A new locally owned large animal veterinary practice has opened in Inishowen to meet a growing demand for independent vet services from farmers in north Donegal and its Derry-Tyrone border region.
Northwest Vets, located in Burt, has been founded by veterinary practice manager Maria Barron and veterinary surgeon Niall McSharry, both of whom are former long-term colleagues at Whitehouse Veterinary Clinic in Derry and hail from farming families.
With almost 30 years’ experience in local veterinary practice management, Burnfoot native Barron is well known in the north-west’s livestock and equine circles.
McSharry, from Sligo, has become a familiar face on local farms in recent years and is highly regarded for his dedication to livestock and equine care.
Joining the team after almost 10 years at Whitehouse Veterinary Clinic is Armagh native Michael Doherty.
Donegal vet practice
Maria Barron said the entire Northwest Vets team is “very excited to create this new chapter in local veterinary care”.
“We are all committed to the delivery of personalised and truly independent vet services to every client and animal at the most competitive prices,” she added.
“Our promise is to ensure that exceptional service, with a friendly and personal touch, will be central to everything we do at Northwest Vets. We believe this approach is vitally important in providing an alternative to the corporate veterinary service provision which has become more prevalent in recent times.
“Farmers and equine enthusiasts always like to know they’re dealing with a locally-owned practice and with vets they know and trust. That has been a big factor in our decision to open Northwest Vets in Burt.”
The Northwest Vets team specialises in caring for livestock and horses, and offers 24-7 emergency services and call-out.
Services which will be undertaken by the vets include routine herd health on farms and specific procedures including TB testing, scanning, castration/squeezing, vaccinating and fertility management.
Northwest Vets has also confirmed that it will provide specialist expertise in equine care including vaccinations, dentistry and passport microchipping.
“Animal well-being and client satisfaction always come first at Northwest Vets, with 24-hour emergency care available to clients at fees they can afford,” Barron continued.
“We are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of the livestock and horses under our care, while supporting their owners with expert advice and compassionate service.”
From the new state-of-the-art facility, Northwest Vets said it will be the first and only local practice to offer a products and supplies delivery service to clients.
The team of vets will also offer a dung sample collection service for Faecal Egg Count (FEC) rapid testing using cutting edge technology to determine suitable parasite controls measures for animals.
