Veterinary Assistant: We can help you have a job you love and the life you want.

Island Animal Hospital is an established hospital in Mercer Island, WA and part of the Cara Network of Neighborhood Veterinary Practices. We’re well known for the dedicated care we give our community’s animal family members, and as one of Cara’s 10 member hospitals, we’re also known as an exceptional place to work.

In real world talk, that means you’ll get the training and support you need to do your job well. Plenty of opportunities to learn, grow, and advance. Acknowledgement and rewards for those who go the extra mile for our clients and their pets.

Here’s how:

• Great compensation & benefits
• Flexible schedules
• A verifiable commitment to putting pets and our people first
• Clear expectations and a path to advancement

Our Location:

Mercer Island offers peaceful, upscale living with unbeatable access to Seattle. Surrounded by Lake Washington, it’s perfect for anyone who loves being on the water, boating, kayaking, and swimming are part of everyday life here. The island is known for excellent schools, low crime, and a strong sense of community.

Our Offer:

• Competitive salary ranging from $22-$26
• Medical, vision, & dental insurance premium with 4 options for all full-time employees
• Child, spousal, and family insurance options for all medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off (PTO), up to 80 hours + 10 hours for Personal Celebration Day
• Up to six paid floating holidays per calendar year
• 401k + 4% employer match
• Employee pet care discount for up to four personal pets
• Uniform allowance
• Professional Development (CE) reimbursement, up to $500 each year
• Quarterly Incentive Bonus Program with potential earnings of up to $250/quarter
• Veterinary Medical Clerk License application and renewal covered
• Regular reviews and feedback

What We’re Looking For:

• We want to provide clients and their pets with the kind of exceptional care and service they cannot get anywhere else—so it’s important that you’re as good with people as you are with pets. This means you should be someone who:
• enjoys educating and connecting with people
• communicates effectively
• advocates for patients
• is reliable and trustworthy
• has some demonstrable animal care skills
• shows adaptability and resilience

Is That You?

Then please apply with a fully updated resume as well as a cover letter expressing why you think you’d be a good fit for us!

Cara Veterinary is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members.

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CARA VETERINARY CORE VALUE PILLARS

• Put pets first: Our first priority is always with the health, happiness, and comfort of our patients. We have designed the Cara experience with the animal perspective in mind. And our care advice is based only on what is best for the pet.
• Trust the parent: We believe that caring for an animal is a partnership built on mutual trust and humility. We trust parents to make the right decisions for themselves and their pets and invite them to actively participate in care alongside us.
• Authentically human: Caring for a pet involves the full spectrum of emotions, from joy to grief. We must lean into openness, empathy, and compassionate listening. We know when to be fun, and when to be serious. At all times, we foster supportive, positive, and authentically human hospital culture.
• Good neighbors: Although our business is growing, we retain the attitude and spirit of a neighborhood vet. We welcome people in. We get to know our clients' families and are proud to play an active role in our local communities.
• Shake things up: We are always looking for a better way. In an industry that hasn't seen a lot of innovation, we are experimenting with new ways of delivering care, delighting customers, providing unexpectedly human (and animal) touches, and infusing out hospitals with fresh ideas.

Summary of Job Purpose and Functions: As Veterinary Assistant your role is essential to maintaining the health and well-being of our animal patients and upholding the highest standards of care at Cara Veterinary. You will be responsible for the day-to-day patient care, ensuring a clean and safe environment, and assisting with various medical and client-related tasks. ] Your work is guided by the principles and values outlined in Cara Veterinary's pillars and core competencies, ensuring that our patients always come first.

