Veterinary Assistant, Ottawa Veterinary Hospital (Maternity Leave Coverage)
Job Description
Veterinary Assistant
Location: Ottawa, ON
Employment Type: Contract Full-time
Role Type: Existing
Compensation: $17.85 to $25.00 per hour, depending on experience.
Ottawa Veterinary Hospital is seeking a full-time Veterinary Assistant to join our 24- hour emergency care team.
The Veterinary Assistant is a full-time, fixed-term contract to cover maternity. Hours of work will vary by week, with a mixture of evenings, overnights, and weekends.
Your role will be:
Assisting Veterinarians and Registered Veterinary Technicians with various tasks and the treatment of pet patients
Providing compassionate care duties, including feeding and walking patients
General hospital maintenance, including cleaning kennels
Assessment, triage, and care of ill patients
Hourly treatments including feeding, administering medications, assessing pain/status, restraint, and lifting;
Assisting with anesthetics, X-rays, and laboratory work;
Stocking, cleaning, and maintenance of treatment areas;
Client updates
Answering phones
Invoicing/billing; explaining estimates and fees, obtaining pet owner confirmation and processing payments
What’s required?
Exceptional client service skills that build trust and loyalty with clients
Compassion and a nurturing attitude when providing care to clients and patients
Ability to remain calm and efficient in stressful situations
Initiative in carrying out assignments independently
Must have flexibility to work, including nights, overnights, weekends and holidays.
What VCA Canada Offers
RRSP Employer 5% Group Match Program! Saving for your future just got easier!
VCA Canada RRSP Student Loan Program - Ask us more!
A caring culture of Wellness and Appreciation!
Competitive wages and benefits!
Annual uniform allowance
Exceptional career development: there is room to grow here!
Employee Assistance Program
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.
Click APPLY now and join us!
VCA Canada is committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace and is an equal-opportunity employer. If you require any assistance, please let us know.
If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.