Wexford vet Martin celebrates 12 years of care

This year marks a special milestone for Dr. Martin Breen as he celebrates 12 years at O’Shea, Bramley & Breen, one of Wexford town’s trusted veterinary practices and part of the Pet Health Club network…

Martin’s career is closely linked to the history of the practice itself. Growing up on a local dairy and beef farm, he was inspired to become a vet after watching various vets over the years care for his family’s animals.

“Some at the practice have known me since I was five or six years old,” Martin recalls. “When I graduated from University College Dublin (UCD), joining the practice felt like a natural move.”

In his final year at UCD in 2013, Martin was featured on RTÉ’s Junior Vets, which followed the lives of students at UCD, Ireland’s only veterinary school. Martin later presented animal care segments on TV3’s Morning Ireland, proving he’s no stranger to the public eye.

Today, Martin is also a familiar voice on South East Radio, where he discusses topics ranging from flea and worm treatments to herd health and seasonal hazards.

His daily work is split between caring for pets at the practice in town and visiting farms across the county to treat larger animals.

“Wexford is a small place – everybody knows everybody,” he says. “Most clients are family, friends, or neighbours. We’re proud to be part of this community and to offer a personal touch in everything we do. It’s almost like being a family doctor.”

Every Alpaca Has Its Day

Martin has treated animals of all shapes and sizes, but one recent case stands out – a call to a farm to help an alpaca struggling to walk. After careful examination, the issue turned out not to be a mobility problem, but a severe parasite infestation hidden within the animal’s fine wool. The Wexford vet is also investigating another unusual case: copper toxicity in sheep – a rare condition possibly influenced by factors such as breed, diet, and stress.

Over the past two decades, Martin has seen veterinary medicine evolve significantly:

“There’s been a big shift towards prescription-based diet treatment, with specially developed pet foods playing a major role in managing kidney and gastrointestinal diseases,” he explains. “We’ve also seen a surge in nutraceuticals – dietary supplements and fortified foods – to tackle everything from anxiety and behavioural issues to weak joints, diabetes in cats, and even senility in dogs.”

However, the job is not without challenges:

“One of those challenges is seeing clients struggle to pay for their pets’ treatments. Pet insurance is very much encouraged and becoming more common, but many people still don’t realise that health plans like Pet Health Club can make routine treatments – from flea and tick prevention to vaccinations and health checks – far more affordable.”

Life Beyond the Practice

When he’s not on call, Martin spends time with his wife, two children, three hens (who get renamed frequently thanks to his daughter’s imagination), and two rescue cats, Cruz and Banks – both saved from being put down after their previous owners moved abroad. He’s also an avid triathlon enthusiast.

As Martin marks his 12-year anniversary at O’Shea, Bramley & Breen, his focus remains firmly on the future, continuing to provide high-quality care for animals while supporting the local community that shaped his career.

O’Shea, Bramley & Breen Vets is located on Distillery Road and open Monday to Saturday 8am to 7.30pm, and 4.30pm on Saturdays.

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