Essential Responsibilities and Tasks: Veterinary Assistant

• Cleaning, disinfection, manage and care for: cat room, kennel room, inside runs and outside area
• Cage card interpretation (diagnosis, food/water intake, stool/urine samples needed, medications, etc.)
• Laundry (including disinfection of regular and the Isolation Ward linens)
• Husbandry and Husbandry Standards (feeding, water, walking and litter pans- frequency)
• Obtain body weights, temperature, heart rates and respiratory rates and DOCUMENT
• Safe and effective animal restraint and muzzle application for canines and felines.
• Disposal of waste and sharps
• Proper care and use of clippers and blades
• Isolation Protocol
• Care and handling of neonates
• Perform ear flushes (Direct DVM/LVT Supervision)
• Nail trims
• Fecal Set Up and Preparation to outgoing lab (Direct DVM/LVT Supervision)
• Perform all SNAP tests (Direct DVM/LVT Supervision)
• Telephone etiquette including appointment scheduling
• Add new Client & Patient and schedule an appointment
• Check –in & Checkout a patient with receiving (Practice Management Software)
• Open, complete and get signatures for Admit Form (s)
• CareCredit application and setup
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Washington State Medical Clerk License
• Admit & discharge patients
• Biological injections (vaccines) (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Biological vaccines for rabies (Direct DVM Supervision)
• Intramuscular and subcutaneous injections (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Intravenous injections into catheterized veins (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Anal gland expression
• Lab sample collection and test preparation (direct DVM supervision)
• Venipuncture (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Skin Scrapping (exfoliative) (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Imaging procedures: produce radiographs and transfer images (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Removal of sutures, drains and staples (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Use and maintenance of ultrasonic cleaner and instrument milk
• Bandage applications (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Removal of exposed foreign bodies (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Knowledge and understanding of the Cara Surgical Sterility Protocol
• Knowledge of surgical instruments- their use and names
• Maintenance and use of autoclave/gas sterilizer (including proper instrument selection)
• Assembly of surgical packs and autoclave
• Proper procedure for opening sterile instruments, suture material, and scalpel blades
• Patient preparation of surgery (clipping, positioning, surgical scrub, urinary bladder expression)
• Client Engagement: Embrace your role in enhancing the client experience by fostering meaningful connections with clients. Listen empathetically, answer questions, and provide support and guidance.
• Challenging Client Situations: Develop the skill to defuse difficult client interactions gracefully. Your ability to remain patient, empathetic, and professional in challenging situations is key.
• Microchip implantation (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Perform enema (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Massage, except when otherwise regulated (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Dispense non-controlled pharmaceuticals (Requires Veterinary Medical Clerk License)
• Removal of exposed foreign bodies (i.e., Ticks or PPQ’s) (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Perform ECG & blood pressure readings (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Set up for all surgery types
• Change oxygen tank
• Know how to care for an intravenous catheter
• Knowledge of IDEXX equipment and how to run samples
• Knowledge of IDEXX maintenance procedures and frequency of care as well as documentation
• Know locations of drugs for emergency use
• Client Engagement: Cultivate a welcoming, empathetic, and memorable client experience. Embrace a hospitality mindset to elevate service.
• Client education (admit, discharge & present estimates)
• Ability to be assigned to a doctor and assist them in handling their cases.
• How to prepare an estimate for a client
• Know how to invoice a client
• Ultrasound set up including client/patient information input
• Bandage application (Direct DVM/LVT Supervision)
• Know proper technique to scrubbing, gowning, and gloving
• Monitor anesthetized patients’ vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration) (IMMEDIATE DVM/LVT Supervision)
• Set up and Maintenance of Suction Equipment
• IV Catheterization - peripheral (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Know the names of dental instruments and care/maintenance of dental equipment
• Routine Dental Prophy (direct DVM/LVT supervision)
• Perform non-invasive CPR and basic first aid
• Client Education: Provide comprehensive client education during admissions, discharges, and while presenting treatment estimates. Serve as a resource for clients, offering detailed information and guidance on their pets' health and treatment options.
• Anticipate Veterinarian's Needs: Proactively anticipate the needs of the veterinarian during appointments, procedures, and surgeries. Prepare necessary equipment, supplies, and treatment plans to streamline the care process.
• Patient Flow Director: Efficiently manage patient flow, ensuring timely appointments and procedures, which contributes to a seamless and positive client experience.
• Client Partnership: Act as a partner with clients in their pets' healthcare journey, fostering a relationship-based approach to veterinary care.
• Experiential Client Interactions: Create experiential, not transactional, client interactions by actively engaging with clients, answering their questions, addressing concerns, and making them feel heard and valued.
• May assist in training of other team members as directed by hospital leaders