The Worst Place I Have Ever Worked - Veterinary Technician VCA Employee Review

1.0
Jul 11, 2009
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

They have good starting salaries for technicians and a pretty good discount on products and services.

Cons

Wow, where to start...if you are looking to care for animals for the sake of caring for animals this is not the place. The objective of this hospital is to squeeze every penny out of the client. The medications and services are ridiculously over priced. The management is inept and cut corners. Changes are made at will and without telling anyone, and if you are not a mind reader, they will make you feel stupid. They also treat their qualified and experienced technicians like small children. It is poorly organized and structured, and the hospitals are very cold and unwelcoming. There isn't any room for growth in the company (and they will tell you that too) and the management is not open to suggestions. You will be constantly afraid that you are doing your job incorrectly, and if you do a good job, you will never be praised for it. Good luck getting a promotion or raise too. Also,as far as benefits go, it is cheaper to get health insurance on your own than to get it through the company. The doctors do not have the freedom to treat patients as they please. They are extremely scrutinized and they are always afraid of not charging for something. There is a higher client turnover rate, than recidivism rate.

Explore other reviews about VCA

5.0
May 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Small animal, exotics, free care to wildlife, opportunities to work with zoo animals. Internal promotions to change all management has made the work environment very positive. Boarding facilities. Opportunity for certifying for internal crematory.

Cons

Pay rate less than expected for experience level. Corporate in California has increased prices every year that is causing all of my friends and family to change vets. With our rural area and low average income, pets are getting euthanized instead of having testing and treatment. Staff should have more discounts for employee pets.

4.0
Jun 12, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This company offers many opportunities for doctors and techs to grow in their careers. They provide tons of support and they've been making HUGE changes to veterinary medicine on a whole. I have never known another company to offer so many benefits and perks for staff (especially techs), and they're even making lots of effort to invest in the veterinary receptionists-the front line associates of the hospital. They're also making great strides to acknowledge some of the feedback we've had for many years. They're savvy and smart, making business decisions that build on a company that will be around a long time (and has.)

Cons

There have been times where transparency and communication are lacking, and sometimes to the point where hospital-level employees feel left out or unheard. Some bigger topics like onboarding and navigating what support comes from where could be more clear. It feels like they've been fusing on new concepts/policies/features to the company, making it feel like a clunky machine rather than building something new and streamlined. Maybe it's in the works, but how do we know down here?

avatar
VCA Response
2w
Thank you for sharing such thoughtful feedback. We’re glad to hear you’ve experienced strong support, growth opportunities, and benefits across our teams. We also recognize how important clear communication and connection are, especially as we continue to evolve. We’re creating more opportunities for open dialogue through listening sessions and bringing leaders closer to our hospital teams to better understand their day‑to‑day experiences and offer meaningful support. We’re also continuing to invest in leadership and communication training to strengthen consistency across our hospitals. Your insights help guide this work, and we appreciate all that you do for your teams and patients.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All