VCA Animal Hospitals logo
VCA Animal Hospitals
Southbury, Connecticut

Relief Veterinarian

Veterinarian Above average in Veterinary MedicineContract

Compensation

Pay not disclosed

Employment & setting
Contract
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 1mo ago

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Associate Veterinarian to join our team.
In this position you'll use your superior medical judgment combined with a high level of empathy, confidence and humility to build a loyal client base and heal pets.
As a member of the VCA family, your passion for medicine and compassion for pets and people is matched with a commitment to your professional growth. Among the reasons to consider joining VCA are:
Network of 4,500+ doctors, including more than 600 Specialists.
Largest provider of Private Practice Internships and Residencies in the U. S.
WOOF University, offering abundant CE for Doctors and Staff.
Robust Clinical Studies program.
Opportunities to give back through strong Shelter partnerships and VCA Charities.

If you are a current associate, you will 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 vcacareers. com

Key Responsibilities

The Relief Veterinarian will utilize their medical judgment and empathy to build a loyal client base and provide care for pets. They will be part of a supportive team within the VCA family, focusing on both medical excellence and professional development.

Requirements

Candidates should have experience as a veterinarian and demonstrate a passion for both medicine and compassion for pets and their owners. The position requires strong interpersonal skills and a commitment to ongoing professional growth.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Client Relationship BuildingPet CareVeterinary MedicineCharity WorkTeam Collaboration

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Connecticut is 103.6 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 62.6% of Connecticut clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 10% are remote, 74% have no call, 66% require no weekends.

Veterinary Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is down 3.7% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Relief Veterinarian at VCA Animal Hospitals a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Veterinary Medicine — ranked against 2,876 active Veterinary Medicine listings on WeekdayDoc.

6.6/10 work-life score · Above average in Veterinary Medicine — ranked against 2,876 active roles in this specialty

Top Veterinarian Jobs

20 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution19 jobs · 16 employers

3
$120k
4
$140k-160k
7
$160k-180k
2
$180k-200k
3
$200k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks19 jobs · 16 employers

Sign-on bonus
95%
401k / retirement match
95% this job
CME allowance
68%
Relocation assistance
63%
Loan repayment
11%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Tri-State Region Professional Services Veterinarian-Companion Animal

Merck · Cornwall, Connecticut

$142k-$224k
#2

Veterinarian - Madera, CA

Madera Veterinary Center · Madera, California

$150k-$200k
#3

Feline Veterinarian - Chico, CA

$150k-$200k
#4

Veterinarian - Gloversville, NY

$130k-$185k
+ 18 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

6.6/ 10
Listing-based score

Above average in Veterinary Medicine

A signal to investigate—not a guarantee about the workplace.

VCA Animal Hospitals logo

About VCA Animal Hospitals

Veterinary Services
Los Angeles, CA
10,000+ employees

Benefits & Perks

Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Paid vacation/sick days
401(k)
Generous employee pet discounts