veterinary technician

veterinary assistant

veterinarian

veterinary practice manager

shift leader

American Veterinary Group

Urgent Vet- Started out being very excited about the opportunity to work here and for this company. For once, there was this company that was supposed to tech driven and all of these amazing opportunities, but then after a few months it very quickly changed. Opportunities were given to less skilled and experienced people on a silver platter (without anyone knowing and was told at the beginning that these opportunities would be talked about amongst the team) when they had other technicians with well over 15-25 years of experience and majority of those years were emergency medicine experience, zero possibilities of advancement, even though it was made out to be a company to grow with. When you voiced your concerns, nobody would take it seriously. Is not set up for emergency cases but they expect you to be able to provide emergency care with not having to proper medications, treatments, etc. The bloodwork and radiographs are more expensive than the local 24/7 emergency hospitals, let’s be honest here, but they expected you to offer it, even if it was a GDV and time is limited with these types of cases. The best option is for this patient to be sent to a emergency hospital asap, but they expected you to put a IV cath in, bloodwork and radiographs. Which is not in the best interest of the patient. Period. The 3 years of experience tech to manager, wanted everyone to stop giving people the poison control hotline number and have them come in instead, even though they would most likely need to call them anyways or maybe they didn’t need to come in at all with the advice of a toxicologist, but yeah let’s make them come in anyways: That screams money hungry. That person lasted a month being a manager then was made a lead technician even after continuously showing they did not have enough experience for such role. Lost our full time dr and many of the relief drs because of this individual and the company’s failure to listen to the concerns of the lack of quality care being provided by this individual. The concerns continuously fell on deaf ears. Making the most money is and should not ever to be the objective and main goal when it comes to providing great quality care to our patients. And before someone comments on this post with a email to reach out to them, just know that the regional manager was addressed about these concerns multiple times and we were disregarded and made to feel like we had no idea what we were talking about when the clinic in question still to this day has not progressed whatsoever since these concerns were expressed. Turn over rate is extremely high. People have been written up for voicing their concerns. Had the worst experience with a PM Pro that once again, concerns were ignored and this individual had to do some “class” training to “change” their behavior. Nothing changed. Vet med has it’s pro and cons regardless like any other career field but the level of toxicity that runs rampant in this field and the lack of these individuals being held accountable for it has successfully played into why there is a lack of technicians in this profession anymore. I hope that this company will grow into something more than what the rest of these other corporations have turned into. The call is coming from inside the house…. 

I helped open our clinic in March of 2024 and we started training in February of 2024. At first, we were all excited and had the support of an amazing Expansion Manager, and we had support from a PM Pro who was also amazing. We had a rough start and lost our hired on practice manager two weeks after opening and our PM Pro was constantly having to travel back and forth from Florida. This was manageable and there was still a good work environment. 
The work life balance is miserable. I remember working so many days and hours in a row that the doctor and staff started "hallucinating," and thought a dog had been decapitated due to being hit by a car and drug. The dog was not decapitated, the back end of the dog was inverted. Everyone in management thought this was funny, and it wasn't. 
Management is awful. Management likes to gossip and cause animosity throughout the clinic. Management wants to turn everyone against each other and becomes extremely passive aggressive when it doesn't work. When reaching out to higher ups about management creating a hostile work environment, nothing is done. 
If you are promoted, there is no support from management. You are expected to know everything about your new position with no formal training. Then, when you don't know what your job is, they want to write you up to feel better about their self. 
I asked to not say anything when I put my two weeks notice in, but was reminded about how toxic management is when I was told, "I need to talk about it with staff. You need to tell those you haven't." Once everyone found out I was leaving, other's gave their notices, including relief doctors. There are more to leave within the next few weeks-months. I knew this would happen, but management didn't believe me.
I was always told, be the leader you never had. Clearly UrgentVet does not value great leadership or they would work on finding those leaders who lead and who people respect, not the "leaders" who are against a great culture and environment.
UrgentVet also wants emergencies to come in and waste their time and resources there when they should be referring those patients to an ER and not wasting valuable time.

