Scottish veterinary group is a real diamond

Scotland’s largest independent veterinary group is celebrating its 75th anniversary this month. Thrums Vets opened its doors in 1948 as a large animal practice, set up by Jim Baillie, a respected vet from Brechin to support local farmers.

Now a thriving mixed practice, treating pets, horses and farm animals throughout Angus and Perthshire from its four practices, Thrums employs a dedicated team of 27 vets. 

Registered veterinary nurse and associate managing director, Ashley Wilkie, said: “We are proud of our agricultural heritage and the support we have received from the farming community over the years. We now look after animals both large and small from our practices in Kirriemuir, Blairgowrie, Scone and Forfar but have not forgotten our farming routes!”

Angus sheep producer, Luisa Laird, described the proactive flock health input she has received from her vet at Thrums over the years as “completely invaluable.” Thrums is a central part of XLVets, the community of independently owned veterinary practices that work collaboratively for the greater good of the industry.

Farming vet and Director, Ed Hill said: “We understand that a farm is a business and do everything we can to care for farm animals, but also help farmers balance productivity and sustainability. 

We take a collaborative approach to sharing knowledge, discussing problems and searching for the best solutions for beef, sheep and dairy farms and for poultry and game birds. We also look after smallholders and our knowledge of the farms and farmers in our community is second to none.”

Senior mixed and equine vet, Roddy Binnie, said: “When it comes to working with the equine community we are equally committed and have an experienced team of vets who run regular clinics on everything from laminitis and obesity to equine grass sickness and first aid. 

With a fabulous new dental kit, which now includes a diastema burr for our motorised rasping equipment, a dynamic aqua flusher, and a broader range of extraction forceps, we are also able to provide oral hygiene treatments to ponies and horses both at their stables and at our practice in Kirriemuir, which has a new floor laid with anti-slip rubber matting designed for our equine patients.”

He added: “With in-house blood testing facilities, we can also quickly confirm our diagnoses and we help lots of owners tackle equine melanomas and sarcoids head-on, providing physical examinations, ultrasounds, and biopsies.”

Director Graeme Richardson, who has been a vet with Thrums for 32 years, said: “Over the last 75 years the veterinary industry has changed in many ways, but what has always remained vitally important is that personal relationship we have with our clients, their farm animals, horses, ponies and pets.

The advancement in technology has been huge, who would have thought even just three years ago that we would be able to bring keyhole surgery to pets! Just like when Jim started out, we provide out of hours emergency care service and have two vets on call. We are always here for our clients day and night, and Jim’s ethos of dedication and professional care is still the cornerstone of our practice 75 years on. We look forward to continuing to be trusted partners in our communities for many more years to come.”