Veterinary Assistant, ER, Alta Vista Specialty and Emergency Veterinary Center

Veterinary Assistant, ER Location: Ottawa, ON Compensation: $17.85 to $25.00 per hour, depending on experience Employment Type: Full-time Position Type: Existing position The Veterinary Assistant, ER, is a full-time, permanent position. The number of positions has yet to be determined so we will consider full-time and part-time applicants. Hours of work are a rotation of days, evenings, weekends, and overnights, working with a team of other technicians and assistants. This position reports directly to the Technical Resource Manager, ER.

Responsibilities

• Triage emergency cases as they arrive at the hospital including obtaining vitals such as temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure.
• Assist the doctor with creating patient treatment plans and thoroughly explaining them to owners.
• Have a complete understanding of normal ranges of patient vital signs, including but not limited to heart and respiratory rate, temperature, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation.
• Obtain and interpret blood pressure and other vital signs and alert the Veterinarian to changes and issues.
• Assist with phlebotomy and intravenous catheters.
• Identify patients at risk for arrest and assist with CPR.
• Have a passion for mentoring and training other co-workers.
• Have patience and empathy to address client concerns.
• Care of ill patients, including walking, feeding, and restraint.
• Client updates over the phone or in person.
• Keeping clients up to date with waiting times and setting appropriate expectations.
• Stocking, cleaning, and, maintenance of Emergency treatment area and hospital as a whole.

Qualifications

• Preferred: Veterinary Assistant diploma; Fluent in English (Reading, Writing, and Oral)
• Preferred: Able to support patients up to 50kg and lift up to 25kg.

Skills

• Stellar client service skills
• Ability to maintain composure in stressful situations
• Time management skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks/projects
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Proven ability to organize, takes initiative, works independently, exercises good judgment Decision-making and critical thinking skills
• Ability to build and maintain internal and external relationships with professionalism and integrity
• Exhibits a positive attitude and uses courtesy, diplomacy and discretion
• Maintains professional ethics and confidentiality.

A little bit about us

We are Canada’s largest network of companion animal hospitals, devoted to providing compassionate care for pets. Our team of over 2500 people operate specialty-referral, primary care, alternative therapy and emergency hospitals and are committed to providing superior patient care and client experience. At our core are our people – people we think of as family. Our different strengths and interests enrich and improve us with diversity, innovation and excellence. In support we are national leaders in career development and growth opportunities, continuing education, scholarships and awards. We are also passionate about giving back to the community through Paw It Forward, our national philanthropic program.

What VCA Canada Offers

• RRSP Employer 5 % Match Program – saving for your future just got easier!
• A caring culture of Wellness and Appreciation!
• Competitive wages and benefits!
• Opportunity to apply for a Veterinary Technician/Technologist scholarship (annual process)
• Annual uniform allowance
• Exceptional career development: there is room to grow here!
• Referral Bonus Rewards
• Opportunities to give back to your community through VCA initiatives
• Generous personal pet care discounts
• And extra perks like shopping discounts and cool wellness apps!

Our Story

VCA Canada is a network of veterinary hospitals, with our head office in Calgary, Alberta, committed to positively impacting pets, people, and local communities for nearly 45 years. We have compassion for the neighbourhoods we serve and every pet within them, not just those we see in our hospitals. Every VCA Canada hospital location takes pride in its legacy of excellence, earning the trust of pet owners by delivering the highest quality of medicine to keep pets happy and healthy. In 2017, VCA Canada became part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of brands, solidifying an even stronger commitment to ensuring the strength and stability of the veterinary profession and our commitment to pet parents nationwide. VCA Canada is also passionate about providing an industry-leading Associate experience to over 4,000 Canadians employed across the country. In 2026, for the third year in a row, we were named one of Alberta's Top Employers, which recognizes organizations whose head offices are located within the province and lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work. Additionally, we were selected as one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People 2026, which recognizes employers across Canada that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work and programs for young people starting their careers. Most recently, we received 2026 Great Place to Work® Certification™ Canada. A leader in veterinary care, VCA Animal Hospitals is committed to taking care of the future of veterinary medicine. We are a family of hometown animal hospitals determined to positively impact pets, people and our communities. From primary care to emergency, urgent and specialty care, VCA delivers world-class medicine and hometown care to more than four million pets each year. We invest in cutting-edge tools, training and technology that enable Associates across our national network of hospitals to lead the industry today and into tomorrow. Among our talented 35,000 Associates are nearly 7,000 veterinarians – including 500 who are board-certified specialists – nearly 4,000 credentialed technicians and over 10,000 veterinary assistants – all dedicated to giving pets the very best in medical care. The future of veterinary medicine is in our hands.