Veterinary Assistant

Veterinary Assistant

Central Hospital for Animals is looking for an experienced, compassionate veterinary assistant to join our team in Carbondale, Illinois. We're a full-service veterinary hospital providing wellness care, dentistry, routine surgeries, and more for dogs, cats, and exotic pets. If you're looking for a veterinary team that values quality medicine, teamwork, and continued learning, we'd love to meet you!

Our modern veterinary facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including on-site laboratory capabilities that allow our team to efficiently perform and process diagnostic testing. We practice evidence-based medicine and provide pet owners with the information and resources they need to make informed decisions about their pets' care. Our hospital also includes a full-service grooming salon, offering everything from nail trims to custom brush-outs and styling.

What You'll Do

As a veterinary assistant, you'll play an important role in supporting our doctors and veterinary team while helping provide excellent patient care. Your responsibilities may include:

• Safely restraining and handling dogs, cats, and exotic pets
• Triaging incoming veterinary patients and obtaining accurate medical histories
• Collecting and processing laboratory samples and assisting with on-site diagnostic testing
• Assisting with diagnostic imaging and radiographs
• Providing nursing and medical care for hospitalized patients with varying levels of stability
• Administering medications and monitoring patient responses
• Communicating treatment plans and recommendations clearly with veterinary clients
• Preparing patients for surgery and assisting the veterinary team during procedures
• Supporting anesthesia monitoring and surgical recovery
• Maintaining a clean, organized, and safe veterinary environment

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a veterinary assistant who is compassionate, dependable, calm under pressure, and comfortable working as part of a collaborative veterinary team. A minimum of one year of veterinary experience is preferred.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be comfortable properly restraining and handling pets
• Have experience with sample collection, medical histories, laboratory testing, and radiographs
• Have anesthesia monitoring experience or a strong interest in developing these skills
• Be organized, adaptable, and able to multitask in a busy veterinary environment
• Communicate effectively with clients and fellow team members
• Be a self-starter who is eager to continue building their veterinary knowledge and skills

This role involves exposure to unpleasant odors and noises and may include contact with animal waste, bites, scratches, and potentially contagious diseases. Comfort working around these conditions is essential.

Grow With Us

Whether you want to become a master of your veterinary assistant role or are ready to take the next step in your career, Central Hospital for Animals supports your professional growth. You'll have access to a variety of hands-on, interactive, and virtual training opportunities designed to expand your veterinary skills and knowledge.

If you're ready to bring your compassion, curiosity, and veterinary experience to a team that cares deeply about its patients and clients, we'd love to hear from you!

We offer our staff:

• Compensation: $15-18/hr depending on experience
• Comprehensive Benefits (health, dental, vision, liability, 401k & 401K matching program, life & supplemental insurance, HSA, & FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Vacation and Sick Time for ALL Employees
• Paid Bereavement Program
• Paid Parental Leave Program
• Competitive Compensation
• Continuing Education Allowance (applies to licensed/registered/certified roles)
• Tuition Reimbursement Program Available to any AVMA Accredited Veterinary Technology Program
• Career Development Opportunities
• Referral Bonus Program for most positions!
• Additional Benefits May Also Be Available (i.e. Personal Pet Discounts, Holiday Pay, Uniform Allowance, Bonuses etc)
• Hiring eligibility may be contingent to a candidate authorizing and completing a satisfactory pre-employment screening.

*Note some benefits may only be available to or vary slightly for full time employment status vs part time status.