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Dental Veterinary Assistant 749 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94063 $25 - $30 an hour - Full-time Apply with

Indeed Schedule:

Full-Time, 40 hours per week, four 10-hour shifts

Primary Schedule:

One dental consultation day and three dental procedure days per week

Compensation:

25.00-30.00 per hour, depending on experience and demonstrated skill level Position Summary The Dental Veterinary Assistant is a key member of Nine Lives' feline dentistry team, providing hands-on patient care, clinical assistance, and administrative and operational support throughout the dental process. Working closely with the Lead Dentistry Veterinarian, Dr. Melanie Glass, and the Dental Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), the Veterinary Assistant helps ensure patients receive safe, compassionate, efficient, and high-quality care from initial consultation through treatment, recovery, discharge, and follow-up. This position combines direct veterinary assisting with responsibilities for patient preparation, scheduling coordination, medical records, client communication, prescription support, inventory management, ordering, instrument processing, and overall organization of the dentistry service. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, proactive, eager to develop their clinical skills, and comfortable working collaboratively in a busy veterinary environment. A central expectation of this position is active participation in the dental team's clinical workflow. The Veterinary Assistant will work alongside the veterinarian and RVT throughout the day, supporting patient care and developing additional technical competencies through structured training and appropriate supervision. Essential ResponsibilitiesDental Consultation Days Support efficient patient intake, examination, and consultation flow. Review upcoming appointments and ensure relevant medical records and patient information are available. Prepare examination and consultation rooms before each appointment. Welcome clients and patients, obtain patient weights, collect medical histories, and document current medications and relevant concerns. Provide safe, compassionate, Fear Free-informed feline handling and restraint. Assist the veterinarian and RVT with examinations, blood collection, diagnostic procedures, and treatments within the Veterinary Assistant's permitted scope. Accurately enter and update patient information in EzyVet. Prepare estimates, treatment plans, educational materials, and supporting documentation for veterinarian or RVT review. Coordinate recommended dental procedures with clients and the CSR team. Ensure pre-operative diagnostics, consent forms, estimates, and other required documentation are completed or scheduled. Communicate approved pre-operative instructions to clients. Track patients requiring follow-up, additional diagnostics, scheduling, or further communication. Clean and prepare rooms between appointments to maintain an efficient consultation schedule. Dental Procedure Days The Veterinary Assistant is expected to remain actively engaged with the dental team throughout procedure days, supporting patient preparation, procedures, recovery, and discharge.

Responsibilities include:

