Small animal medicine encompasses many areas of internal medicine including heart conditions, cancer therapy (chemotherapy and radiotherapy), hormonal problems, gastrointestinal disease and geriatric medicine.

The medicine service performs specialised techniques including minimally invasive biopsy techniques, endoscopy, bone marrow collection, blood transfusions and will operate specialised equipment such as endoscopes, high resolution ultrasound for imaging the abdomen and heart, digital radiography and CT and are also involved in the interpretation of off-site MRI scans together with human radiologists. With advanced imaging techniques such as CT and MRI we often work as a team with surgery and neurology together with colleagues in human medicine to give you the most accurate interpretation of these scans possible (see imaging).

Common conditions dealt with include heart and lung disease, cancer treatment, hormonal problems such as diabetes mellitus, over- and under-active thyroid glands and cortisone excess or deficiency, autoimmune disorders, anaemia and many others.

Specialist medicine has a number of sub-categories that might appear confusing. Some medicine specialists are certified as “Small Animal Specialists” meaning they are registered as specialists in both dogs and cats. Other specialists may be registered as specialists in dogs or cats only. “Dog” specialists may accept cat referral cases and vice versa but are not called “specialists”. For example, Dr Darren Foster is a registered Feline Specialist but is happy to accept canine referrals. We will always give your pet an appointment with the most appropriate person.

We are lucky to have a team of veterinarians including three Specialists (Dr. Darren Foster, Dr. Sophia Tzannes and Dr. Sara Cowan) and a Senior Registrar (Dr. Justin Wimpole), who work alongside our Small Animal Medicine Resident (Dr. Amy Aspley-Davis) and two interns (Dr. Carl Adagra and Dr. Lara Fosatti) to provide a medicine referral service 7 days a week. Our team has trained in a variety of locations around the world bringing together a wealth of experience and knowledge.