What is the best part of working at the company?
One of the things I appreciate most about working for AVG is the level of support and investment the company puts into its people. There’s a strong focus on developing leaders, DVMs, and entire practice teams, which is important because all three have to work together every day to provide the level of patient care our communities expect and deserve from us.
From my experience, leadership genuinely want hospitals to succeed and has always provided those resources and support to help teams grow and develop. That investment in people makes a noticeable difference in the culture of the hospitals and the quality of care being delivered.
Like any and all growing organizations, there are times when processes evolve and adapt to a changing industry but overall AVG has always shown a real commitment to supporting its teams and willingness to always improve upon itself.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Veterinary medicine can be fast-paced and emotionally draining at times, especially when hospitals are busy and teams are focused on providing the best care possible for patients. The work can be intense, but at the same time it's very rewarding knowing the impact the teams have on animals and their families.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The culture at my hospital is built around teamwork and patient care. Veterinary medicine can be fast-paced and demanding but the team does a great job of working together and staying focused on patient care. People genuinely care about the work they do and about helping each other succeed.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The people, without a doubt. The team is incredibly positive, supportive, and knowledgeable, which creates an environment where you can truly thrive. From the very beginning, I felt welcomed and valued—it didn’t take long at all to feel like I genuinely belonged.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Veterinary medicine is inherently a high-stress field, as we’re constantly working to support both pets and the people who love them. Balancing emotional situations with the need to provide the best possible care can be challenging, but it also makes the work incredibly meaningful.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment is fast-paced and team-driven, which is essential in veterinary medicine. There’s a strong culture of collaboration, with doctors, technicians, and support staff working closely together to provide the best possible care for each patient. Everyone is willing to jump in and help where needed, and there’s a shared understanding of the emotional and physical demands of the job. The culture emphasizes compassion, communication, and continuous learning, creating a supportive space not only for our patients and clients, but for each other as well.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day is fast-paced and centered around pets AND people—handling calls, taking the best care of pets, collaborating with the team, and fitting in meetings along the way. No two days are exactly the same, but they’re always busy and rewarding. There’s usually a much-needed coffee break in the mix, and plenty of time spent doing what matters most: caring for pets and supporting their owners.

Urgentvet is so focused on money that they do not care at all about the clients, patients or quality medicine. It is not set up for emergency cases but they expect you to be able to provide emergency care without having proper medications, treatments, etc. The bloodwork and radiographs are more expensive than the local 24/7 emergency hospitals  but it was expected you to offer it to nearly every client, even if it was a GDV and time is limited with these types of cases. The best option is for this patient to be sent to a emergency hospital asap, but they expected you to put a IV cath in, bloodwork and radiographs. The focus on money applies to clients who are up front about financial issues. We are pushed to have them apply for care credit or scratchpay regardless of their needs. We are pushed to get every client in the door no matter what,even in cases that are absolutely not necessary like a puppy with worms that is otherwise doing well. 

If you push back at all, you become a threat to the clinic and you will be reprimanded or fired. On top of all this, you will only work 32-35 hours a week. I made more money making less per hour at other places. The benefits are also terrible and worse than every other major company. 

If you like overly corporate companies where you will have absolutely zero autonomy, then maybe this will bea good fit for you. But if you like to think for yourself and refuse to drink the company kool-aid, then I would stay far away. 

AVG is more than a workplace; it's a career I can see myself staying at for years! The management team is like your career's personal cheerleaders – always supportive and genuinely invested in your growth. You don't have to ASK to check in or get feedback. The consistent check-ins with your manager are not the typical mundane sessions; they're strategic conversations that actually propel your career forward. The annual review process isn't just a formality; it's a comprehensive guide to developing your skills and reaching new heights.

What's even better is the understanding culture when you're out sick. No guilt trips here! They get it, and they've got your back. The flexibility in scheduling is a game-changer. Need to work around your peak productivity hours? No problem.

