169 Best Animal Care Jobs in Portland, Oregon (May 2026)

Licensed Veterinary Technician (Surgery) - Columbia River Veterinary Specialists

10 days ago

Vancouver

Job DescriptionPetVet Care Centers' Columbia River Veterinary Specialists is currently seeking a Licensed Veterinary Technician (Surgery) to join their team! At PetVet Care Centers, our mission is to improve the lives of animals and people — providing exceptional and compassionate care at every stage — for all the moments that matter. Because life is better with pets. We deliver the Ultimate Care Experience — every pet, every client, every time. That starts with a Culture of Care that supports our team members as much as the pets and clients we serve. With more than 420 locally led hospitals and over 11,000 team members nationwide, we offer: • Local autonomy with national support, • Career mobility and development opportunities Signing Bonus Eligibility: • Up to $3,000 Sign-On Bonus, • Must commit to a full-time schedule, • Requires a one-year commitment Join our team as a Licensed Veterinary Technician who supports hospital operations by providing dedicated quality veterinary care and exceptional service to our patients and clients. Responsibilities include providing patient care by determining animal requirements, conducting examinations and diagnostic procedures, assisting during surgery and operations, providing nursing care, assisting with feeding and caring for patients, maintaining medical supplies and equipment, overseeing triage and discharging patients, and maintaining patient medical records. Columbia River Veterinary Specialists in Vancouver, Washington, is a specialty and emergency hospital providing advanced care across multiple disciplines. The highly skilled team works collaboratively to deliver exceptional outcomes for complex cases. Basic Skills • Able to work in a fast-paced and sometimes stressful environment while maintaining composure and professional demeanor, • Able to work well with others in a supportive and collaborative environment, • Able to restrain, lift, and transport patients safely, • Able to learn basic computer systems including but not limited to Microsoft Office and Outlook as well as veterinary-based software systems, • Provide excellent customer service and maintain a professional demeanor via phone and in-person while assisting clients, • Obtain and record accurate patient information including but not limited to signalment, health history, and medication regimens, • Keep clients up to date on their pet's status while in the care of the Surgery team and inform clients on care plans, financial costs, and policies., • Perform and assist in patient procedures/appointments in the areas of Cardiology, Surgery, Radiology, Emergency, and Critical Care medicine, • Maintain patient comfort and cleanliness both preemptively and actively, • Administer high quality patient care through timely monitoring and completion of treatments as directed by Surgeon or staff DVM and immediately reports change in patient condition, • Accurately calculate and administer drug doses/dosages, IV fluid rates, and fluid additives for continuous rate infusion, • Perform basic skills including but not limited to venipuncture, IV catheterization, and urinary catheterization, • Perform automated laboratory tests including but not limited to use of in-house equipment such as Catalyst, VetStat, ProCyte, Heska EPOC, and SCA2000, • Safely perform various radiographic techniques on alert, sedated, and anesthetized patients, • Perform manual laboratory analysis including but not limited to blood smear evaluation, PCV/TS, blood typing and cross-matching, fecal analysis, and urinalysis, • Learn and perform advanced skills including but not limited to intermittent positive pressure ventilation, local/regional nerve blocks including epidurals, placement of arterial lines and invasive blood pressure monitoring, placement of nasogastric tubes, and placement of central IV lines, • Induce, monitor, and recover patients from anesthesia for elective and emergent surgical procedures, • Scrub in and assist with surgical procedures while maintaining asepsis, • Assists in equipment maintenance and regular quality control procedures as needed., • Trouble shoots equipment failure and reports issues to Surgery or Facilities manager., • Cleans and sterilizes surgical instruments in a timely fashion; Reports broken or dull instruments to the Surgery manager., • Maintains a clean and safe work environment for patients, clients, and all staff members, including the use of PPE where indicated, • High school diploma or GED, • Graduation from certified Veterinary Technology program, • Current or eligible for licensure in state of Washington, • Minimum of 2 years in veterinary field, • High School Diploma or GED, • Licensed Veterinary Technician in Washington or ability to become Licensed in the State of Washington if licensed in another state within 90 days of hire, • Excellent Written and Verbal Communication skills, • The ability to lift, push and pull up to 40lbs, • Ability to withstand long hours of standing, squatting, kneeling and walking, • Basic computer skills, • Adapt to an ever-changing work environment, • Maintain objectivity during highly stressful/emotional situations, • Keep a positive and professional demeanor during interactions with clients and team members, leading by example, • Function as charge nurse in respective department/area., • Provide excellent documentation including client communications, treatments, anesthetic monitoring, and controlled drug logs (Cubex), • Ability to give clear and concise rounds with relevant patient information, • Educate other staff members with your skills/knowledge whenever possible, • Proficient in phlebotomy, cystocentesis, canine urinary catheter placement and NG tube placement., • Able to perform treatments/fluid therapy when given dose, • Ability to perform CPR including chest compressions, intubation, and breath administration. Direct others during a code., • Ability to collect vital, pertinent information from distraught owners when patients are critical., • Ability to perform advanced laboratory skills including cell morphology review, urine dry prep slide review and fecal review., • Excellent/effective triage skills including being able to communicate with client status of patient and treatments we are implementing, • Ability to perform phone triage confidently, kindly, and effectively with clients., • Start immediate stabilization on patients under doctor direction, • Understand relevant CBC/CHEM values, • Understand the use, common doses and contraindications of all medications administered, • Blood transfusion therapy including collection, administration, and transfusion reactions, • Albumin/Plasma transfusion therapy including administration and transfusion reactions, • Identify obvious murmurs, arrythmias and pulse deficits, • Excellent anesthetic skills with knowledge of common side effects and immediate actions necessary to combat them., • Ability to monitor and record sedation/anesthetic events with confidence, • Know anesthetic medications, their normal range for dosing, side effects, and contraindications Schedule • Wednesday to Friday; 7AM-7PM, • May have to stay late for emergency surgeries. What We Offer We care deeply about supporting our team members — professionally and personally. Benefits include: • Medical, dental, and vision insurance, • Paid Parental Leave (birth, adoption, foster), • 401(k) with discretionary contribution, • Team Member Pet Discounts, • Emotional wellbeing support — including Calm app access and 24/7 EAP, • CE stipends and career development resources, • Grant Circle — a relief fund for team members facing personal hardship, • Local hospital culture backed by national resources Pay Range$30.50—$37 USD At PetVet Care Centers, we're committed to a Culture of Care — for pets, for the people who love them, and for the team members who make it all possible. With more than 420 hospitals across the U.S. and a team of over 11,000 dedicated professionals, including 1700+ veterinarians, we offer a unique blend of local leadership and national support that helps our hospitals thrive. Our model is built on partnership, collaboration, and local medical autonomy, empowering each hospital to deliver high-quality care while benefiting from shared resources and a strong professional community. Whether you're providing care in a hospital or supporting operations behind the scenes, PetVet is a place where you can grow your career, stay connected to your purpose, and make a meaningful impact. You care for pets. We care for you. PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V PetVet respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. Please see our privacy notice for additional information about our data practices.

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