Brightwater VeterinaryBook a visit
About the clinic

Two vets, one back garden and a lot of biscuits.

Brightwater opened in a converted dairy office on Washington Avenue after Dr. Nadia Okafor and Dr. Tom Lindqvist spent a decade in busy emergency hospitals and wanted appointments with room to breathe.

Meet the teamBook a visit
A veterinarian examining a small dog on a table while the owner watches
How we work

Three habits that shape every appointment

They are written on the whiteboard in the staff room, above the kettle.

Thirty minutes, no matter what

A standard slot is thirty minutes long even for a quick vaccine. That is time to ask the second question, the one most people remember halfway home.

Numbers before treatment

You see the estimate on paper before we begin, and a nurse walks you through anything you would like to change.

Gentle handling first

We use treats, towels and patience before sedation. Low-stress handling keeps frightened pets from learning to dread the building.

How the clinic grew

A short history, because you should know who you are trusting with your animal.

  1. Year one

    A borrowed exam room

    Nadia and Tom open with one table, a second-hand ultrasound and a waiting list of neighbours from their old street.

  2. Year three

    The garden and the cat room

    The yard behind the building becomes a quiet place for nervous dogs, and a separate room is built for cats.

  3. Year six

    In-house lab

    A blood analyser arrives, and routine results drop from two days to under two hours.

  4. Year eleven

    Still small on purpose

    Five nurses, two vets and a rotating cast of students keep the practice at a size where everybody knows the patients.

The people you will meet

Every one of them has done a shift on the front desk, which is why nobody here is surprised by a phone call at closing time.

  • Dr. Nadia OkaforCo-founder, medicine and dentistry
  • Dr. Tom LindqvistCo-founder, surgery and imaging
  • Priya Raman, RVTHead nurse and anaesthesia lead
  • Joel WhitcombeFront desk and client care

Want a look around before you commit?

Drop by on a Wednesday afternoon, when the clinic runs open tours for new clients. Bring your pet, and we will let them sniff the exam room.

Plan a visit