient records and follow established infection-control and safety protocols.

Client communication and hospital coordination

- Welcome clients and their pets with warmth and professionalism.
- Help coordinate appointments, telephone calls, and patient flow in a busy hospital.
- Communicate veterinary instructions clearly and compassionately.
- Assist with prescription refills and post-procedure follow-up.
- Keep patient-care details and clinical documentation accurate and up to date.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who can contribute confidently from day one.

Required qualifications and experience:





- At least one year of paid experience in a small-animal veterinary hospital.
- Hands-on experience supporting treatment procedures and surgery.
- Demonstrated ability to safely handle fearful, stressed, or reactive dogs and cats.
- Working knowledge of veterinary terminology, vaccination protocols, and commonly used veterinary medications.
- Strong communication, organization, and teamwork skills.
- A calm, dependable, and compassionate approach, even during busy periods.
- The ability to move comfortably between clinical duties and client communication.

Please note: This is an experienced clinical position, not an entry-level training role. Candidates must have previous veterinary hospital experience.

Interested in joining us?

If you're an experienced Veterinary Assistant who takes pride in patient care and enjoys being part of a dependable clinical team, we encourage you to apply.

Apply through Indeed or email your résumé to [email protected].

Please include a brief note introducing yourself and highlighting your veterinary hospital experience, particularly your treatment and surgical support skills and experience handling patients.

We personally review every application and look forward to learning more about you.

Vancouver Downtown Pet Hospital is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with respect.

Pay: $20.00-$23.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Work Location: In person

📌 Veterinary Assistant/Receptionist (Vancouver)
🏢 Vancouver Downtown Pet Hospital
📍 Vancouver