Where We Are Now
Where we are now
There’s no getting around it — starting Towan Vets has been a huge undertaking. It’s been hard work, mentally and emotionally challenging, and at times completely exhausting. But it’s also been incredibly rewarding to see something we’d been planning for so long finally start to take shape and come to life.
All of us have mainly worked in larger, more established practices, where there were always plenty of people and systems already in place. Starting from scratch has been a steep learning curve. With such a small team, there’s no one else to pass things on to, so we’ve all had to muck in, tackle unexpected problems, and learn new skills along the way. Before we opened, I think we were all slightly daunted by what we were taking on — wondering how we’d manage everything, how our way of doing things would be received, and whether it would all work as we hoped.
Whilst we had every confidence in the clinical abilities of Joe and Sam, it’s been the non-clinical side of running a practice that’s proved the bigger challenge. We’re all far better with our stethoscopes than with computers, but little by little, we’ve got to grips with practice management systems, administration, client communication, marketing, and compliance, and we’re finding our own way of doing things.
Having just two vets also means juggling a demanding out-of-hours rota, providing 24/7 emergency cover, while still trying to maintain some balance with our own lives and families.
That said, the work itself has been hugely fulfilling. We’ve had a really varied caseload since starting — some great success stories, some interesting (and amusing!) characters, and inevitably some sad situations too. Hopefully, even in those cases, we’ve been able to make things as gentle and peaceful as possible.
One of the great things about veterinary practice is that there’s always something new to learn. Alongside the routine work of vaccinations, dentals and vettings, there are always curveballs — something unusual, unexpected, or completely new. Sometimes we’re genuinely amazed at the situations horses manage to get themselves into! These cases are usually followed by plenty of reading, research, conversations with experts, and learning about new techniques and advances in treatment.
Recently, Joe was able to use Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy for a horse with a check ligament lesion. Thanks to advances in mobile equipment and PRP collection kits, this could be done on yard. The process involves taking blood from the horse, concentrating the platelets using a series of filters, and injecting them into the affected area to stimulate healing. It’s really exciting to be able to offer advanced treatments like this without horses needing to travel.
Sam was also presented with an unusual case involving a horse called Rudi, who had a tear in his urethra — the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. No underlying cause could be identified, but the pressure during urination prevented the injury from healing and led to blood being present in the urine.
Rudi was referred to Western Counties for surgical treatment, which Sam was pleased to be able to observe. The surgeons performed a urethrostomy, creating an incision higher up the urethra through the tissues below the horse’s anus. This allowed urine to pass through a temporary opening, bypassing the damaged section and giving it time to heal.
Both the urethral tear and the surgical incision have now fully healed, and Rudi is able to pass urine normally again.
These unusual cases certainly help keep the work varied, challenging and interesting — every day’s a school day, as they say!
Alongside the support of experts at referral centres, we’ve also had fantastic help closer to home from our wonderful neighbours at Hayle Vets. They were absolute stars when they came to our rescue by sterilising our surgical kits when our autoclave didn’t arrive on time (and then didn’t work back in September!). They’ve also kindly offered the use of their blood machines when we’ve needed urgent samples run, giving us speedy results when time really matters. Thank you, Hayle Vets!
We’ve been genuinely humbled by the number of people who have wanted to register with us. It’s a real testament to how highly Joe and Sam are regarded — not just as vets, but as people — that so many of you have placed your trust in us and supported what we’re building.
Recently, one of our clients sent us a heartfelt card that brought a lump to our throats. She shared how grateful she was to have her best friend back and to be able to enjoy their favourite activities together. She also recognised that some days as a vet are long and challenging, often with sleepless nights. Alongside her kind words, she gave us a rosette, which now hangs on our wall as a reminder. Messages like hers, showing the difference our care makes to both owners and their animals, remind us why we do what we do — and make it all worthwhile.
Looking Ahead
At just four months in, everything still feels very new, and there’s no need for any big changes yet. We invested in lots of exciting new equipment from the outset, and it’s been great to see it all working well in practice. One of our most recent additions is a tonometer, which allows us to measure eye pressure and better manage ophthalmic cases — another useful tool for tackling tricky eye problems.
As many of you know, we closed our books in early December and began adding enquiries to a future client list. We’re now gradually inviting clients to join us from that list, while keeping a close eye on workload so we can continue to offer the level of care we want for our existing clients.
We’re also really pleased to have our first work-experience students and veterinary students booked in. Supporting and inspiring the next generation is something we feel strongly about. We’d love to run a client evening in the future, too, so if there’s a topic you’d be interested in, we’d really appreciate your ideas.
How You Can Help
Your support genuinely makes a difference to us, and your feedback really matters — knowing what you feel we’re doing well, as well as where we could improve, helps shape how Towan Vets grows.
On a practical level, giving us as much notice as possible when booking visits or ordering medication helps more than you might realise. With such a small team, careful route planning allows Joe and Sam to spend more time with patients and less time on the road, while advance notice helps us manage stock and administration more smoothly behind the scenes.
Looking Forward
We’re really pleased with how things are going so far and are aiming to grow steadily and sustainably — easing pressure on the existing team while preserving the character, ethos and personal touch that make Towan special. There’s still plenty for us to learn, but we’re excited about the future and the opportunities ahead.