Associate Veterinarian

Description

Associate Veterinarian – Ponchatoula & Independence, LA

Hickory Small Animal Hospital is seeking an Associate Veterinarian to support our two AAHA-accredited small animal hospitals in Ponchatoula and Independence, Louisiana.

We welcome both experienced veterinarians and new graduates with an interest in small animal general practice, preventive care, and primary care surgery who are excited to grow in a supportive, team-oriented environment.

What We Offer:

• Competitive base salary + production-based compensation (paid quarterly, no long-term negative accrual)
• Sign-on bonus and retention bonus opportunities
• Relocation assistance
• Flexible scheduling to support work-life balance

About You

You’re a dedicated small animal veterinarian (or upcoming graduate) who enjoys building lasting relationships with clients while delivering high-quality, compassionate care. Whether you’re early in your career or bringing years of experience, you’re motivated to continue learning, growing, and contributing to a collaborative team.

You’re comfortable (or eager to become comfortable) managing wellness, preventive care, and sick/urgent cases, and you bring a thoughtful, team-first approach to patient care. You value mentorship, communication, and a positive work environment where you can develop your skills and confidence.

What You Bring:

• Interest or experience in small animal medicine (dogs & cats)
• Comfort with or desire to learn wellness exams, preventive care, and sick visits
• Interest in primary care surgery (spay/neuter, dentistry, soft tissue procedures)
• Strong communication skills and a willingness to build client trust
• Ability to collaborate across multiple hospital teams
• Commitment to maintaining AAHA standards of care

You’re looking for a practice where you’ll be supported - whether that means mentorship and skill development as a newer graduate or autonomy and continued growth as an experienced doctor.

About Hickory Small Animal Hospital

Hickory Small Animal Hospital operates two well-established, AAHA-accredited small animal general practices in Ponchatoula and Independence, serving a broad region across Tangipahoa and Livingston Parishes. Our hospitals are known for delivering high-quality veterinary care, building strong client relationships, and maintaining advanced medical standards.

Across both locations, you’ll experience a diverse case mix, including wellness and preventive care, vaccinations, dentistry, diagnostics, soft tissue surgery, grooming, and boarding, allowing you to practice comprehensive medicine at your own pace and comfort level.

Our veterinarians are supported by collaborative, experienced teams and benefit from a culture that emphasizes mentorship, growth, flexibility, and teamwork.

What Sets Us Apart:

• Two AAHA-accredited hospitals with strong reputations in southeast Louisiana
• Broad caseload including wellness care, sick visits, surgery, dentistry, and diagnostics
• Supportive environment with mentorship opportunities for new graduates
• Opportunity to work across two collaborative, team-oriented locations
• Established, loyal client base across multiple communities
• Commitment to high medical standards and continuous improvement
• Backing of Thrive Pet Healthcare with access to tools, resources, and career development

Ponchatoula Location:
Our Ponchatoula hospital is a high-performing, team-driven practice with a tenured staff and a strong reputation across Ponchatoula, Hammond, and Springfield. Since opening in 2009, we’ve continued to grow by investing in our people, technology, and medical protocols while maintaining a collaborative, positive culture.

Independence Location:
Our Independence hospital is a Feline-Friendly certified, AAHA-accredited practice and the first of its kind in the region. We serve clients across Independence, Tangipahoa Parish, Livingston Parish, Loranger, Montpellier, and Amite City, offering primary care and wellness services in a welcoming, community-focused environment.

Both locations offer consistent scheduling:

• Monday–Friday: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
• Saturday: 7:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Located within convenient driving distance of Baton Rouge and New Orleans, our hospitals offer the best of both worlds - small-town charm with easy access to major city amenities. Whether you prefer a quieter, community-focused lifestyle or the option to explore vibrant city culture, dining, and entertainment, this area provides flexibility and balance for any stage of life.

At Hickory Small Animal Hospital, you’ll find the best of both worlds - a locally rooted, community-focused practice with the support and resources of Thrive Pet Healthcare. It’s a place where you can grow your confidence, develop your skills, and practice the kind of medicine you’re proud of—at any stage of your career. Click here to learn more.

To learn more about this opportunity, apply today, or reach out to us at View email address on click.appcast.io.

Your Experience & Skills

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM / VMD) or equivalent degree required
• State Veterinary Board License and must be in good standing for the state in which they intend to be hired, prior to their start date
• Active DEA license or DEA licensure eligible

Benefits – Our Care In Action

Thrive offers a suite of benefits to support team members’ emotional, physical, professional, and financial wellbeing. In addition to our health and life insurance, and short- and long- term disability plans, we offer eligible team members:

• Competitive pay
• 401(k) with employer match
• Mental health resources, including easy access to therapy through Lyra Health
• Paid parental leave
• Purr-ental leave for when you adopt a pet
• Subsidized backup childcare and elder care
• Expert advice, support and network discounts for fertility and family planning
• FREE CE courses
• Pet perks and veterinary service discounts
• Student loan support tools and assistance

*Some benefits shown are only for full-time team members who work 30 hours or more per week. Certain Benefits may be subject to waiting periods or length of service requirements.

Thrive’s Medical Excellence and Education Department leads training and mentorship programs designed to support and empower you with the knowledge, tools, and resources to strengthen and nurture your professional journey.

Plus, we offer rich Medical Excellence through Education programs including Meant to Thrive doctor mentorship, comprehensive RACE-accredited dental education, team and patient safety resources and guidance - and more!

About Thrive

Thrive Pet Healthcare creates the future of pet well-being through medical excellence, innovative technology, and a connected community of teams and partners. Today, its network of 360+ primary, emergency, and specialty hospitals across the U.S. cares for pets of all ages and health needs, while portfolio companies provide tools and technology that help veterinary teams work smarter and deliver better care. Thrive invests in its people—through mentorship, leadership programs, continuing education, and well-being initiatives—so teams can grow and feel supported. For pet owners, convenient solutions such as a mobile app, digital booking, Thrive PlusTM membership, HereFurYou Helpline, an online pharmacy and flexible financial options* make accessing quality care simpler— giving families the peace of mind their pets deserve. Learn more at thrivepetcare.com.

We welcome you to join our story and join where #WeThriveTogether.

At Thrive Pet Healthcare, we celebrate and embrace the uniqueness and diversity of all of our team members, pet owners, and pets. We strive to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture where all team members are empowered and feel a sense of belonging.