Veterinary Assistant

Veterinary Assistant - Join the Maricamp Animal Hospital Team!

Maricamp Animal Hospital | Ocala, FL

If you’re looking for a veterinary hospital where you can learn, grow, build meaningful relationships, and make a difference every day, we’d love to meet you!

Maricamp Animal Hospital has been part of the Ocala community for more than a decade, with a mission centered around being a “Vet for Life” for the pets and families we serve. Our team takes a proactive, relationship-driven approach to veterinary medicine, focusing not only on treating illness but on helping pets live longer, healthier lives. Our hospital provides a wide range of care for dogs and cats, including preventive wellness, urgent care, surgery, dentistry, in-house diagnostics, dermatology, and integrative therapies such as acupuncture and PRP. This gives our team the opportunity to be involved in a diverse range of cases while continuing to learn and develop their skills.

Meet the Team You’ll Be Joining

At Maricamp, our veterinary team brings a variety of experiences and interests to the hospital. Practice owner Dr. Katherine O’Brien has been part of the Ocala veterinary community for years and built Maricamp around her passion for advocating for animals and educating their families. Our team also includes veterinarians with interests in internal medicine, dermatology, acupuncture, and integrative medicine, alongside experienced veterinary technicians and assistants who are passionate about growing their skills.

We’re currently looking to add some new full-time Veterinary Assistants to our team. Whether you’re an experienced veterinary assistant or someone who is eager to build a career in veterinary medicine, this is an opportunity to join a collaborative hospital where your work directly contributes to the care our patients receive.

What Makes Maricamp Different?

• A true team environment where assistants, technicians, doctors, and leadership work together toward the same goal.
• A diverse caseload that allows you to continue learning and expanding your veterinary skills.
• A strong focus on patient care and client education, not simply getting patients in and out of the hospital.
• Opportunities to learn alongside an experienced and growing medical team.
• A hospital that embraces both traditional and integrative medicine, giving you exposure to a broad range of treatments and services.

If you’re compassionate, dependable, eager to learn, and excited about making a difference for pets and their families, we would love to meet you.

Position Summary:

The Veterinary Assistant provides essential support to the veterinarian during outpatient exams and throughout the diagnosis and treatment of patients. They care for all patients, assist with medical procedures, and help ensure each patient receives high-quality, compassionate care. In this role, the Veterinary Assistant also serves as a key connection between the veterinarian and clients. Through exceptional service and communication, the Veterinary Assistant helps build trust and foster lasting relationships with clients and their pets.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provides compassionate, professional care to patients and clients at all times.

• Communicates clearly and respectfully with clients, doctors, and team members, including answering phones and routing inquiries as needed.

• Handles sensitive client situations with empathy and discretion, escalating medical questions appropriately.

• Assists the veterinarian during exams, diagnostics, treatments, and surgical procedures.

• Safely restrains animals of varying sizes and temperaments using low-stress handling techniques.

• Administers medications, draws up vaccines, collects lab samples, and performs basic lab tests as directed.

• Creates, reviews, and enters treatment plans accurately in the medical record system.

• Educates clients on common vaccinations, medications, and treatment protocols to ensure understanding of care plans and follow-up recommendations.

• Accurately records patient information and maintains organized, up-to-date medical records.

• Enters charges accurately and assists with the client check-out process, including processing payments when needed.

• Ensures exam rooms, treatment areas, and hospital spaces are clean, stocked, and well maintained.

• Demonstrates consistent reliability, punctuality, and commitment to supporting patients, clients, and hospital operations.

• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Basic computer proficiency, including the ability to use practice management software and Microsoft Office applications.

• Previous experience working with animals preferred; veterinary or animal care background strongly valued.

• Able to work safely around cleaning chemicals, anesthetic gases, radiation, zoonotic diseases, and animal bodily fluids.

• Maintains composure and professionalism in emotionally challenging or high-stress situations.

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and safely handle animals up to 130 pounds.

• Comfortable sitting, standing, walking, bending, and kneeling for extended periods throughout the workday. 

• Professional, neat appearance consistent with hospital standards.

Hours: 

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule and be available for scheduling during all hours the practice is open to support hospital operations.

Compensation and Benefits:

• We are offering an hourly salary range of $14-16, dependent on skill and experience. 
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision coverage. In addition, employees are eligible to participate in our 401(k) retirement plan. Other benefits include paid time off, paid holidays and access to employee assistance program.