Staff Spotlight: Dr Sarah

Dr Sarah Carter has been a popular member of the Evervet family since joining in 2017. Originally from Perth and a graduate of Murdoch University, Sarah’s friendly and positive approach has made her many friends amongst the Evervet community.

You’re most likely to meet Sarah at our Prahran location.

Here Sarah gives us some insights into her path in the veterinary profession, what she loves about her job, as well as her top tips for making a visit to the vet easier.

What inspired you to pursue a career in veterinary medicine, and how do you find it rewarding?

I can’t remember a time as a kid that I didn’t want to be a vet; having grown up with a collection of labradors who had a penchant for eating socks we spent a fair bit of time at our local clinic so the seed was probably planted early! One of my favourite things about the job has to be the privilege of being let into people’s lives, often at a vulnerable time, and the close relationships this allows you to foster.

Can you tell us about a time when you feel you’ve made a significant difference in a pet family’s life?

People often say to me that euthanasia must be a hard part of the job, and that is true, but I also find them to be one of the ways I can make the biggest difference in a pet’s life and of course that of their family. Every animal should be given the opportunity to have a dignified and gentle passing surrounded by their loved ones, and the times I’ve shared with some families over the years have been really special memories for me because of the knowledge I helped to make an unbearable day a little more bearable.

How do you build strong relationships with families to ensure effective care of their pets?

I love to chat, and I think having a more relaxed consult room dynamic helps with open honest communication from both sides. Our job is of course about helping pets but 90% of that comes from helping their families, so it’s super important to me that people feel comfortable in asking questions or letting me know if they’re not on the same page.

The best treatment plan for any pet is the one that their carers feel they can manage- we all know that health care can be expensive, and it’s my responsibility to create a space where owners can let me know if we need to come up with an alternative plan.

What are your pro-hacks that pet families can use to make visits to the vet even better?

At Evervet we’re very big on fear free practice; gone are the days of pinning a pet down for a jab! We have many clients who have seen the benefits of using pre-visit oral sedation and relaxants to make their pet’s trip to the vet less stressful for them; I’d love for more owners to trial these medications if they have nervous or vet-phobic animals.

We know it can sometimes be annoying to have to go home and try again another day if your pet isn’t having a bar of it, but it’s hugely gratifying to see the difference it makes for them when they aren’t trembling with fear on entry after a little doggy valium! It makes such a difference in the long-term for pet families too, as vet visits actually become an experience our patients look forward to.

What do you love most about being part of the Evervet team, and how do you contribute to the exceptional care and service that clients expect?

I feel really fortunate to work as part of a large and collaborative team with a lot of different skill-sets and interest areas, which means there’s bound to be someone around for advice on a tricky case or for a second pair of eyes! We try as best as we can to ensure that our clients feel as well looked after as possible and if that means speaking to another member of our team or one of the myriad of specialists we refer to about a patient, we’ll always do that.