Independent veterinary practices play a crucial role in rural communities, especially during spring.

Phones start ringing early, jeeps head out before dawn and clinics are busy long before most people have had their first coffee.

Calving and lambing are in full swing, breeding season is approaching and unpredictable weather can increase disease risk. It’s a demanding time for farmers, who rely heavily on their local veterinary practice.

Vets juggle emergency call outs, herd health planning, disease prevention, and breeding advice, while the small animal caseload in the clinic continues to grow.

Join us for a behind the scenes look

From March 18 to April 8, XLVets Ireland, in partnership with MSD Animal Health, will provide an inside look at four independent veterinary practices over four consecutive Wednesdays.

You will experience first-hand the pace, pressure and variety of work involved in veterinary practices and how they support their local farming and pet owning communities.

To stay updated with the series, follow us on Instagram at @msdanimalhealthireland and @xlvets_ireland for a unique glimpse into the life of an independent veterinary practice.

Series schedule and featured practices

Day 1: Wednesday, March 18 - Sliabh Luachra Veterinary

Sliabh Luachra Veterinary is an independent practice in Rathmore, Co. Kerry, led by practice principal Donal Murphy.

The team includes three vets, one veterinary nurse and three support staff, offering comprehensive services for farm animal, equine and companion animals.

On the day, you’ll meet Practice Principal Donal Murphy and the team at Sliabh Luachra Veterinary as they treat lame cows using a rollover crate, conduct bull breeding soundness evaluations and handle routine and unexpected cases in a mixed practice.

Day 2: Wednesday, March 25 - Moy Veterinary Clinic

Moy Veterinary Clinic is an independent, progressive mixed practice based in Ballina, Co. Mayo. Their busy practice has a 50:50 split between small animal and large animal work.

The clinic is led by practice principals Rachel Brown and Monica Higgins and has a team of five vets, four veterinary nurses and four support staff, with a strong focus on delivering first class care to all their patients.

On the day, you’ll meet practice principal Rachel Brown and the team at Moy Veterinary Clinic as they manage a varied caseload of routine and emergency farm animal callouts and small animal consults and inpatients.

With the busy spring season, they expect a variety of cases to keep them occupied and you entertained.

Day 3: Wednesday, April 1 - Glasslyn Veterinary Clinic

Glasslyn Veterinary Clinic is a proudly independent practice in west Co. Cork with locations in Bandon, Kinsale, Macroom, and Dunmanway.

They provide accessible, high quality veterinary care to both farm and companion animal clients.

The practice is led by practice principals Kevin O’Sullivan, John Healy, John Nyhan, and David McLaughlin.

Their team of 24 veterinary surgeons, seven veterinary nurses and 16 support staff work collaboratively to deliver consistent, reliable care across all four clinics.

On the day, you'll meet the team at Glasslyn Veterinary and shadow their large animal vets to experience farm work in west Co. Cork.

You will also visit their clinics to observe their small animal vets and nurses during consultations, surgeries, X-rays and acupuncture sessions, while seeing how the support teams keep the practice running smoothly.

Day 4: Wednesday, April 8 - Summerhill Vets

Summerhill Vets is a long standing veterinary practice in north Co. Tipperary, led by practice principles Aidan Doyle and Eamon O’Connell since 2016.

The practice has grown to a team of 11 vets, three RVNs and four admin staff and recently moved into a new modern clinic.

Their farm animal vet team focuses on herd health and prevention, while the pet vet team uses the latest equipment to provide the highest standard of pet care.

On the day, you'll tour Summerhill Vets' new clinic and see what your pet experiences "behind the consult room door."

You'll see first-hand the hard work of the client care team and join the farm vets on the road to see if they're as busy in spring as they claim.

How to Follow the Series

To stay updated with the series, follow us on Instagram at @msdanimalhealthireland and @xlvets_ireland for a unique glimpse into the life of an independent veterinary practice.