Harrison Family Vets, on Durham Road, has welcomed veterinary surgeon Inês Goncalves to its clinical team, strengthening the practice’s ability to care for exotic pets, as demand for niche veterinary services continues to increase.
Inês has a particular interest in exotic animal and small animal medicine, especially tortoises and birds, and has already begun treating an array of unusual patients since joining the Stockton practice.
Among them was Norman, a hamster who made a full recovery after developing an abscess, whilst ferrets Misty and Kylo became the first patients at the practice to undergo a spay and vasectomy under Inês’ care. Both procedures were successful, with the pair making smooth recoveries before returning home.
The list of recent patients also includes, Tim, a royal python Frank, the snake and Conkers, Izzy and Jessy, the tortoises, highlighting the increasingly varied caseload at the practice.
Alongside its growing expertise in exotic medicine, Harrison Family Vets continues to invest in advanced treatments and surgical standards for dogs and cats. Every dental procedure includes full-mouth dental X-rays, intravenous fluids, blood tests and local nerve blocks as standard, allowing the team to diagnose hidden dental disease, deliver safer anaesthesia and provide enhanced pain relief.
The practice also offers minimally invasive keyhole neutering, alongside enhanced surgical protocols designed to maximise patient comfort. All routine spays include local anaesthetic, intravenous fluids and multimodal pain relief as standard, helping pets recover more comfortably while giving owners complete peace of mind.
The practice also remains committed to its fear-free approach to veterinary care which is a certification scheme that uses science-based strategies to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety and stress during vet visits. Regular confidence clinics have helped nervous patients such as Woody, one of the team’s own dogs, overcome anxiety around vet visits, whilst local greyhound Syd makes the practice a regular stop on his daily walks to greet staff and collect a favourite squeaky toy.
Clinic director and veterinary surgeon, Josie Brant-Smith, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Inês to the team. She brings fantastic knowledge and enthusiasm for exotic animal medicine, allowing us to provide expert care locally for owners of reptiles, birds, small mammals and other pets.
“The practice has evolved enormously over the last four years. We’ve invested in new equipment, expanded the treatments we can offer and continued to build a team with a wide range of clinical interests. Whether we’re treating a hamster, a royal python, a greyhound or a family cat or dog, every patient receives the same high standard of compassionate, fear-free care.”
The Stockton practice is also home to veterinary surgeon Grahame Tasker, whose expertise in advanced orthopaedics and regenerative medicine has made Harrison Family Vets leading independent general practice for complex procedures including cruciate surgery, Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) surgery and laparoscopic procedures.
Since opening in November 2022, Harrison Family Vets has become known for its purpose-designed, fear-free environment, helping to reduce stress for pets through innovative consulting spaces, separate wards and positive handling techniques, whilst continuing to expand the range of treatments available to pet owners across Stockton and the surrounding area.
For further information contact Harrison Family Vets in Stockton on 01642 217 605.
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