Sisters act on their identical vet dream
Former Uddingston Grammar pupils are revolutionising veterinary care by opening the first complementary medicine vet practice of its kind in Scotland.
Drs Reagan and Jordan Carnwath, who are also identical twins, have opened the doors of Herbal Vet Scotland after devoting four months to renovating the former RBS branch on Allison Street in the heart of Glasgow’s south side.
The pair are now living their dream of running a complementary medicine veterinary practice, offering pets herbal medicine, acupuncture and raw feeding.
Herbal Vet Scotland is the first referralonly alternative medicine veterinary practice in Scotland, which means that all patients must be registered with a regular vet.
Although still rare in this country, the 29-year-old sisters say the types of treatments they offer to animals are increasing in popularity around the world – particularly in the USA, Canada and Germany.
Reagan said: “People are using more natural approaches when it comes to their own health and want the same for their four-legged friends.”
The sisters harboured a dream of becoming vets for as long as they can remember.
“We were these wee girls that wanted to be vets,” said Jordan.
“We were the kids that were bringing all the strays home to my mum, who was demented, saying: ‘Not another one!’ We grew up with dogs, guinea pigs and all sorts.”
The sisters studied at the University of Glasgow, with Jordan graduating in 2013 and Reagan gaining her degree in 2014 after taking a year out.
Jordan took an internship at London Vet School for a year and worked at a Welsh practice for more than two years before returning home to Scotland.
Reagan’s first job was with a rural practice in Dumfries & Galloway before re-establishing herself in Glasgow, where she launched Herbal Vet Scotland three years ago from a small practice where she worked.
While she was on maternity leave, Jordan stepped into the breach, looking after Herbal Vet Scotland’s four-legged patients.
Together, they honed their craft and client base in a labour of love which led them to feeling confident in making so the bold move of opening Herbal Vet Scotland as a stand alone practice.
They took the keys of the former RBS building in Govanhill on October 1, completely transforming it into an airy, contemporary, welcoming space where they not only administer treatments during hour-long consultations, but also hold workshops beginning next month in collaboration with the British Veterinary Association.
The sisters insist it is vital to work alongside regular vets, as some conditions still need conventional drugs or surgery.
When animals are being treated for a chronic disease, regular practices sometimes reach a stage where there’s not much more that can be done – which is when complementary medicine using western and Chinese herbs comes into play.
When they receive a referral, they maintain regular contact with the primary practice to ensure complementary treatments do not interfere with an animal’s primary medication.
The sisters use herbal tinctures, which extract the supportive properties of plants using alcohol and water. The recommended dose can then be added to an animal’s food to enable it to enjoy all the health benefits provided by nature. They combine different herbs to treat the whole animal – the definition of ‘holistic’ – and also use powders, creams and ointments derived from herbs.