Martha treating a cat in Edinburgh
Meet Martha Murphy - An Edinburgh Based PawSquad Vet
7 years ago 
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Martha Murphy is a vet based in Edinburgh with her partner, a pilot, her cats Walter and Leonard, African pygmy hedgehog, Nungu, and fish. The 33-year-old has been a vet with PawSquad for the past 4 months, joining in order to have better flexibility so she can spend quality time with her family and three stepdaughters in the Scottish Highlands.
What made you want to be a vet?
As a child I was in love with James Herriot’s books, and the accompanying TV show – a clichéd answer, I know, but once I read them I was hooked! From the age of 5 or 6 I was regularly watching the show and from 9-years-old I couldn’t put the books down. I genuinely couldn’t imagine why anyone would ever want to do any other job – it was amazing to see people get to spend all day with animals! Having my own animals was also a big influence. I grew up with cats, who were a central part of the family household, and kept all sorts of 'small furries' including guinea pigs and gerbils all through my childhood.
What does your average day look like?
Every vet knows that there is no ‘typical day’ on the job. However, PawSquad has helped me to manage the flow of my day better. My day usually starts by being woken up by my cats, reminding me expectantly that it's their breakfast time, before getting ready and heading off on visits – usually this is around 7.30am for an 8am appointment. On days where the first slot isn't booked, I can take things at a more leisurely pace, and then sometimes start the day with a swim at my local pool.
In between visits I catch up on admin: emails, phone calls to owners, ordering medicines, etc. The visits themselves can be wide-ranging. It can be anything from vaccinating kittens to examining a dog’s ears, or, of course, unfortunately sometimes helping people say goodbye to their pets.
After evening visits, I finish the day’s admin and then my time is my own. I have a wonderful emergency clinic who take care of my patients overnight if necessary.
What do you love about your job?
Pretty much everything! The animals are the best part, and being able to help them when they are in need. Animals give us so much, I love being able to give something back to them, and help their owners give them the best life possible. I also really enjoy being there for people. The way I work now means I get to spend a bit more time with them, and see the animals in their own environment.
Why did you decide to go independent?
Mainly to fit into family life. I have a partner who is a pilot and away a lot, and three beautiful step-daughters who live up in the Highlands, and with this job I can spend so much more time with them, as I can make my own schedule. I suppose I have also arrived at that time in life where I wanted to have something that was ‘mine’. For most vets, the demands of the job can be high, and it’s hard to see other options available to you to have that work-life balance. I was really lucky to find PawSquad and the new options it gave me.
What's the hardest thing about being a vet?
The hardest parts are the animals that you cannot help, especially when they are young and you can’t fix them. It’s also hard sometimes when you have stressed or fearful patients, and you have to do something that hurts or frightens them – injections, etc. You know it is ultimately to help them, but you can’t explain that to them! It’s also hard to manage the expectations of the owner or to explain to them that while their pet may be in pain for a moment while you try to help them, it’s ultimately for their own good.
What's the best piece of advice you were given?
It’s hard to think of a specific piece of advice, but I have been lucky enough to learn a lot from some amazing vets and nurses along the way, on the ins and outs of our crazy profession.
(“Keep your mouth closed while expressing anal glands” was invaluable though!)
Tell us about your background, what's your story outside of work?
I live with my two cats, Walter and Leonard, a rescue African pygmy hedgehog, Nungu, and some fish. As mentioned earlier, I ‘live with’ a pilot – when he’s not flying round the world – and regularly travel up to the Highlands to see my step-daughters. I’ve lived in Edinburgh for 16 years. In my spare time I enjoy music, cooking and swimming.
What could you not live without?
My cats (and possibly coffee!). Cats have been a big part of my life since I was a child and I couldn’t ever imagine not having one.
What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a vet?
Do as much work experience as possible before starting vet school, not just in vet surgeries, but also farms, stables, kennels, etc. They will expect it on your application, but it will also help you to see if it is really the job for you.
From the age of 8 I was spending time with animals, I started helping out at the local stables – mucking out, cleaning tack, and grooming and feeding the horses. I started hanging out at the vets while I was still at school before being given a job on reception at 16. I also milked cows at the local dairy farm every weekend during Sixth Form College, did several lambing seasons and went to volunteer at a kennels and cattery. I am very lucky to have an amazing, supportive mum who spent hours ferrying me around to all these activities, including the 5am weekend drives to the dairy farm!
You should try to do more than the required two weeks – it will help you along the journey.
Now, at 33, I know what it feels like to have been in the profession for a while and to feel ‘boxed in’. I didn’t have the finances or confidence in my business knowledge to start a physical clinic; and with my situation it was hard to spend regular, meaningful time with my family. I was missing out on a lot, and the stress of being torn between work and family was increasingly taking its toll.
The biggest piece of advice I can now give, is that there are other options within the profession than the traditional clinic model – I had no idea a platform like PawSquad existed until a friend put me in touch with them. It has made such a huge impact on my life. Now I have an incredible balance; I’m able to do the work I love and spend time with my family.
What advice would you give to another vet based on your experience of going independent?
It is brilliant if you have family commitments to work around. Also, working with a company like PawSquad is great because they help you with so much of the daunting parts of going out alone. I actually don’t feel like I did ‘go out alone’ because they were with me every step of the way. My quality of life has improved 100% since I started.
Give us an example of an animal you've looked after and how you helped them? Where have you seen a huge impact from your work?
I have been to see several cats who are monsters at the vets, purely because they are scared of all the associated travelling, etc. When I have seen them at home they are a delight! It is nice to know the stress it is saving them and the pet owners as well. That’s one of the things I love – seeing these animals in their own home, purring or wagging their tails, because they feel comfortable. I’ve had cats curl up on my lap because they feel that relaxed!
If you weren't a vet, what would you be doing?
I never had a Plan B; I couldn’t imagine doing anything else!
PawSquad are recruiting!
Are you a vet who would like better control over your time and working hours? PawSquad are looking for you.
