Associate Veterinarian

Associate veterinarian – Fruita, CO (Grand Junction/Western Slope)

$110,000 - $140,000 Base Salary + Production, No Negative Accrual

 

Small-Town Roots, High-Quality Medicine, World-Class Backyard

Are you looking for a clinic where you can practice a true variety of medicine—from routine wellness to orthopedics, endoscopy, and same-day walk-ins—while living minutes from some of the best mountain biking and hiking in the country? At Arrowhead Veterinary Hospital in Fruita, Colorado, we've built exactly that. Our AAHA-accredited hospital pairs the personalized, client-focused feel of a small-town practice with modern diagnostics and a tight, tenured support team. We're a growing practice with a loyal, full client base, and we're ready to add a doctor, all while protecting your life outside the clinic with a consistent 4-day work week.

What You Get:

• $110K-$140K Base Salary + Production with No Negative Accrual
• Balanced Schedule:Monday-Friday, 8:00-5:30 PM, with rotating half-day Saturdays. Flexible full-time structures available
• The “Support Flex”:A genuine 1 tech-per-doctor ratio plus a dedicated float, backed by skilled, tenured assistants—so you practice medicine, not paperwork. Surgery days are fully staffed with a tech, assistant, and surgical technician.
• Clinical Autonomy + Mentorship:Learn alongside our owner-founder, Dr. Etchart, a Fruita native with deep experience in orthopedics(arthroscopy, TTA, fracture repair) and high-volume dentistry.
• Comprehensive Benefits: 401(k) match, Lyra mental health support, student loan management, and career development.
• Sign-On Bonus + Industry-Leading Relocation Package
• Bring your dog to work at our daycare!

What You’ll Do:

• Advanced Clinical Care:provide top-tier outcomes using modern in-house diagnostics and high-volume digital dentistry
• Diverse Case Mix:Manage everything from routine wellness to urgent/emergency cases that keep your skills sharp
• Collaborative Medicine:Work alongside a close-knit doctor team that prioritizes compassionate care and collective problem-solving
• Give back through community and local partnerships

The Western Slope Lifestyle

Tucked at the edge of the Colorado National Monument, Fruita is a hidden gem in Colorado’s Grand Valley, just minutes from Grand Junction. 

• 6 miles to the red-rock canyons and trails of Colorado National Monument
• Minutes to world-class, dog-friendly mountain biking and hiking on the 18 Road and Kokopelli trail systems.
• Small-Town Charm, big-valley access: a quiet, friendly community roughly 15 minutes from the urban amenities of Grand Junction
• 35 miles to skiing and snowboarding at Powderhorn Mountain Resort, with several of Colorado’s iconic destinations within driving range

Requirements

• DVM/VMD degree
• 1-3+ years of clinical/veterinary practice experience
• Active (or pending) Utah Veterinary License
• A passion for surgery, dentistry, and building “year after year” relationships with families.
• Collaborative mindset—you’re a “doctor’s doctor” who enjoys sharing knowledge.

Thrive’s Medical Excellence and Education Department leads training and mentorship programs designed to support and empower you with the knowledge, tools, and resources to strengthen and nurture your professional journey.

Plus, we offer rich Medical Excellence through Education programs including Meant to Thrive doctor mentorship, comprehensive RACE-accredited dental education, team and patient safety resources and guidance - and more!

To learn more about this amazing opportunity, apply today or reach out to us at

GPrecruiting@thrivepet.com.

 
Compensation negotiable based on credentials and experience, with an annual PROSAL full-time salary range. The actual salary offered will be carefully considered based on a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, and location.
 
About Thrive

Vet-founded and Austin-born, Thrive Pet Healthcare has expanded to over 380 partner hospitals nationwide, united by a mission to shape the future of pet well-being through medical excellence, innovative technology, and a connected community. 

We bridge general practice, urgent care, specialty, and emergency care, and our locally rooted, nationally connected hospitals benefit from Thrive's extensive resources while maintaining their unique identities.  

We believe that supporting our people is the key to helping pets thrive through every stage of life. 

Join us where #WeThriveTogether. We provide customizable professional development opportunities, a supportive work environment that values work-life rhythms, and 24/7 mental health support.

At Thrive Pet Healthcare, we celebrate and embrace the uniqueness and diversity of all of our team members, pet owners, and pets. We strive to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture where all team members are empowered and feel a sense of belonging.