Equine Surgery Veterinary Assistant - Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, KY

PetVet Care Centers' Hagyard Equine Medical Institute is currently seeking an Equine Surgery Veterinary Assistant 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 400 locally led hospitals and over 11,000 team members nationwide, we offer:

• Local autonomy with national support
• Career mobility and development opportunities
• A collaborative, inclusive environment where your wellbeing comes first

You care for pets. We care for you.

Position Overview

Join our team as an Equine Surgery Veterinary Assistant who performs variety of equine health care duties to assist veterinarians and clients in a hospital setting.

Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky, is an internationally recognized leader in equine medicine, combining cutting-edge technology with a collaborative team dedicated to advancing equine health and performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilitiesinclude the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Review each surgeon’s daily calendar for case load and procedures.
• Assist with daily restocking of medication, supply cabinets and surgery suites.
• Know locations of all surgical packs and supplies.
• Assist with daily preparations of surgical packs, tables, carts, medications, drapes, etc.
• Assist with x-ray of patients.
• Assist with properly placing patients on tables for surgical procedures, specific to each surgeon’s specifications.
• Clip and prepare patients’ surgical sites.
• Assist with surgeries.
• Assist with any duties between surgeries, including cleaning, disinfecting and preparing surgical packs.
• Clean instruments and prepare surgical packs for sterilization.
• Maintain laundry.
• Maintain a clean/sanitary, well-organized surgery area including recovery and treatment areas.
• Clean floors, tables, transfer areas, and recovery rooms before and after surgeries.
• Hose and squeegee floors throughout day.
• Empty trash and recycling.
• Assist with the surgery centers final end of day cleaning, disinfecting and sterilizing instruments.
• Interact with the surgeon(s) in a professional manner to understand their overall needs and requirements.
• Attend and participate in required staff meetings.
• Assist with special projects and additional duties as directed by the supervisor(s), surgeon(s) or a member of management.

Expectations

• To treat other people with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position.
• To be dependable and punctual on working hours scheduled and to be willing to stay beyond scheduled hours if needed.
• To be a self-starter and take the required initiative to perform all tasks successfully.
• To obtain required knowledge and skills relevant to the technician job responsibilities.
• To contribute to the overall team by utilizing your skills and knowledge to achieve performance excellence.
• To assist in achieving and maintaining high-quality standards in the overall care and needs of patients.
• To maintain confidentiality with regards to client-patient rights.
• To conduct oneself professionally as a representative of Hagyard Equine Medical Institute refraining from inappropriate language and behavior.
• To constructively communicate progress, problems or other issues requiring attention to the appropriate supervisor, doctor or member of management.
• To offer solutions and demonstrate a positive attitude when dealing with clients, supervisors, doctors, management, other team members, and outside vendors or suppliers.
• To give guidance to other personnel in understanding the importance of adhering to procedures and proper protocol in the areas of treatment, patient care and safety standards.
• To administer treatments in a timely and efficient manner, adhering to the exact specifications of the appropriate doctor.
• To maintain a professional appearance and a courteous attitude.
• To maintain a clean/sanitary and well-organized work/service area at all times.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education/Experience:
  • Must have equine experience and equine handling skills.
  • Previous equine clinical experience or experience with veterinary surgery is preferred but not required.
  • Associate's degree (A. A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; or six months to one year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Language Ability:
  • Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general technical procedures.
  • Ability to write/document technical information and procedure manuals.
  • Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from doctors, other staff and clients.
• Math Ability:
  • Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, and volume.
  • Ability to apply simple math formulas.
• Reasoning Ability:
  • Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
  • Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Computer Skills:
  • To perform this job successfully, an individual should have general computer software knowledge and keyboarding skills.
• Certificates and Licenses:
  • Veterinary Technician License preferred but not required.
• Supervisory Responsibilities:
  • This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is

• frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles;
• frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals;
• occasionally exposed to wet or humid conditions (non-weather);
• regularly works near moving mechanical parts; experiences outdoor weather conditions, and the risk of electrical shock;
• occasionally exposed to low levels of radiation.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is

• frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.
• frequently required to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• occasionally required to sit; climb or balance and smell.
• regularly lift and /or move up to 100 pounds, and
• frequently may be required to exert force on more than 100 pounds, which includes holding and restraining a horse (average 1200 Lbs)

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Specific horse handling and restraining skills.

Schedule

• Monday-Friday, 7am-4pm
• Overtime as directed. All time off to be pre-approved by supervisor.

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

$18—$20 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 400 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

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