Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

Totton Vets; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established veterinary practice in Totton is seeking an experienced vet. The role offers a supportive environment with opportunities to develop skills in surgery and consultative care, along with a strong focus on work-life balance. Generous salary and benefits are provided, promoting personal and professional growth.

Benefits

5 weeks’ holiday plus bank holidays

Generous CPD allowance

RCVS, VDS, and BVA fees paid

Yearly car park pass

Life assurance (4x salary)

Exclusive discounts at Pets at Home

Qualifications

• Experienced vet with good surgical skills and consultation experience.
• Keen interest in imaging or cardiology is a plus.
• Ability to handle exotic animals is welcomed.

Responsibilities

• Consulting with clients and performing routine surgeries.
• Managing a varied caseload including exotic species.
• Providing excellent care and mentorship within the team.

Skills

Surgical procedures

Consultation skills

Imaging

Cardiology

Education

Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Job description

Would you love the chance to explore your clinical interests, gain new skills, and feel truly valued in your day-to-day work?

About Us

Our small animal practice in Totton, Hampshire, is growing fast, and we're excited to welcome an additional vet to join our friendly team, working alongside our experienced full-time vet and dedicated practice owner, Judith and our regular locum vet, Roxanne.

As the heart of Vets4Pets Totton, Judith brings an exceptional level of expertise and support to the team. She is an Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery and holds postgraduate certificates in emergency medicine and surgery, as well as soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery. Her advanced skill set places us in a uniquely strong position to manage a varied and interesting caseload, including orthopaedics and advanced soft tissue surgeries, and to accept referrals from local practices. Judith also holds a degree in Zoology, enabling us to confidently care for exotic species — making every day different and offering a real opportunity to follow your own clinical passions.

We are well-equipped with an ASIF kit and air drill, BOAS surgery instrumentation, dental X-ray, ultrasound, Tonopen, and a multiparameter monitor in the theatre. We also benefit from the services of peripatetic orthopaedic surgeons, such as RATA, to treat patients in-house, and can refer any complex cases to our local specialist centres.

Our nurse team boasts over 50 years of combined experience, providing incredible support and mentorship. Head Nurse Dawn and RVN Debbie both have interests in canine psychology and behaviour and are trained clinical coaches, as we are a Nurse Training Practice. They offer fantastic guidance to our second-year SVN, Erin and Katie, our highly experienced VCA. We're also excited to welcome Ellie, another experienced VCA, who will begin her nurse training with us in September. Debbie used to work at Marwell Zoo, and Erin also holds a degree in Zoology, which is useful for some of the more unusual pets we may see, such as raccoons or skunks. Complementing this, our exceptional reception team of three ensures a truly well-rounded and collaborative team that will support your growth.

The Practice was established 7 years ago with the aim of being part of the local community, and we are lucky to have good client retention. We have the management guidance of the Pets At Home Support Office, but very much run the day-to-day clinical side of the Practice using our experience gained through working in other Practices over the past 30 years.

Here’s what our team has to say about Vets4Pets Totton

“ I work with a team of lovely, funny, hard-working colleagues who always put the care of our patients first.” Judith, Practice Owner

“I enjoy working at Vets4Pets Totton because we have a very good team. The majority of us are of a similar age, get on and work well together. The JVP and qualified nurses have many years of experience. We get lots of unusual and interesting cases, as well as many different species of patients. The hours are very sociable, and the practice can be flexible with shifts if I need to change one.” Dawn, Head Nurse

“My reasons for liking my job are:-

• Everyone has a laugh.
• Opportunity to learn a lot and get stuck in with everything.
• Seeing a variety of medical cases.
• eeling like I have my own responsibilities.
• Good hours, no weekends.
• Gym next door.” Erin, SVN

“ Vets4Pets Totton is a great place to work. We have a lovely team who are passionate and caring, and I get to see lots of interesting cases, especially tortoises. We are in a lovely little town that’s not far from the New Forest, so it’s a great location.” Debbie, RVN

“Having only worked for Vets4Pets for a short amount of time, I have found the team extremely welcoming. Fun to be around and keen to teach.” Kate VCA

“I have worked here for nearly 2 years and really enjoy my job as I get to meet some lovely clients and their pets of all shapes and sizes. Even though I work on reception, I also get to help out back with the animals when I'm needed to.” Tracey, Customer Care Assistant

“ I am proud to say that having worked as a receptionist at Vets4Pets Totton for over 3 years, our small staff family always strive to give pets the best care possible. No day is the same, which keeps the job interesting, and I try my best to make time to give the inpatients some extra love between reception duties. I can’t help but appreciate the various biscuits and cakes our grateful clients bring in for us, too!” Hannah, Customer Care Assistant

Are you an experienced vet who’s ready to take the next step in your career—somewhere you’re supported, encouraged, and given space to grow?

We’re ideally looking for a confident, experienced vet who is happy consulting, performing routine surgical procedures and is comfortable with occasional sole charge. Since Judith is happiest in theatre (or busy running the business!), we'd especially welcome someone with a medical bias or a keen interest in imaging or cardiology. There is a fantastic opportunity to really grow those areas with our full support, and we're ready to invest in the equipment and ongoing CPD you need, including a certificate, to help you reach your professional goals. And if exotics are your passion, we'd be thrilled for you to expand our existing exotic caseload. But don't worry if exotics aren't your thing, that's absolutely fine – your primary focus will be on the areas you love.

A healthy work-life balance is key: that's why we've carefully designed our schedule to help you thrive, both in and out of the clinic. You'll work a 4-day week, with only one in four Saturday mornings (9 am – 12 pm).

Our days are flexibly structured with morning consultations (9 am - 12 pm) and operations (11 am - 2 pm), followed by a proper lunch break and time to catch up on admin. Afternoon consultations start at 3 pm, with the final appointment at 6 pm, allowing you to leave on time when the practice closes at 7 pm. However, vets can typically leave between 6:15 pm and 6:30 pm. Plus, with no out-of-hours duties, your evenings and most weekends are completely free!

We offer:

• A salary between £45,000 – £65,000, depending on experience
• 5 weeks’ holiday, plus bank holidays
• Generous CPD allowance and a certificate supported
• RCVS, VDS, and BVA fees paid
• Yearly car park pass paid for by the Practice
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Exclusive discounts at Pets at Home, Groom Room, and Vet Group

Totton itself is situated on the edge of the New Forest National Park, just west of Southampton, and within easy reach of the coast. Whether you’re a nature lover, a beach goer, or just looking for a lovely place to live and work, it’s all right here.

If you want to join our friendly, happy team, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for an informal chat or click the apply button now. You can also visit our website for a virtual tour of the practice.