Cassandra Longhi
DVM MSc PhD MRCVS
Cass qualified in Italy in 2010 and after a few years spent in Scotland studying for postgraduate degrees in the subjects of veterinary parasitology, immunology and vaccine development, left her adoptive Edinburgh for a move to North Devon. Here she spent the next 6 years at a farm only veterinary practice, honing her farm clinical skills and enjoying lambing time especially – you can’t beat the thrill of baby lambs landing in your arms! In this job Cass also started a Camelid Health Club and was a trusted member of the sheep clinical team – without forgetting the many dairy and beef cows. In Devon Cass acquired two whippets and started a family, before a move to the opposite end of the British Isles in 2020, back to Orkney where her husband hails from. She still works in clinical practice and hopes to be able to infect many sheep farmers with her passion for preventative medicine and flock health, in between boat trips to other isles for routine work and the busy spring calving season. The beach is never too far away, and many farms enjoy spectacular views over cliffs and open sea, which make the work that bit more enjoyable. In her spare time Cass is found playing and reading with her children, knitting and trying to develop her own line of hand dyed, all British wool yarn.
Latest articles by Cassandra Longhi
Why do sheep have paint on them?
Sheep fleeces come in many different natural colours and markings, some breed specific and others very individual. Shetland sheep for example come in eleven main colours, with many shades in between, and more than 30 dif…
Why do sheep need to be sheared?
We are all familiar with the bucolic image of sheep grazing fields, their woolly coats making them look like small clouds drifting along. Or in wintertime when it snows, and either they blend in the snowy surroundings, o…
August 24, 2021
• 50 shares
Geronimo the alpaca: bTB or not bTB?
You’ve probably heard in the news about Geronimo the alpaca, whose owner has recently lost a three year battle against an order to euthanase him due to positive tuberculosis tests. So we asked farm vet Cassandra Longhi-B…
August 16, 2021
• 96 shares
Do alpacas make good pets?
Alpacas are increasingly turning up all over the country - no longer seen as the playthings of eccentrics, but as popular pastimes, even pets. But are alpacas friendly and do they make a good pet? Vet blogger Cassandra i…
June 13, 2021
• 4 shares
A Day in the Life of an Island Vet
Veterinary work takes place in a wide range of settings, each with their own challenges. We've invited Cassandra Longhi to give us an insight into being a vet in the Orkney islands. Here's her account of working in the u…
May 28, 2021
• 14 shares