What a veterinarian does
A veterinarian examines, diagnoses and treats animals, performs surgery and dentistry, prescribes medication and advises owners on preventive care. They also lead difficult conversations about cost, prognosis and euthanasia, often several times a day. For a clinic, each veterinarian supports a full appointment book, surgical days and the work of technicians and assistants. When a position stays open, appointment availability shrinks, the remaining veterinarians carry more cases and the risk of burnout across the team grows.
Veterinarians look closely at mentorship, caseload, after-hours expectations and the support team before they move. Finch asks about your species, services, surgical mix, shift pattern and how new veterinarians are supported in their first months. We confirm licensing, discuss clinical interests and present candidates who want what your practice offers, whether that is a recent graduate looking for mentorship or an experienced veterinarian ready to take on a senior role.
Typical responsibilities
- Examine patients, take histories and order diagnostic tests and imaging
- Diagnose conditions and create treatment plans with clear cost estimates
- Perform surgery, dentistry and anaesthesia within their competence
- Prescribe and dispense medications and keep drug records as required
- Talk with owners about prognosis, home care and end-of-life decisions
- Supervise and delegate tasks to registered veterinary technicians and assistants
Qualifications and credentials
- A licence from the College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO)
- A veterinary degree, with internationally educated veterinarians completing the examinations and assessments required before licensing
- Experience with the species and services your practice offers
- Comfort with your practice management software, such as ezyVet, Cornerstone or AVImark, which is an advantage
- For clinics outside Ontario, a licence from that province's veterinary regulator
Who hires a veterinarian
- Companion animal hospitals and clinics
- Emergency and referral hospitals
- Mixed and rural practices
- Corporate veterinary groups
- Shelters and community clinics
Where we recruit veterinarian candidates
We fill veterinarian roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Verify the CVO licence class and check the public register for any terms or conditions
- Discuss surgical and dental skills, typical case types and comfort with emergencies
- Clarify expectations around shifts, weekends and on-call duties
- Ask about mentorship needs, or about experience mentoring others
- Check references from practice owners or medical directors
Interview questions to ask
- How do you present treatment options when an owner has a limited budget?
- Which surgeries are you comfortable performing on your own today?
- How do you look after yourself and your team after a hard euthanasia appointment?