Review the daily schedule, patient records, treatment plans, estimates, and required documentation before procedures begin. Assist with patient admission, check-in, and verification of pre-operative requirements. Obtain patient weights and assist with preparation for anesthesia and dental procedures. Prepare dental suites, anesthesia equipment, monitoring equipment, instruments, and supplies. Provide safe feline handling and restraint throughout the treatment process. Assist the RVT and veterinarian with patient preparation, catheter-site preparation, positioning, and other permitted clinical tasks. Participate in dental radiography preparation, positioning, and image acquisition as permitted by applicable law, training, and supervision. Assist with dental procedures by preparing instruments, materials, and equipment and anticipating the veterinarian's needs. Support anesthesia preparation, patient monitoring, and recovery within the Veterinary Assistant's permitted scope and demonstrated competency. Maintain efficient patient flow between admission, preparation, treatment, recovery, and discharge. Clean, package, sterilize, and organize dental instruments. Turn over dental suites efficiently between procedures. Monitor patient recovery under appropriate supervision and immediately communicate concerns to the RVT or veterinarian. Prepare discharge paperwork, prescribed medications, and educational materials. Coordinate patient pickup and discharge with the veterinarian, RVT, and CSR team. Complete end-of-day cleaning, sterilization, restocking, and preparation for subsequent procedures. Clinical Training & Professional Development Nine Lives is committed to providing opportunities for the Dental Veterinary Assistant to expand their clinical knowledge and technical abilities. Working under the direction of Dr. Glass and the Dental RVT, the Veterinary Assistant will be encouraged to develop competencies in: Dental radiography, including patient positioning, equipment preparation, and image acquisition where legally permitted. Anesthesia equipment preparation, monitoring support, and recovery procedures. Understanding anesthesia monitoring parameters and recognizing changes requiring immediate escalation. Patient preparation, safe restraint, and positioning for dental procedures. Dental instrument identification, handling, processing, and sterilization. Dental anatomy, common feline dental diseases, and treatment workflows. Post-operative monitoring, patient comfort, and recovery support. Efficient procedure-room setup and turnover. Training will be competency-based, with duties assigned according to demonstrated proficiency, appropriate supervision, and California veterinary regulations. The Dental RVT retains primary responsibility for technical nursing and anesthesia duties requiring RVT qualifications. The Veterinary Assistant is expected to actively support these processes and develop their abilities within the legally permitted scope of practice. Scheduling, Client Communication & Administrative Workflow Coordinate the flow of patients from initial consultation through treatment and follow-up. Work with the CSR team to schedule dental procedures according to established guidelines. Ensure appropriate appointment types, procedure lengths, and scheduling information are accurately entered. Maintain cancellation and wait lists to maximize available dental capacity. Contact clients regarding appointment confirmations, approved instructions, scheduling, and non-medical questions. Ensure required estimates, consent forms, diagnostics, and patient records are completed before procedures. Prepare standardized estimates and treatment documentation for veterinarian or RVT review. Monitor outstanding client communications and coordinate timely follow-up. Route medical questions and clinical concerns to the veterinarian or RVT. Obtain outside medical records and diagnostic results when needed. Coordinate administrative communications with referring veterinary practices. Maintain complete and accurate electronic medical records. Identify scheduling gaps, cancellations, and workflow issues that could reduce the program's capacity. Prescriptions & Pharmacy Workflow The Veterinary Assistant supports the administrative and logistical components of prescription management under appropriate veterinary supervision.

Responsibilities include:

Assist with preparing prescribed discharge medications as permitted. Prepare medication labels and supporting documentation for review. Ensure discharge medications are organized and ready before patient pickup whenever possible. Track prescription and refill requests and route them for veterinarian authorization. Coordinate approved prescriptions with clients and outside pharmacies. Support communication with online and external pharmacies. Document prescription-related communications in patient records. Ensure approved medication instructions are included with discharge materials. Maintain organized, clean, and appropriately stocked medication storage areas. Assist with medication inventory and expiration-date monitoring. Support controlled-substance documentation and inventory processes only as authorized and under established protocols. The Veterinary Assistant does not independently prescribe medications, authorize refills, determine dosages, or make clinical medication decisions. Inventory, Ordering & Supplies Monitor routine supply levels and identify items requiring replenishment. Assist with maintaining established par levels for dental, anesthesia, pharmaceutical, laboratory, and clinical supplies. Prepare and coordinate routine supply orders. Place approved orders in accordance with Nine Lives purchasing procedures. Receive deliveries and verify products and quantities against packing slips and orders. Organize and appropriately store incoming supplies and medications. Identify damaged, missing, incorrect, or backordered products. Monitor expiration dates and rotate stock. Assist with physical inventory counts. Maintain clean, organized, and accessible supply storage areas. Anticipate supply needs based on the upcoming dental schedule. Identify opportunities to reduce waste and improve purchasing efficiency. Ensure emergency supplies and frequently used consumables are replenished after use. Instruments, Equipment & Facility Readiness Clean, package, sterilize, and organize dental and surgical instruments. Maintain sufficient instrument packs for scheduled procedures, coordinating volunteer assistance when appropriate. Inspect instruments for damage, wear, or missing components and report concerns. Assist with routine equipment cleaning and maintenance according to manufacturer recommendations. Prepare dental radiography equipment, anesthesia equipment, monitoring devices, and warming equipment. Maintain organized treatment, preparation, recovery, pharmacy, and storage areas. Track equipment maintenance requirements and coordinate repairs or servicing as directed. Ensure dental suites are fully reset and prepared at the end of each day. Program Capacity & Workflow Development The Veterinary Assistant is expected to contribute actively to the efficiency and growth of Nine Lives' dentistry program.

