Career Opportunities

Best Friends Veterinary Hospital located in Poway, CA is looking for an exceptional Associate Veterinarian to join our practice. We are a close-knit team that strives to provide the best care & service to our clients & their beloved pets. We are pleased to serve pet owners in Poway, by offering comprehensive veterinary and emergency services, as well as rehabilitative care. Our mission is to provide our clients with cutting-edge medical care while also showing compassion and providing exceptional service. 

We are prepared to offer you an amazing compensation package that includes:

• Amazing Flexible Work Schedule
• Receive Generous Compensation-$150,000 Base Salary
• Quarterly No Deficit Carryover Production Plan Available
• Lucrative Sign-On Bonus w/ a multi-year agreement
• Relocation Bonus up to $50,000
• Paid Vacation Time 
• CE Allotment & Additional CE PTO
• Full-Time Benefits at 30 days
• Reimbursement for membership dues and license fees
• Healthy Minds Program & Employee Assistance Programs
• Numerous Veterinary Partner & Retail Discounts 

Our ideal candidate must be committed to providing exceptional veterinary care, as well as possess good communication and organizational skills. Our skilled technicians and support staff are available to support your patient care needs & will assist in carrying out your medical plans & post-op care. Our hospital offers a great work environment & phenomenal culture! You will absolutely fall in love with this hospital & our community!

We are fully equipped to practice high-quality medicine.  Equipment highlights include digital radiography including, digital dental radiology, ultrasound, advanced in-house lab & pharmacy.

Located just northeast of San Diego, Poway is a family-oriented community. San Diego is known for its mild year-round climate, natural deep-water harbor, extensive beaches, long association with the United States Navy, and recent emergence as a healthcare and biotechnology development center.  The city is home to a multitude of cultural and arts opportunities, as well as professional sports, and endless outdoor activities. If hiking is your passion, take time to explore our many hiking trails including capturing an incredible photo at Potato Chip Rock, or conquer the 5-mile steep trail of Iron Mountain for a chance to look down on a panoramic view of San Diego.

Learn more and apply by visiting www.petvetcareers.com or emailing your CV/resume to Sonni Iris Nevarez at snevarez@petvetcarecenters.com

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Position Overview:

The Veterinary Technician supports hospital operations by providing dedicated quality veterinary care and exceptional service to our patients and clients. Responsibilities include providing patient care by determining animal requirements, conducting examinations and diagnostic procedures, assisting during surgery and operations, providing nursing care, assisting with feeding and caring for patients, maintaining medical supplies and equipment, overseeing triage and discharging patients, and maintaining patient medical records.

Essential Position Functions:

• Determine animal requirements by conducting examinations and interviews, reviewing care plans and records, completing laboratory tests and studies, and diagnostic imaging.
• Care for patients by taking vital signs, collecting samples, administering medications, drugs, and vaccines, and bandaging and wrapping wounds.
• Support patient examinations and operations by assembling required supplies and instruments, securing and bringing patients to examination rooms, and restraining patients; aids as directed by the veterinarian.
• Provide excellent pet care by applying full knowledge of anatomy, physiology, disease processes, pharmacology, specialized equipment usage, and specialized drug administration.
• Obtain and verify medications.
• Ensure that patients have food and water, clean patients' rooms, cages, and equipment; observe patients for clinical signs of disease.
• As directed, fill prescriptions and administer medications, including proper documentation, logging, and security of controlled drugs.
• Maintain a safe, secure, healthy, and humane environment by sterilizing and wrapping instruments, sanitizing and disinfecting holding and operating areas, storing sterile supplies, verifying shelf life, following standards and procedures, and in compliance with applicable legal regulations.
• Maintain medical records by documenting patients’ conditions, reactions, and changes; update the database in an accurate and timely manner.
• Communicate with the pet owner about the status of the patient, as directed by the veterinarian.
• Maintain equipment by following operating instructions, troubleshooting breakdowns, maintaining equipment supplies, performing preventive maintenance, and calling for repairs.
• Maintain inventory, place orders for needed supplies, verify, and maintain receipts.
• Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities and reading professional journals.
• Release pets to their owners as directed; ensure that every animal released is clean and properly groomed before their release.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Manager or practice.

Additional Position Functions:

Assignment to the specialty medical areas listed below may require the following additional job functions:

Cardiology

• Collect and submit laboratory samples.
• Identify common and acquired cardiac disorders and arrhythmias.
• Set up and calibrate transducers/physiographs to measure intracardiac and intravascular pressures.
• Understand the basic physiology and engineering of pacemakers.

