Associate Veterinarian - Cerritos, CA

VCA Lakewood Animal Hospital is seeking an Associate Veterinarian to work the Swing Shift (with potential Overnight coverage) at our well-established, 24-hour emergency and general practice in Cerritos, California .

VCA takes pride in expanding the growth and skill set of new veterinarians. We welcome newly graduated veterinarians (and current veterinary students) to apply to this position, where they will receive individualized support with our 6-month mentorship program and a collaborative hospital team environment.

The hospital has existed since 1948 and, in 2007, moved to a spectacular and absolute state-of-the-art 10,000 sq. foot facility and overnight became one of the finest and most beautiful hospitals in the West.

The hospital receives emergency cases from approximately 60 local hospitals, 25 of which send all their after-hour referrals to VCA Lakewood.

With a client base of 30,000 clients and so many referring hospitals, there is no doubt this is a busy practice with an exciting and varied caseload.

There are 14 doctors, including a resident-trained surgeon and multiple internship-trained DVMs. In addition, there is access to surgery, radiology, and cardiology specialists.

A hospital with such a heavy caseload and strong doctor presence must also have an excellent accompanying team. VCA Lakewood does not disappoint in this department either, with approximately 8-10 technicians and ten receptionists during the day, 5-6 technicians with three receptionists on the swing, and four techs overnight.

VCA Lakewood is fully staffed with a well-trained support team, it has all the equipment that one would expect from a hospital of this caliber.

The hospital has digital radiography, an endoscopy tower, multiple ultrasounds, O2 cages, a ventilator, a complete in-house lab, and plenty of IV pumps, syringe pumps, and monitoring equipment.

We are looking for an internship-trained veterinarian or one comfortable handling a heavy caseload. Although the basis of everything we do is centered around the medical and surgical care of our patients, we also expect prospective candidates to be personable, happy, friendly people.

Someone with pride in their work and who strives for medical excellence would do very well at VCA Lakewood.

VCA Animal Hospitals offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including Medical / Dental / Vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, pet care discounts, paid vacation, holidays and sick days, and health and well-being programs that provide resources and training.

Compensation is negotiable based on education, experience, and other relevant credentials. The annual salary range for this position is $80,000 to $180,000.

This position may also be eligible for other variable pay programs.

At VCA, we are committed to equity, inclusion, and diversity, and we strive to be a place where a talented mix of people want to come, stay, and do their best work.

As a member of the VCA family, eligible full-time employees will be rewarded with a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including :

Innovative associate health and well-being department (Headspace app subscriptions, Vault financial wellness tool, and access to additional mental health resources)

401k retirement savings plan with company match

Health / dental / vision insurance, infertility benefits, gender affirmation services

Paid parental, vacation, and sick leave

Professional Development

Continuing Education Allowance and Paid Continuing Education Days

WOOF University offering abundant CE for Doctors and Staff

VCA Academy’s Mentorship Program participate as a mentee or mentor in a GP or ER setting

Opportunities to participate in a robust Clinical Studies program

Additional Benefits

Up to 100% Pet Care Discount for your own pets

100% paid professional liability coverage

100% paid life insurance

100% paid short-term and long-term disability insurance

Access to a network of 5,000 doctors, including more than 600 specialists

If you are a current associate, you need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.

Benefits : We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation / sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed.

It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job.

Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development).

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at