Relief Assistant

Relief veterinary assistant: Cladda Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Team | Fredericksburg, VA

Position Type: Relief / As-Needed

The opportunity

We are seeking a compassionate, dependable, and motivated Relief Veterinary Assistant to join our team. This position plays a vital role in supporting our veterinarians, licensed veterinary technicians, and patient care teams while helping maintain an efficient, organized, and collaborative hospital environment. You'll work alongside a skilled emergency and critical care team, assisting with patient care, treatments, procedures, and daily hospital operations. This role is ideal for someone who is proactive, detail-oriented, adaptable, and thrives in a fast-paced setting — a true assistant role focused on patient support, teamwork, organization, and attention to detail.

• What you'll do
• Assist veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians with patient restraint, examinations, diagnostics, and treatments
• Support patient nursing care, including walking patients, cleaning, feeding when appropriate, and maintaining patient comfort
• Prepare and maintain treatment, exam, and procedure areas to ensure efficiency and cleanliness
• Set up and assist with medical and surgical procedures as directed
• Clean, disinfect, sterilize, and organize equipment and work areas according to hospital protocols
• Stock and maintain supplies throughout the hospital
• Accurately document treatments and communicate patient updates to the medical team
• Assist with radiology, laboratory sample collection and processing, and other diagnostic procedures as directed
• Safely handle and restrain patients while promoting a low-stress experience whenever possible
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe hospital environment
• Work collaboratively with all team members to support excellent patient care and client service
• Adapt to the changing needs of an emergency hospital while maintaining a positive, professional attitude

• What we're looking for
• Previous experience in a veterinary assistant role; emergency or specialty experience preferred but not required
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Strong communication, organization, and multitasking skills
• Dependability and punctuality, with the ability to work independently while knowing when to ask for guidance
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to patient safety
• Physical capability to lift, restrain, and assist patients of varying sizes
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and overnight shifts as needed
• A positive attitude and a strong willingness to learn and grow professionally
• Commitment to providing compassionate patient care and exceptional support to clients and fellow team members

Location

Fredericksburg, VA — convenient to Richmond, Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia, with easy access to the Blue Ridge Mountains, Chesapeake Bay, and a growing, family-friendly community

Cladda Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Team is an equal opportunity employer.