Small Door Veterinary logo
Small Door Veterinary
Bethesda, Maryland

Per Diem Veterinarian - DC Area

VeterinarianIncludes weekendsPer Diem

Listed compensation

$130-$155/hr

The week · per this posting

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

Small Door is membership-based veterinary care designed with human standards that is better for pets, pet parents, and veterinarians alike.

We designed and delivered a reimagined veterinary experience via a membership that includes exceptional care, 24/7 telemedicine, and transparent pricing - delivered with modern hospitality in spaces designed by animal experts to be stress-free.

We opened our flagship location in Manhattan's West Village in 2019 and have quickly expanded across the East Coast. Small Door now operates in New York City, Boston, Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia with continued expansion plans in 2026.

At Small Door, our doctors are part of a supportive and collaborative network invested in their growth.

With our high standard of medicine, 30-60 minute appointments, dedicated daily administrative time, generous ratio of doctors to support team, skilled veterinary nurses assisting with callbacks and much more, Small Door is proud to be a sustainable place to work and thrive.

In addition to practicing Fear Free, we are AAHA accredited meaning we abide by incredibly high standards as an organization.

  • Our Per-Diem or Relief Veterinarian will support our team by filling in on a regular basis.
  • What you’ll do
  • Oversee the implementation of clinical protocols to achieve a high standard of excellence
  • Ensure that medicine is delivered in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations
  • Deliver a superior overall medical experience to our members by going the extra mile in all communications

Who You Are

A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, or equivalent, from a leading university with 3+ years work experience in the field and completion of a post-grad internship training program

Professional approach and appearance, excellent interpersonal and speaking skills, and a positive, can-do attitude

  • Availability to work weekends (Saturday or Sunday)
  • A commitment to practicing the highest standard of medicine, upholding the code of ethics

Thrives in Team-oriented Environments

  • Has a ‘glass half full’ attitude and a sense of humor!
  • What you'll get
  • Competitive rate
  • A collaborative team of people who live our core values and have your back
  • A clear career path with opportunities for growth and development, both personally and professionally

Small Door is proudly committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. We encourage qualified applicants of every background, ability, and life experience to apply to appropriate employment opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

The veterinarian will oversee the implementation of clinical protocols and ensure medical compliance with all regulations. They are responsible for delivering a superior medical experience to members through high-quality care and effective communication.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree or equivalent and have at least 3 years of work experience including a post-graduate internship. Applicants must be available to work weekends and demonstrate a commitment to high standards of veterinary medicine.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Fear free practiceAAHA standardsClient communicationInterpersonal skillsTeam collaborationSurgical assistance

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Maryland is 105.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 62.9% of Maryland clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 98% have no call, 96% require no weekends.

Veterinary Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is up 2.9% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Small Door Veterinary holds silver-tier status on WeekdayDoc's Top Employers work-life index, composite score 72/100, 11 active listings.

Top contract/1099 Veterinarian Jobs

50 matches · ranked by pay

Work-Life Balance Distribution50 jobs · 2 employers

0
1-2
0
3-4
0
5-6
2
7-8
48
9-10

Higher = better work-life balance

#1

Vetco Relief Veterinarian - Queensbury, NYPer Diem

Vetco Clinics · Glens Falls North, New York

$150-$187/hr
#2

Vetco Relief Veterinarian - Rego Park, NYPer Diem

Vetco Clinics · New York, New York

$150-$187/hr
#3

Vetco Relief Veterinarian - Kingston, NY

$150-$187/hr
#4

Vetco Relief Veterinarian - East Patchogue, NY

$150-$187/hr
+ 48 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 2.8
Better work-life than 20% of Veterinary Medicine listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,029 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes weekends

Living in Bethesda

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$1.02M
Typical market rent
$3,038/mo
Residents’ average commute
28 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Small Door Veterinary logo

About Small Door Veterinary

Veterinary Services
New York, NY
51-200 employees

Benefits & Perks

Competitive rate
Collaborative team
Clear career path with opportunities for growth