Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

This is a full-time small animal position based in Totton, Hampshire, offering something increasingly rare in veterinary practice: genuine work-life balance. You’ll work a 4-day week with only one Saturday morning in four (9 am–12 pm), and absolutely no out-of-hours duties—your evenings and most weekends are genuinely yours. The practice is located on the edge of the New Forest National Park, just west of Southampton, making it an ideal base for those seeking a strong lifestyle alongside clinical excellence.

You’ll be joining a growing practice where Judith, the practice owner and an Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery with postgraduate qualifications in emergency medicine, soft tissue, and orthopaedic surgery, leads a collaborative team. Since Judith’s primary focus is theatre and business management, there’s a real opportunity to develop your own clinical interests, whether that’s medical work, imaging, cardiology, or exotics. The practice accepts referrals and manages advanced soft tissue and orthopaedic surgeries in-house, supported by peripatetic specialists and local referral centres for complex cases.

Days are structured with morning consultations (9 am–12 pm) and theatre slots (11 am–2 pm), a proper lunch break, afternoon consultations (3 pm–6 pm), and you’ll typically leave between 6:15 pm and 6:30 pm. The schedule is flexible, and the team actively supports professional development and personal growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver routine and advanced small animal consultations and surgical procedures
• Contribute to the practice’s growing referral caseload, including orthopaedics and soft tissue surgery
• Develop clinical expertise in areas of personal interest (imaging, cardiology, exotics, or medical work) with full practice support
• Occasional sole charge consultations; Judith and regular locum Roxanne provide clinical backup and mentorship
• Expand the exotic caseload if that’s your passion—the team includes zoology graduates and experience with unusual species
• Work collaboratively with an experienced nursing team (50+ years combined experience) and reception team of three

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon (RCVS registered)
• Experienced and confident in small animal consultations and routine surgical procedures
• Comfortable with occasional sole charge work
• Professional approach with genuine interest in client and patient care
• Ideally: medical bias, or keen interest in imaging, cardiology, or exotics (but not essential—your primary focus will be areas you love)

Benefits

• Salary: £45,000–£65,000 depending on experience
• 5 weeks’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Generous CPD allowance with certificate support
• RCVS, VDS, and BVA membership fees paid by the practice
• Yearly car park pass
• Life assurance (4× salary)
• Exclusive discounts at Pets at Home, Groom Room, and Vet Group
• No out-of-hours duties
• Access to ASIF kit, air drill, BOAS surgery instrumentation, dental X-ray, ultrasound, Tonopen, and multiparameter theatre monitor
• Support from an exceptionally experienced and collaborative team committed to your professional growth

About the Practice

Vets4Pets Totton was established 7 years ago with a mission to be part of the local community and has built strong client retention. The practice benefits from Pets at Home support office guidance while maintaining independent day-to-day clinical decision-making built on 30 years of cumulative team experience. The practice is a Nurse Training Practice, reflecting its commitment to developing talent and maintaining high clinical standards.

The team includes Judith (practice owner, Advanced Practitioner in Surgery), Head Nurse Dawn and RVN Debbie (both trained clinical coaches with interests in canine behaviour), second-year SVN Erin (zoology degree holder), experienced VCAs Katie and Ellie (the latter beginning formal nurse training in September), and a three-person reception team. The nursing team’s combination of experience, mentorship capacity, and diverse expertise—including zoo medicine backgrounds—supports both clinical excellence and professional development. The practice is well-equipped for advanced small animal work and maintains relationships with peripatetic specialists and local referral centres.