Vet Helen Dyke with Henry the Great Dane and Anne-Marie Leadbeater with Shetland ponies Peewhit and Zephyr at the Isabelle Vets anniversary open day. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0906598)

HUNDREDS of islanders took the opportunity to go behind the scenes at Guernsey’s longest-established veterinary practice.

Isabelle Vets is celebrating its 90th anniversary and opened its doors for people to look around.

Director Helen Dyke said one visitor told her that their family had been using the practice for 80 years.

‘We are absolutely thrilled with the turnout. It gives people the opportunity to see things they would not normally be able to.’

These included the X-ray room and operating theatre and old instruments, as student veterinary nurse Aimee Davies explained.

‘We have a range of tools, some of which look very painful, especially the emasculator which was used to castrate donkeys.’

She said people had been interested in the history.

‘It’s great to see how things have moved on with technology. Things are a lot more efficient now.’