Get To Know Dr. Tammy Talbot

Working with animals has always been a passion of mine. Ever since I can remember, I had wanted to be an “animal doctor”. I was lucky enough to grow up in a small coastal town in KZN and spent many a weekend on my Uncle’s farm, enjoying the outdoor activities and wildlife.

Like most vets, I qualified from Onderstepoort and ventured out into the world with great ambitions and a drive for experience- which I was very fortunate to obtain. My first job was at a mixed animal practice in the North West Province. It was here that I learned to expect everything and refuse nothing. No two days were ever the same, from arriving at work with a horse waiting in the parking lot, to a day spent out on farms doing game capture. It was also a great opportunity for me to develop my surgical skills (a passion of mine) and to gain the invaluable experience that would form the foundation of my future career.

But like all good things, they need to come to an end and so my husband and I decide to follow our dream and move back home to KZN. Off we went, with our 3 dogs and cat in tow, and we made ourselves a new home in KZN.  I took this opportunity to do some locum work at numerous practices extending from the South Coast, up to Durban North, and met some great vets and people along the way, once again broadening my knowledge and understanding of the profession.

After a few short years, I was lucky enough to be able to find a practice for sale not far from my home town. With the support of my husband and family, a dream of mine to be a practice owner, was finally accomplished.

Not long after the acquisition of the Seadoone Veterinary Clinic, I was blessed to find out that I was pregnant with our first child, a little boy (who is now known very well by all our staff and clients). A new but exciting challenge awaited us. I have been very blessed to be able to be a full time mom, vet and practice owner.

Veterinary is a very unique profession; in fact, I would go as far as saying that veterinary is a lifestyle rather than a career.  Every aspect of your daily life incorporates your clients and your patients. You may leave your patients in the hospital at the end of the day but they are still with you when you go home, the endless thoughts of, ‘how can I do more,’ or the late night research to ensure that your patient is getting the best possible treatment. I like to think of my patients as part of the Seadoone family rather than my patients, after all some of them were born right here with us and continue to be a valued part of the family for many years.

When I embarked on the journey to study veterinary science, I never imagined the significant difference that I would be able to make. And no one quite prepares you for the emotional roller-coaster that you experience on a daily basis. Your day is always very unpredictable, which is one of the reasons that I love this profession.

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