Description

At Animal Urgent Care of South Orange County, a Thrive Pet Healthcare partner, you’ll have the support, tools, and resources to grow your career in emergency veterinary medicine. As a hospital deeply rooted in our Mission Viejo community, you will experience what it is like to be apart of a team with the strength and resources of Thrive’s network.

Who we are

Despite our name, we are a true emergency hospital, serving pets and their families 365 days a year with advance care when it’s needed most. Our fast-paced environment provides an incredible opportunity to learn and grow in emergency and critical care medicine. From triaging urgent cases and stabilizing critical patients to supporting ongoing treatments, our team provides lifesaving veterinary care when pets need it most.

Our doctors, veterinary technicians and client service representatives work side by side to deliver compassionate care with urgency and precision. We foster a culture that balances personal growth, teamwork, and uncompromising animal care-all while serving as trusted lifeline for our community pets in crisis.

Provide your best care with more bridges and less barriers.

As a Veterinary Assistant, you’ll play a vital role in patient care, supporting hands-on treatments, facilitating diagnostics, and ensuring smooth patient flow from admission to discharge. In our emergency setting, every shift brings unique cases, meaningful learning experiences, and the chance to make a real difference when pets and their families need us most.

Role Responsibilities:

• Support veterinarians in emergency care to ensure high-quality treatment, advocate for pets in crisis, and educate clients with clarity and compassion.

• Assist the medical team in all aspects of patient care to maximize productivity and maintain smooth patient flow in a fast-paced ER setting.

• Obtain and document detailed health histories from clients, ensuring accurate and comprehensive medical records using practice systems.

• Perform moderate to advanced nursing skills, including:

• Placing and maintaining intravenous catheters (IVCs)

• Collecting blood samples via venipuncture

• Administering SQ, IM, and IV injections

• Running in-house diagnostics and laboratory tests

• Monitoring vital signs and recognizing abnormalities

• Utilize safe and effective restraint techniques for both routine and critical patients, while upholding hospital safety and stress-reduction protocols.

• Prepare patients, medications, and specialized equipment for examinations, treatments, procedures, and surgical interventions.

• Maintain clean, sterile, and organized treatment areas, exam rooms, and labs to support efficient emergency operations.

• Bonus: While ER skills such as triage, CPR, and oxygen therapy exposure are highly valued, they are not required. We offer a structured, level-based training program that helps team members build confidence and advance their skills step by step.

Experience & Skills Requirements:

• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to clearly document medical notes and maintain accurate records.

• Commitment to practicing compassionate, high-quality medicine that supports patients through every stage of care.

• Positive, professional, and collaborative attitude with clients, patients, and team members.

• Motivation to continually learn, develop new skills, and grow as a valued member of the emergency care team.

Ideal candidates will possess a minimum of three years’ experience as a veterinary assistant in an animal care facility. We are open Monday to Thursday 6pm to 8am, Friday we open at 6pm and remain open 24hrs on the weekends until 8am Monday morning. We are open all major holidays. January 2026, we move to 24/7.

You’ll Grow With Us

Here, you can grow your career as best fits you through access to comprehensive learning and skillset programs. You can build your skills and earn credentials through:

• Our vast, diverse, and free library of continuing education courses - ThriveU

• Live, virtual interactive workshops to develop valuable leadership skills

• We offer a structured, level-based training program that helps team members build confidence and advance their skills step by step.

• Scholarship opportunities and tuition reimbursement

Benefits - our care in action

We provide benefits spread comprehensively across your mental, physical, emotional, and financial wellbeing designed to meet your needs as a unique individual. Some key benefits include:

• Paid time off including 8-weeks of full-pay parental leave, bereavement to grieve both humans and pets, and time off for new pet adoptions

• Top quality medical, dental, and vision insurance plus health savings account and flexible spending account

• Pet perks including free exams, discounts on products and services, and more at all Thrive Pet Healthcare locations

• Generously subsidized backup and ongoing care support for children, adults, and pets

• Mental health benefits including coaching and therapy sessions

• 401k with employer contribution and no waiting period

• Continuing education and development support through our library of free CE courses and paid time off to complete

• Scholarship opportunities and student loan support program and so much more!

Compensation is negotiable based on credentials and experience with an hourly pay rate of $25 - $30+ / hour. The actual rate offered will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.