PROFILE
For the Love of Pets Antonia Scott catches up with resident vets Wayne Smith and Vicky Lees from Alder Vets in Stamford
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OW it all began Wayne Smith: I grew up in Chapel St Leonard’s in Lincolnshire and went to school in Oundle, followed by university in Liverpool. On graduating I worked in Liverpool and purchased the Alder Veterinary Centre there, before selling it to buy a 20-acre farm in Spalding with my horses. I worked as a locum for several years then opened the Alder Veterinary Surgery in Spalding and sold the farm. I purchased the Bourne surgery two years ago and in early 2017 opened up the Stamford Alder Veterinary Surgery in a joint venture with Vicky. Vicky Lees: I was born and bred locally on a farm just outside Stamford. I completed my Veterinary Degree in Edinburgh, but I was keen to return home again and have been practicing locally for nearly 10 years now. My husband is also local and works in Stamford and we have two young boys. Why did you want to become a vet? WS: I was always mad about animals and used to watch the program Daktari on TV and knew when I was five years old that I wanted to be a wildlife vet. VL: I was inspired by my father’s love of animals - he bought me my first Jack Russell when I was five years old and spent hours with him and the other animals on the farm and we still do! I would jump out of bed at 5am to feed and muck out the sheep, cattle, chickens and my three ponies before school. My menagerie of animals continued to grow and from very early on my goal was to become a Veterinary Surgeon.
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STAMFORD LIVING MAY 2017
Do you have a specialist area of interest? WS: I have interests in orthopedics and cancer treatments. VL: I enjoy the variation of both medicine and surgery. What are the best parts of your job? WS: The animals and the clients – you’ve got to like both to do this job! VL: Meeting all the wonderful Stamford characters and getting to know them and their pets. It is lovely to build up a bond with clients and their pets. I find this really rewarding. What are the bits you least like? WS: The business side of it. VL: Most people would think it would be the daily dealings in vomit, bodily fluids etc but these things don’t bother me at all! You do need a cast iron stomach though. I love the animals, the people and the medicine. Describe a typical day at Alder Vets? 8.30am: Arrive at the clinic feeling ready to take on the day, greeted by a smiling nurse and ‘your first emergency is on the way down’. Whilst we wait, I check over and admit the patients booked in for operations that day. 9am: Morning consultations begin, these vary from treating sick pets to routine vaccinations and puppy and kittens to check over (and cuddle!). The emergency arrives, a young Staffordshire Bull Terrier vomiting profusely and becoming increasingly quiet. Having checked her over, I suspect an intestinal ‘foreign body’ so she is admitted for further investigations. 11.30am: X-rays confirm the young Staffy needs surgery - a peach stone is removed from her
small intestine and she recovers well. She will stay in on fluids for the next day or so. We also perform three cat spays, a dog castrate and X-rays on an elderly Labrador. 2.30pm: Lunch and a much-deserved cup of tea. Then phone calls to clients to inform of any lab results or updates on patient’s progress. 4pm-6.30pm: Consultations for vaccines, anal glands, skin problems, bunny teeth burring and a pet passport. What animals do you have? WS: 6 horses, 12 dogs, 12 cats, 2 rabbits, 2 guinea pigs, 9 chickens, 2 tortoises, 2 budgies and 5 children! VL: 3 dogs, 1 tortoise, 1 pony, 8 goats, 24 chickens and flock of Jacob sheep. What’s the most exotic animal you have treated? WS: A Monitor Lizard VL: A penguin! If you hadn’t been a vet, what was your Plan B?! WS: Marine Biologist. VL: Plan B was never really an option. Do you have any favourite haunts in Stamford? WS: Burghley House VL: Cosy Club, The George for family gatherings on rare occasions. • Alder Vets Stamford: Uffington Road, Stamford, PE9 2BF 01780 322 333 www.alder-vets.co.uk