Dentistry

• Perform dental cleanings, polishing, and intraoral radiographs.
• Perform nerve blocks.
• Assist with dental procedures and oral surgery.

Dermatology

• Prepare and administer medications, intravenously, orally, and topically.
• Perform ear cleanings and minor flushes.
• Obtain skin scrapes and tape samples.
• Prepare skin and ear cytology.
• Induce and monitor anesthesia.
• Place intravenous catheters.

Emergency

• Assist veterinarians with a variety of emergency procedures and critical care situations.
• Monitor vitals, place catheters and take x-rays.
• Clean wounds and apply casts or bandages.
• Give injections and take blood samples.
• May have to be on call in the intensive care unit.

Imaging

• Assist veterinarians with a variety of diagnostic imaging modalities, including digital radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound, etc.

Integrative

• Maintain logs of pet diagnoses, treatments, and follow-up results so veterinarians can track responses to integrative care.

Internal Medicine

• Research general wellness and preventative medicine for patients.

Neurology

• Perform various technical procedures, including anesthesia support and monitoring, intravenous catheter placement, venipuncture, IV injections, wound management, drug administration assistance, bandage care, surgery support, and various routine diagnostic Electromyography (EMG) testing.

Oncology

• Assist veterinarians with pet assessment, diagnostics, treatments, and procedures.
• Provide empathy, comfort, and unparalleled nursing care to all pets and serves as a strong pet advocate during the pet's hospitalization.
• Prepare and administers various chemotherapeutic agents.
• Provide the owner with extensive communication and education on various oncology disease processes.

Ophthalmology

• Assist veterinarians with ocular exams.
• Perform and/or assist with diagnostic testing (Schirmer Tear Testing, Tonometry, Ocular Ultrasounds, Electroretinogram testing, etc.).

Radiology

• Assist veterinarians with providing high-quality diagnostic imaging services to in-patient, out-patient, surgical, and emergency pets.

Surgery

• Provide extensive surgical assistance by preparing pets, scrubbing, shaving, acting as a surgical nurse, and operating specific surgical equipment and supplies.

Competencies:

• Care and Compassion: Displays a desire to build rapport, provide personal assistance, and emotional support.
• Team Orientation: Works cooperatively with the team to address tasks and accomplish goals.
• Dependability: Demonstrates responsibility in completing tasks and accomplishing goals.
• Initiative: Proactively looks for the opportunity to address and follow through on work activities.
• Flexibility and Multi-Tasking: Adapts quickly to changing demands and manages multiple priorities effectively.
• Communication: Uses effective and appropriate methods of interacting with others.
• Customer Services: Displays a desire to provide outstanding service and exceed customer expectations.
• Organization and Attention to Detail: Monitors and reviews information thoroughly and maintains an organized system for all documents.
• Adherence to Rules and Instructions: Consistently follows standard procedures.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Two or more years of experience with veterinary appointments, surgeries, and nursing care for hospitalized and critical patients.
• Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), or the Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician (LVMT) preferred or as required by State.
• May consider an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience.

Position Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Knowledge of the preparation, monitoring, and recovery of pets receiving surgery, as well as basic pet nursing.
• Ability to demonstrate and follow correct procedures in catheter placement, phlebotomy, emergency medicine, and digital radiology.
• Understand and limit the potential exposure to bites, scratches, and potential injuries.
• Able to restrain patients according to standard procedures.
• Fill prescriptions and monitor sedation procedures as directed by the veterinarian.
• Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors.
• Display confidence and reassurance when dealing with pets experiencing severe stress, illness, or pain.
• Communicate and approach job duties in a professional and mature manner.
• Must be flexible with scheduling and able to work some weekends and holidays.
• This is a strenuous job that requires a lot of lifting, cleaning, and constant motion.
• Depending on the functional area of assignment, tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation and/or extended periods of time standing and/or walking.
• May include some climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
• Some tasks involve the periodic performance of moderately physically demanding work, usually involving lifting or carrying moderately heavy animals (up to 50 pounds).
• Answer phones and perform other duties as needed by the hospital.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by Manager or practice.

Additional Information:

The list of essential functions and additional functions, as outlined in this job description, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this position. The omission of any job function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a required assignment for the position.