Hybrid Veterinary Assistant/Kennel Attendant
Employment Type : Full-Time
Countryside Veterinary Clinic has an opportunity for a Hybrid Veterinary Assistant/Kennel Attendant to join our team!
Countryside Veterinary Clinic601 Center Parkway, Yorkville, IL 60560Countryside Veterinary Clinic is proud to serve the Yorkville IL area for everything pet related. Our veterinary clinic and animal hospital is run by Dr. Gary Schlapp, who is a licensed, experienced Yorkville veterinarian. Our team is committed to educating our clients in how to keep their pets healthy year round, with good nutrition and exercise. Countryside Veterinary Clinic stays on top of the latest advances in veterinary technology and above all, remembers that all animals and pets need to be treated with loving care in every check-up, procedure, or surgery.
This is a full-time position that we are looking to fill.Proposed schedule: Rotation of day/afternoon and afternoon/evening shifts, Monday through Friday. Includes some Saturday and Sunday shifts, so flexibility is a must. Will need to cover about two to three holidays annually (double pay available on holidays).
Summary: A hybrid veterinary assistant/kennel attendant must be able to provide assistance and support to the medical support staff, while also offering daily care, feeding, and exercise of boarding and hospitalized pets. While under the supervision of the veterinary technicians and practice manager, a hybrid veterinary assistant/kennel attendant must be able to effectively and accurately perform the following duties that include but are not limited to: Veterinary Care- Provide patient care under the direction of a DVM.
- Maintain excellent client communication.
- Be proficient in a variety of skills ranging from but not limited to: laboratory, pharmacy, radiology, surgery, dental and nursing skills.
- Record all pertinent medical, client and case related information in the patient record accurately with appropriate grammar, terms and accurate information.
- Review medical records, estimates or discharge instructions with clients.
- Reception Skills: Provide client care for scheduling appointments, taking payments and check-ins.
- Answer the phones in a courteous and informative way.
Kennel Responsibilities:- Provide compassionate care to boarding pets and hospitalized patients.
- Walk through kennel area regularly, checking each pet for any abnormal activity such as vomiting, diarrhea or blood in the cage or run.
- Report abnormal activity to doctors and technicians, pull patient’s medical record.
- Recognize emergency situations, enlisting the aid of doctors and technicians.
- Mark records correctly for eating, drinking and elimination habits.
- Feed and water animals according to schedules.
- Clean and disinfect cages, runs and yard as needed, using hoses and spray bottles of disinfectant. Use a squeegee to remove excess water.
- Clean cat litter boxes and disinfect kitty condos.
- Clean and disinfect all food and water bowls.
- Wear personal protective equipment required for the area and maintain the personal protective equipment in good working order. Personal protective equipment includes goggles or face shields, aprons, full body aprons, gloves, boots and booties or other equipment assigned.
- Move pets to yard or other areas so runs can be disinfected; return animal to correct run after the run is clean and dry.
- Remove soiled bedding and take it to the laundry area.
- Place clean bedding in runs.
- Operate washer and dryer to clean kennel bedding and hospital laundry.
- Administer medications to pets that require medications while boarding.
- Supervise animals when they are in the yard.
- Perform “TLC” play times or walks for clients who have requested it.
- Check-in animals for boarding, talk with owners, write specific feeding and medication instructions, play times, walks, additional services; Record all information on boarding forms.
- Administer flea and tick control on all animals.
- Take pets to treatment area for all medical services to be administered.
- Record and label all personal belongings.
- Record medication instructions on the kennel medication board.
- Check out animals for boarding, talk with owners, return all personal belongings and review boarding report card with client.
- Take animals to exam room if there is a doctor discharge.
- Make medical records for animals needing a doctor exam, inform receptionists that there are now doctor charges and a doctor discharge is needed.
- Collect any samples requested by the doctor or technician.
- Know proper animal restraint techniques.
- Maintain food and supply storage areas.
- Understand infectious diseases and how to control and prevent their spread.
Cleaning and Maintenance- Assist in all daily duties for clinic care.
- Participate in any special cleaning duties.
- Perform clinic upkeep as directed.
- Perform equipment maintenance as directed.
- Identify areas or items needing additional attention.
Computer Skills- To perform this job successfully it will be necessary to become proficient in the use of the practice management software (AVImark).
Special Working Conditions- Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds, and over 50 pounds with a co-worker.
- Endure sitting, standing and walking on hard floor surfaces for extended periods.
- Ability to be confident around pets.
- Able to work in noisy work conditions with sounds from animals and equipment that can be moderately high.
- Client needs and work volume may often require more than 40 hours per week to complete essential duties of this job.
- Requires sufficient ambulatory skills in order to perform duties while in a hospital environment.
- Minimal travel required, possibly for vendor visits and associate education.
- Fluent in the written and verbal skills necessary to perform successfully the essential functions, duties, and responsibilities of the position.
- Must be able to exchange accurate information with all clients and team members.
Apply today for immediate consideration! Mission Veterinary Partners is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.