Veterinary Assistant

Wilkinson Animal Hospital is located just west of Charlotte in Gastonia, North Carolina. We are a full service small animal hospital providing the best possible veterinary services, pet boarding, and pet grooming services to dogs and cats in Gastonia and surrounding areas. We are also proud to be named one of the "Best Veterinarians in Gaston County" in the Gaston Gazette's Best of Gaston Awards

Here at Wilkinson Animal Hospital, our mission is to consistently exceed client expectations by competently providing exceptional customer service and compassionate, high-quality veterinary care which improves the health, comfort, and well-being of our pet patients, thereby enriching the lives of the people they touch. If you are a passionate and caring team player please apply today

Role Summary

We are currently seeking a Full-Time Veterinary Assistant to join our growing team. The Veterinary Assistant is responsible for assisting Veterinarians and Credentialed Veterinary Technicians in the care of animals, the hospital, and all medical equipment and machinery. Assistants will help maintain a clean, efficient, and healthy environment for animals being treated or boarded at the hospital. The Veterinary Assistant is a crucial part of the medical team and is responsible for advocating for the patient as well as education of the clients.

Role Responsibilities/Qualifications

Responsibilities

• Assist DVMs and credentialed veterinary technicians with appointments, prepping patients for surgery and minor procedures, surgical assisting, and pro-actively set up for any procedures or diagnostic tests
• Restrain animals in a safe, efficient, and caring manner
• Obtain accurate vitals, obtain medical histories, and/or note any changes of patient's condition to DVM
• Collect and prepare laboratory samples such as fecal, urine, and ear cytologies
• Care and maintenance of all medical equipment including laboratory machines, surgical packs, anesthesia machines, and any other tools that are essential to daily operations
• High quality client communication on patient updates and questions
  

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED certificate 
• Flexible schedule including some weekend and holiday shifts
• Knowledge of medical procedures and animal handling
• Must possess strong communication skills, good judgment and be able to manage stressful situations, and work with others on a team respectfully
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
  

Your Benefits

• Pay range of $15-$18/hour, based on experience 
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D) 
• Short Term Disability 
• Paid Time Off (Vacation & Public Holidays)
• Teladoc - FREE doctor access 24/7
• Discounted Veterinary Care
• EAP (Employee Assistance Program)
• A large network of over 10,000 veterinary professionals who all share common interest in promoting a collaborative working environment and individual career growth 
• Opportunity to make an impact in your community while tackling a challenging, variety of tasks and the ability to help animals among a great team of people
  
  

Vet Tech Pathways
We believe in supporting your journey to becoming a Credentialed Veterinary Technician. For eligible teammates, we cover the costs for you to earn your credentials, opening up numerous career opportunities. Whether you're interested in deepening your clinical skills, exploring a specialty, or advancing into leadership, our program empowers you to shape your path. With a range of learning and development resources, you can focus on what excites you most, knowing that we've got your back every step of the way. Your future is in your hands, and we're here to help you achieve it. At SVP, your path is yours to create.

About Mission Pet Health

Veterinarian-led. People-focused. Pet-obsessed. That's Mission Pet Health in a nutshell

We were founded by veterinarians who believe local practices thrive when autonomy, collaboration, and medical excellence lead the way. That belief still guides everything we do—from mentorship to medicine to how we support our teammates. 

Driving our award-winning culture are our WAG values – Work Together, Amaze, and Grow – which fuel us to drive a tangible, lasting impact for our teams, the communities we serve, and the pets we care for. 

So, what's in it for you at Mission?

• Unparalleled opportunities for personal and professional development
• Benefits that buck the norm of the vet med industry
• A culture where YOUR well-being comes first

We're on a mission to be the greatest veterinary company in the world—and we'd love for YOU to be a part of it

Mission is one of the leading veterinary care organizations in the U.S., formed by the joining together of Southern Veterinary Partners and Mission Veterinary Partners. Our mission is to provide world-class support to hospital teams on a hyper-local basis. Our Home Office teams manage the back-end side of the business so our hospital teams can focus on what matters most – the medicine and caring for their patients. We're based in Birmingham, AL, but the heartbeat of Mission is in our 850+ animal hospitals and 20,000+ teammates across the country. Founded on a deep commitment to clinical and operational excellence, we've earned recognition on prestigious workplace ranking lists such as Inc. 5000, U.S. News & World Report, and Newsweek. In fact, in 2024, Newsweek named SVP the #11 Most Loved Workplace in America, marking the company's third consecutive Top 25 ranking.