What sets AVG apart is its open-door policy for feedback. It doesn't matter if you're a newbie or a seasoned pro – your ideas and suggestions matter. The company thrives on continuous improvement, and your voice is a key part of that. I love  being a part of a fast growing newer company that shares my ideals.

AVG isn't just a job; it's a journey of growth, understanding, flexibility, and equal opportunities. Buckle up for a career ride like no other!

We all know vet med is a hard field to be in, especially in Montgomery, Alabama. However that does not excuse the poor management of the clinic. While I know one clinic does not represent the entire corporation, I do know that each clinic deserves to have their voice heard. The manager at this specific clinic has ruined the practice, and the upper level management of the corporation has not listened to a multitude of veterinarian, technician, and client complaints. I feel like while I was there for two years my complaints, suggestions, and ideas were ignored in order to focus on profit. The culture in this corporation is hard to witness if you have any desire to do good for animals and their owners. If I could go back in time to when I was graduating vet school in boatloads of debt, I would tell myself that the money offered here STILL is not worth it. Mental health, safety, and work-life balance are too high of a price to pay for a good salary. I know several good vets and techs that still work in these clinics, and I cannot fault them for continuing to work there when the money is so good…but I KNOW they don’t stay for the culture, community, or brotherhood of this corporation. 

1. Typical day was busy but could become very stressful and disorganized, especially when no one wants to delegate specific tasks (example discharging patients, rounding patients to incoming vet techs, workload of taking care of patients vs number of vet techs is unproportional...etc.)
2. Some techs are willing to teach (depending on the social clique - some techs will tolerate you and show you the bare minimum)
3. Management is way below standard (no consistency and lack of support and caring); Upper Management just shows up to "observe" and show face. 
4. Depending on the social clique (certain groups of techs will tolerate or like you, the latter being you become a social pariah in the workplace.) Some senior techs tend to have an ego/power trip when it comes to managing other technicians. Gossiping is a huge factor and will cause major distress. 
5. Hardest part of the job was dealing with the emotional stress of coworkers and/or the patient load depending on the doctor.
6. Most enjoyable was helping the animals, "occasional" training/learning and making connections with the very few genuine veterinary staff working. 

I worked as a Senior Veterinary Assistant at UrgentVet and genuinely enjoyed the fast pace, the patients, and my immediate team. My direct supervisor was supportive, and most of the staff cared deeply about animal welfare.

That said, be prepared to work well past closing. UrgentVet books appointments every 10 minutes—even toward the end of the night—and you’re expected to stay until all patients are seen, regardless of your scheduled hours.

More importantly, UrgentVet’s corporate leadership does not reflect the inclusive values they advertise. After reporting discriminatory behavior, I was to be disciplined alongside the person responsible—despite using the proper internal channels. It left me feeling silenced and unsupported. 

If you are a minority of any kind—whether in race, gender identity, or orientation—I would not recommend working here. The inclusivity appears progressive on the surface but is largely performative. Speaking up comes with risk. I would also not work here if you prefer working clear cut hours. Good luck leaving on time.

What is the best part of working at the company?
This company completely fails to support its team members. The lack of care for employees is overwhelming, and it shows in the constant turnover, especially among veterinarians. Doctors are coming and going at an alarming rate, which creates instability, burnout, and a toxic work environment. There is little to no support from regional managers or HR. When serious concerns are raised, they are ignored, minimized, or brushed aside. Instead of feeling valued, employees are made to feel disposable. The workload is unrealistic, expectations are unreasonable, and there is no meaningful effort to retain staff or address the root causes of turnover and burnout. Working here feels exhausting and demoralizing rather than rewarding. I would strongly discourage any veterinarian from working for this company if they value their mental health, professional growth, and well-being.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
No support from anyone, unreasonable expectations.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Extremely toxic, overwhelming

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Veterinary technician 64 salaries reported	$26.64 per hour
Veterinary assistant 70 salaries reported	$23.15 per hour
Veterinarian 53 salaries reported	$163 per hour
Veterinary practice manager 30 salaries reported	$82,183 per year
Shift leader 23 salaries reported	$27.37 per hour

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