Our History

There has been a veterinary practice at 171 Mayfield Road in Edinburgh, Scotland, since 1967 when R. F. Hall moved his mixed practice from Stafford Street in the New Town to the present site. 

The practice remained a mixed practice treating farm animals, horses and small animals through the 1970s and 1980s until the demographic and economic pressures on farming resulted in a shift to small animal work only in 1990.

This change coincided with a major investment in the practice buildings and facilities by the partners, resulting in the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons granting Veterinary Hospital status to the practice in January 1990. Braid Veterinary Hospital was the first veterinary hospital to be registered in Scotland.

Since then the hospital has built up a reputation for quality veterinary care, in particular in the fields of veterinary surgery, dentistry, internal medicine and behavioural problems. We employ a high number of Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVN’s) to support our veterinary team, and Braid is one of a small number of Vet Nurse Training Practices (TP’s) in Scotland.

In September 1999 the hospital also established an emergency clinic “e-vets” which provides emergency care for the clients of ten local practices, including our own, 365 days a year. In order to provide this service, the hospital employs dedicated emergency veterinary surgeons and dedicated veterinary nurses who between them provide care and treatment for emergency cases throughout the night and at weekends.

August 2003 saw the opening of our new Leith Walk premises. This facility includes two consulting rooms, a large treatment room, a dedicated operating theatre, a digital x-ray suite including dental x-rays, laboratory equipment, and kennelling for dogs and cats. These enable us to provide all of the services required by the local pet population, with the exception of overnight hospitalisation.

November 2007 saw the building of further extension work to our Mayfield Road Hospital finish, to provide a larger and more welcoming Reception, with separate cat and dog waiting areas and a dedicated Nurses’ consulting room.

May 2008 saw vet Scott Dickson’s role in the practice change to that of 3rd partner.

In April 2012 we went “back to the future”, taking over a veterinary surgery in Dalkeith that had previously belonged to us until 1989! Braid Vets Dalkeith offers a full range of services, including surgery and dentistry and, like our Leith branch, is backed up by the 24-hour care available at our hospital.

The staff at Braid Vets are committed to continue to provide a high-quality health service to all our patients and clients, and are constantly measuring the practice performance against the very best in the U.K.