Responsibilities include:

Work collaboratively with Dr. Glass and the Dental RVT to maintain a coordinated and efficient daily workflow. Help ensure patients, instruments, equipment, medications, and documentation are ready before each procedure. Support efficient patient preparation and procedure-room turnover to minimize unnecessary delays. Assist the team in working toward a sustainable goal of approximately three major dental procedures per surgery day, depending on case complexity and patient needs. Identify scheduling gaps and help coordinate replacement appointments when cancellations occur. Develop and maintain checklists, forms, templates, scheduling tools, and inventory systems. Support standardized protocols for consultation, admission, anesthesia preparation, treatment, recovery, discharge, and follow-up. Identify incomplete tasks, missing documentation, equipment concerns, or supply shortages before they affect patient care. Participate in team meetings and contribute ideas for improving clinical efficiency and patient experience. Assist with implementation and refinement of new dental protocols. Support other veterinary and shelter medicine operations when dental program needs allow. Schedule & Working Expectations This is a full-time position consisting of four 10-hour shifts per week, totaling 40 hours , generally comprising one dental consultation day and three dental procedure days. The dental team will generally begin work at approximately 8:00 AM, with specific start and end times determined by the clinical schedule and operational needs. The Veterinary Assistant is expected to: Work collaboratively with Dr. Glass and the RVT throughout the scheduled workday. Participate in morning patient admission, procedure preparation, treatment, recovery, and discharge. Remain available through completion of assigned duties and scheduled patient discharges. Maintain flexibility when procedures, patient recoveries, or discharges take longer than anticipated. Assist with end-of-day cleaning, sterilization, restocking, and preparation. Coordinate meal and rest breaks to maintain appropriate clinical coverage and comply with applicable employment requirements. Communicate anticipated overtime or scheduling concerns to leadership in advance whenever practicable. The schedule may evolve as the dentistry program expands, with adjustments coordinated through veterinary leadership. Qualifications & Experience Previous experience as a Veterinary Assistant in a clinical or surgical environment preferred. Experience with feline patients, dentistry, anesthesia support, or surgical preparation strongly preferred. Interest in developing skills in dental radiography, anesthesia monitoring support, and veterinary dentistry. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced clinical environment. Comfortable communicating with clients and collaborating across clinical and administrative teams. Experience using veterinary practice-management software preferred; EzyVet experience is a plus. Ability to follow medical protocols, maintain accurate records, and recognize when concerns require escalation. Commitment to Fear Free-informed handling and compassionate feline care. Willingness to learn, accept feedback, and participate in structured clinical training. Core Expectations The successful Dental Veterinary Assistant will demonstrate:

Clinical Engagement:

Actively supports the veterinarian and RVT throughout the day and pursues opportunities to develop technical skills.

Teamwork:

Works collaboratively with the dental team, recognizing that patient care, preparation, recovery, and operational responsibilities are shared priorities.

Organization:

Ensures patients, records, equipment, supplies, medications, and schedules are consistently prepared and accurate.

Initiative:

Anticipates what needs to happen next rather than waiting for individual tasks to be assigned.

Patient Safety:

Maintains high standards of cleanliness, documentation, communication, and adherence to clinical protocols.

Efficiency:

Helps the dental team maximize available capacity without compromising patient welfare or quality of care.

Compassion:

Demonstrates patience, professionalism, and a commitment to improving the lives of cats and the people who care for them. The Dental Veterinary Assistant plays an essential role in establishing a successful, accessible, and sustainable feline dentistry program at Nine Lives.

Pay:

$25.00 - $30.00 per hour Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Employee assistance program Employee discount Flexible spending account Health insurance Paid sick time Paid time off Retirement plan Uniform allowance Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person