VCA Animal Hospitals·Sacramento, California
Provide emergency and critical care for acute medical and surgical cases in a high-volume referral hospital. Collaborate with ICU teams and specialists while communicating clearly with clients and referring veterinarians.
VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center (SVRC) is seeking an experienced Locum Emergency Veterinarian to support our high‑volume, referral‑level emergency service on an as‑needed basis.
This role is ideal for confident ER clinicians who thrive in a fast‑paced, collaborative specialty environment and are comfortable managing complex, high‑acuity cases.
What You’ll Do Provide emergency and critical care in a busy, multi‑specialty referral hospital Diagnose and treat acute or urgent medical/surgical emergency cases Communicate clearly with clients and referring veterinarians during urgent situations Collaborate closely with ER/ICU teams and on‑site specialists What We’re Looking For DVM or equivalent from an accredited program Active California veterinary license in good standing (or ability to obtain) Emergency or high‑volume practice experience required Strong clinical judgment, efficiency, and teamwork skills Why VCA SVRC Flexible locum scheduling with competitive per‑shift compensation Access to advanced diagnostics and multiple specialties Supported by VCA’s national network delivering world‑class medicine Compensation is based on education, experience, other relevant credentials and shift type.
The pay range for this position is $2,000.00 to $2,500.00 per shift.
If you are a current associate, you need to apply through our internal career site.
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We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more! The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development). We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com. 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. Join us.
Requires a DVM or equivalent degree and an active California veterinary license. Candidates must have experience in emergency or high-volume practice and strong clinical judgment.
Market context
California emergency veterinary coverage is often driven by 24/7 hospital schedules, seasonal caseload swings, and short-term staffing gaps, so locum roles can appear when clinics need immediate clinical support. Competition is strongest for veterinarians who already hold an active California license and can work confidently in high-volume emergency settings. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits on this page to save research time, then confirm shift length, case mix, and credentialing steps before applying.