The staff of Piddle Valley Vets

David Holah, BVSc CertZooMed MRCVS

Head Vet/Practice Principal

David qualified from Bristol University in 2001. He has worked in Dorset ever since, at practices in Blandford, Poole, Wareham and Swanage before setting up Piddle Valley Vets in 2011.

David has worked extensively with exotic pets and achieved the RCVS certificate in zoological medicine in 2009.

David also has an interest in soft tissue surgery in all species and assists several local wildlife charities in treating and rehabilitating local native wildlife. David works closely with the RSPCA and Police, assisting with animal welfare incidents and prosecutions.

David is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the British Veterinary Zoological Society, the Association of Avian Veterinarians, The Fish Veterinary Society and the British Veterinary Association.

David has shared, or still shares his home, with cats, dogs, ferrets, rabbits, foreign finches, an African Grey parrot, poultry, a corn snake, tortoises, rats, fish, a wife and two children.

Kate Forshaw, RVN

Head Registered, Qualified Nurse

Kate achieved her Veterinary Nursing Degree at Bristol University, graduating in 2003. She worked in a few practices around Bristol before moving to Exeter in 2007. She settled in mixed practice in Honiton where she spent the last 4 years caring for patients as small as a mouse or as big as a cow!

She is making the big move across the border from Devon to Dorset and is looking forward to settling into her nursing role at Piddle Valley Vets. She is very much looking forward to working with more exotic species but her main interest is medical nursing and ensuring good overall care for all patients.

Kate has 2 cats, Noodle and Pixie, and is looking forward to adding to the pets list once she is settled.

Natalie Down, RVN

Natalie completed her veterinary nurse qualification in January 2011. She has spent the last 6 years at a small animal practice in Poole.

It was here that she spent 3 years working alongside David gaining experience with exotic pets.

She has a keen interest in birds of prey and is looking forward to settling into her role at Piddle Valley Vets.

Natalie’s menagerie includes 2 cats, 2 ducks, a rankins dragon, a tortoise, an african grey parrot, zebra finches, guinea pigs, a tankful of tropical fish and a tame husband!

Gill Carpenter, RVN

Gill spent the first part of her career in farming attending Agricultural College at Kingston Maurward and Sparsholt. She then worked as a Head Shepherd in Gloucestershire for 6 years and then returned to Dorset working on a dairy/arable farm.

She then came to her senses and qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2002 at Bristol. She has worked for the last 12 years at a small animal practice in Weymouth and has now joined the team at Piddle Valley Vets and looking forward to widening her knowledge in Exotics.

She has 2 lovely children, 2 horses (soon to become 3!), 2 dogs and 2 cats…….. Oh, and a very understanding Partner!