Opportunities in Rathnapish, Carlow, Ireland, Ireland

Veterinary Practitioner – Mixed Practice

Oaklawns Veterinary Surgery | County Carlow

Full-Time | Permanent

Salary up to €80,000 DOE

Preferred Start Date: November 2026 (Flexible for the Right Candidate)

A Truly Mixed Veterinary Role with an Exceptional Team

If you're looking for a genuine mixed practice opportunity where you can enjoy the variety of both farm and companion animal work while being part of an experienced, supportive team, this could be the perfect next step in your career.

Oaklawns Veterinary Surgery is seeking a Mixed Veterinary Practitioner to join our established and highly respected practice in County Carlow. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a thriving practice offering a true 50:50 mix of Small Animal and Large Animal work, with the flexibility to tailor certain aspects of the caseload to suit your individual interests and strengths.

With an experienced clinical team, excellent facilities, exciting plans for a full practice refurbishment, and a loyal client base, you'll be joining a practice where quality veterinary medicine and teamwork come first.

While we would ideally welcome our new colleague in November 2026, we can offer flexibility around start dates for the right candidate.

Why Oaklawns?

Located just minutes from Carlow Town, Oaklawns Veterinary Surgery has built a strong reputation within the local community for delivering high-quality veterinary care across both companion animal and farm clients.

The practice continues to grow and evolve, combining traditional mixed practice values with modern clinical standards and technology. Our clients value continuity, accessibility and practical veterinary advice, while our team enjoys the support of experienced colleagues and a genuinely friendly working environment.

You will be joining an experienced team comprising five Veterinary Surgeons, three Veterinary Nurses, a dedicated Practice Manager and three Receptionists. Collaboration and teamwork are at the heart of the practice, with regular case discussions and a supportive culture that allows vets to work confidently while knowing help is always available when needed.

The Role

This is a true mixed practice position offering excellent clinical variety.

The role encompasses a combination of small animal consultations and surgery alongside large animal clinical work, herd health responsibilities and TB testing. The variety of the caseload provides opportunities to utilise a broad range of veterinary skills while maintaining strong relationships with both companion animal and farming clients.

We recognise that every veterinarian has different strengths and professional interests. Whilst mixed practice experience is preferred, we are open to tailoring aspects of the role, particularly for candidates with stronger small animal experience who wish to maintain involvement in farm work while continuing to develop their skills within a supportive environment.

As the practice already has a recent graduate veterinary surgeon within the team, we are ideally seeking a candidate who can bring some previous clinical experience and confidently contribute to the caseload from an early stage.

Facilities and Equipment

Oaklawns is a well-equipped practice with the facilities required to deliver a high standard of first-opinion veterinary care across both small and large animal disciplines.

The practice benefits from digital radiography, small and large animal ultrasound equipment, gaseous anaesthesia, modern dental facilities, in-house haematology and biochemistry analysers, Ovacyte fertility testing equipment and Mastatest technology for mastitis sample analysis.

Adding to the excitement, plans are in place for a substantial refurbishment of the practice premises, representing a significant investment in both the clinical environment and the future of the practice.

Working Pattern

The practice operates between 9:00am and 6:30pm Monday to Friday, with Saturday opening hours until 5:30pm.

The out-of-hours commitment is shared fairly across the veterinary team and consists of one weekday night on call in five, one weekend on call in five and one additional Saturday morning in five. Bank Holiday responsibilities are also shared equally amongst the veterinary team.

The rota has been designed to provide a sustainable balance between clinical practice and personal time while ensuring continuity of care for our clients and patients.

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for a VCI registered Veterinary Practitioner who enjoys the diverse nature of mixed practice and values being part of a close-knit team.

The ideal candidate will possess previous mixed practice experience and be comfortable managing a varied caseload across both small and large animal work. Strong communication skills, a practical approach to problem solving and the ability to build lasting relationships with clients and colleagues are all important qualities for success in this role.

Most importantly, we are seeking someone who shares our commitment to providing excellent patient care while contributing positively to the supportive culture that exists within the practice.

Rewarding You Properly

We believe exceptional veterinary professionals should be rewarded with a package that supports both their professional ambitions and personal wellbeing.

Alongside a competitive salary of up to €80,000 depending on experience, the successful candidate will benefit from 22 days annual leave, Birthday Leave, paid maternity and paternity leave, company sick pay, bereavement leave, access to our Employee Assistance Programme and Wellbeing Centre, and the Cycle to Work Scheme.

Professional development is actively encouraged through a generous annual CPD allowance of €1,300, five paid CPD days, support for further qualifications including Certificates and Diplomas, and access to both clinical and non-clinical career progression pathways.

Professional memberships including VCI registration and VDS cover are fully funded. Additional benefits include employer pension contributions, annual salary reviews, discounted veterinary fees, free flu vaccinations and access to our Pawesome Benefits platform, offering discounts and cashback across hundreds of retailers.

Why Carlow?

Carlow offers an exceptional quality of life, combining beautiful countryside, vibrant local communities and excellent transport links to Dublin, Kilkenny, Waterford and the wider South East.

Whether you're relocating, commuting or already based in the region, Carlow provides the perfect balance between professional opportunity and lifestyle, making it an increasingly popular location for veterinary professionals seeking both career progression and a great place to live.

Let's Talk

If you're looking for a genuine mixed practice role with clinical variety, an experienced team, excellent facilities and a supportive working environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Join Oaklawns Veterinary Surgery and become part of a practice where mixed practice is thriving, teamwork matters, and the future is looking brighter than ever.