A trusted, privately owned small animal hospital in La Jolla is looking for an Associate Veterinarian to join its team.
This is a full-service small animal practice with digital radiography, mobile ultrasound diagnostics, in-house lab, dental care, and urgent care capability on site. Case flow is general practice with a steady mix of wellness, dental, and sick patient visits, plus same-day urgent care slots built into the schedule. The hospital is privately owned, not corporate managed, which means medical decisions stay with the doctors and the practice manager, not a regional office.
The team is small and experienced. It's led by a Medical Director who works alongside one Associate Veterinarian and a Practice Manager who has been with the hospital for years, so there's continuity in how the place runs day to day. Support staff know the caseload and the clients well, which keeps exam rooms and treatment areas running efficiently without a revolving door of new hires.
Clients in this part of La Jolla tend to be engaged and willing to pursue diagnostics and treatment plans. The hospital has built its reputation over time on service and continuity of care rather than volume.
Key highlights
- Small, established team with low turnover
- Digital radiography and mobile ultrasound on site
- In-house lab and dental capability
- Urgent care visits integrated into daily schedule
- Located in La Jolla, CA with an engaged, service-oriented client base
- Experienced Practice Manager handling day-to-day operations
- Medical decision-making stays with the doctors on staff
About you
- Licensed DVM able to work in California, or eligible for licensure
- Comfortable with general practice caseload including wellness, dental, and sick visits
- Confident performing routine surgery and comfortable with diagnostic workups
- Able to communicate clearly with clients about treatment options and cost
- Works well in a small team setting where collaboration matters
- Interested in long-term fit rather than a short-term placement
- Salary range $160,000 to $180,000, commensurate with experience
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid time off and paid holidays
- Continuing education allowance
- Professional liability coverage
- License and DEA registration reimbursement
- Retirement plan with employer contribution