ORCA Vet

05/28/2026

More adorable faces that came to see us at ORCA 😍🐾💙 These are some of the patients we had the privilege of caring for last August.

From orthopedic procedures like TPLOs and MPL repairs to CT imaging, internal medicine workups, ultrasounds, and everything in between, every patient brought their own story and journey through our doors.

We love getting to be a small part of these patients’ lives and helping them on the road back to feeling their best 🩵

05/24/2026

Laser beams? At ORCA? 👀⚡️
Not quite shark-with-lasers level… but we are excited to welcome our new surgical cutting laser to the pod.

From procedures like TECAs to BOAS surgeries, this technology gives us another tool that may improve precision, reduce bleeding in certain procedures, and support patient comfort and recovery.

Advanced tools + skilled hands + lots of patient snuggles = ORCA vibes 💙🐋

05/21/2026

At the end of the day… same message, same goal: helping your pet heal comfortably and keeping those incisions looking beautiful 💙🐾

(Yes, we know the cone is temporarily ruining their aesthetic.)

05/16/2026

🐋🫍🐳 Pod Announcement 🐳🫍🐋

We’re excited to share that our Practice Manager, Amanda, has been nominated for Trupanion’s Veterinary Professional of the Year Award ❤️

While we may be a little biased, anyone who knows Amanda knows the impact she has had on our team, our patients, our clients, and the veterinary community as a whole. From mentoring and advocating for RVTs, to supporting team growth, championing patient comfort and pain management, and helping create the culture that makes ORCA what it is today — she puts her whole heart into everything she does.

One of Amanda’s biggest goals has always been creating a workplace where veterinary professionals feel supported, valued, and able to thrive, because better team care means better patient care.

We’re incredibly proud to see her recognized, and if you’d like to help celebrate her, we’d love your support with a vote ❤️

https://vetappreciationday.trupanion.com/nominations/517443d6-3f1c-41b0-929c-22070537fc37?vv=2&shareToken=91b3003e-bcb1-4d85-88f2-ef0210bfd1c3

Support Amanda B, RVT, CVPP of ORCA Orthopedic And Referral Centre For Animals, NANAIMO in the 2026 Veterinary Appreciation Day Awards. Read their story and celebrate the veterinary professionals caring for pets every day.

05/14/2026

From tiny splint changes to big orthopedic adventures, these were some of the sweet faces that came through the ORCA pod between July and September 🐾💙

Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of caring for patients needing everything from CT imaging and specialty diagnostics to fracture repairs, TECA surgeries, and post-operative rehabilitation. Some cases were complex, some were straightforward, and some — like one very cute little kitten with a non-surgical fracture — just needed time, patience, and lots of careful splint changes while healing.

Every patient who walks through our doors becomes part of the pod for a little while, and getting to follow their journeys is one of the best parts of what we do.

We’re happy to report that all of these furry friends are doing well 🩵

Thank you to their families and referring veterinarians for trusting us with their care.

04/29/2026

It’s a bittersweet moment in the pod this week 💙
Our amazing Hannah is heading off to start her next chapter in tech school.

Hannah has been such a steady force behind the scenes at ORCA. As our central sterile queen, she’s kept everything running smoothly, safely, and with so much care and intention. The kind of work that often goes unseen, but is absolutely essential to everything we do.

She brings a quiet dedication, a willingness to learn, and a genuine kindness that has made a lasting impact on our team and our patients.

She’s off to become the RVT we already know she’s meant to be, and we couldn’t be more proud (even if we’re feeling a little sad about it right now…).

The best part? This isn’t goodbye forever. We’ll be cheering her on every step of the way and can’t wait to see her back in the pod along her journey 🐋💙

04/25/2026

It’s been a full few months over here in all the ways that matter most.

We’ve been busy supporting our patients, our team, and the work that happens behind the scenes every day.

And there’s a lot we’ve been meaning to share 🐳 🤍

Thanks for being here… even when we’ve been a little quiet 🥹 Stay tuned - we’ve got some catching up to do 🤩

12/20/2025

🎄 Holiday Closure Notice 🎄

As we come to the end of 2025, we’re taking a moment to do something we truly believe in at ORCA: rest.

🗓 ORCA Orthopedic & Referral Centre will be closed from December 20 – January 4 as our team takes a well-deserved break to rest, reset, and spend time with the people (and pets) who fill their cups.

Veterinary medicine asks a lot of its people, and building a sustainable, compassionate clinic means knowing when to pause. This time away allows our pod to come back grounded, energized, and ready to continue providing the thoughtful, high-quality care your pets deserve.

Thank you to our referring clinics, clients, and veterinary community for your trust and support throughout the year.

We’ll see you in 2026, refreshed, recharged, and ready to make even bigger waves together 🐋✨

— The ORCA Team

10/30/2025

🚨🚨 We’re hiring at ORCA! 🚨🚨

Are you a Registered Veterinary Technologist with a passion for anesthesia and surgical care?

Are you an experienced Veterinary Assistant that loves surgery?

Do you dream of working in a supportive environment where your growth and well-being are top priorities?

Look no further!!

ORCA – Orthopedic & Referral Center for Animals is a privately owned surgical center in Nanaimo and we’re on the lookout for a dedicated RVT AND veterinary assistant to join our close-knit crew. This is a fantastic opportunity to work alongside a talented team in the exciting world of specialty surgery.

✨ Requirements (RVT):

➡️ Minimum one year of clinical experience with anesthesia with a strong understanding of pharmaceuticals, anatomy, and physiology.
➡️ Must be a member in good standing with the BCVTA (or eligible for membership).
➡️ A positive attitude and eagerness to learn are a must!

✨ Requirements (Veterinary Assistant):

➡️ Minimum one year of assisting experience with confidence in patient handling
➡️ Surgical experience is an asset, but not required
➡️ A love for snacks and midday dance parties!

✨ Perks of the Pod:

➡️ Competitive wage: RVT $32-$35, Veterinary Assistant $22–$25/hr (based on experience)
➡️ Set schedule on an averaging agreement (no more 5-day weeks!)
➡️ Generous CE allowance & paid CE days
➡️ Medical and dental benefits
➡️ Stylish Figs scrubs
➡️ Pet discounts (for you and your family!)
➡️ No weekend shifts!

At ORCA, we believe in building more than just a workplace—we’re building a pod. If you’ve been searching for a unicorn clinic… maybe a whale will suit you better 🐳

Apply today by sending your resume and cover letter to [email protected] and let’s make waves together in the world of veterinary surgical care 🌊

ORCA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.

09/26/2025

Another wonderful round of patients we’ve had the pleasure of seeing in the ORCA Pod 🐳💙

✨ Etosha – this beautiful lady had a TPLO in July, and her September rads show she’s healed and thriving.

✨ Oliver – a sweet little bug who had BOAS surgery and a neuter in July.

✨ Fred – our wild child kitten who had a fracture repair in July; August rads showed he’s healing beautifully.

✨ Rumi – a handsome boy with a TPLO in July; his September rads show he’s doing great.

✨ Winter – this sweetheart came for a TPLO in April and returned in July for follow-up xrays. She’s doing wonderfully.

✨ Mylo – Ashley’s adorable cat, who popped in for tummy troubles but was way too cute not to photograph.

✨ Citrine – a lovely lady who came to us in July for a CT.

✨ Eddie – a handsome boy seen for an exam and xrays with Dr. Preston.

✨ Moxie – Amanda’s new kitten 🐾 who came in for chest xrays after a mild cough. She had a cardiology workup in August and is doing great.

We’re so grateful to be part of each of these journeys 💙