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Small Animal Surgical Services

Image of two veterinary surgeons carrying out a procedure on a dog in an operating theatre

The Small Animal Surgery Service includes surgical specialists, as well as residents (specialists in training), interns and nurses. The surgery team is led by Dr Ronan Mullins (MVB, Diplomate ECVS, MRCVS) who works alongside Dr Marie Pauline Maurin (DVM, DVMS, Diplomate ECVS) with our team of residents Dr Bruno Santos (DVM), Dr Ignacio Otero Balda (DVM) and Dr Joseph O'Sullivan (DVM), and  our small animal surgery intern Dr Irene Marirrodriga (DVM).  Our specialist surgery nursing team provide support services to clinicians, maintain the smooth running of our referral service and cater for the needs of our inpatients.  We aim to provide the highest level of care for your pet, while keeping you updated and informed at all times.

The Small Animal Surgery Service works closely with other specialist departments at the UCDVH, including Diagnostic Imaging, Internal Medicine, Anaesthesia and the Animal Rehabilitation Clinic, to provide an integrated approach and the best possible outcome for your pet. Pre-operative diagnostics available include digital radiology, ultrasound, fluoroscopy, interventional radiology (eg, laser treatment of ectopic ureters), CT and MRI, pathology and clinical pathology (blood chemistry, haematology, cytologic and histopathologic diagnosis). 24-hour care is available in the Intensive Care Unit for pets that may require this.

Patients will be referred from your regular veterinarian, with whom we liaise closely throughout your pet’s treatment period and follow up.  The Small Animal Surgery Service at UCDVH aims to work closely with your veterinarian to offer you the highest quality of surgical care possible for your pet. We provide state-of-the-art veterinary medicine and surgery, while teaching future veterinarians and specialist veterinary surgeons.

Our surgical team is committed to exceptional veterinary care without exception and we believe that, ultimately, both you and your pet benefit from our expertise, specialised training and state of the art equipment.

We deal with a wide range of patients requiring a variety of basic and complex orthopaedic, neurologic and soft tissue surgical procedures. All anaesthetics are performed or supervised by specialist veterinary anaesthesiologists to maximise patient safety. We offer the most advanced surgical treatments for pets across Ireland. We also work closely with the UCDVH Animal Rehabilitation Clinic (ARC) to tailor customised plans for each patient in order to encourage a smooth postoperative rehabilitation and return to maximum function.

  • Each patient referred to us is examined and treated under the direct supervision of a recognised specialist 
  • Patient investigation is carried out after consultation with the client, including detailed discussion on the procedures deemed necessary and the associated costs or complications
  • We work alongside other specialties ensuring that every patient receives the optimal holistic care it deserves
  • We offer a telephone and e-mail advice service for veterinary surgeons, irrespective of referral or not
  • Each patient is discharged with written instructions, helping the owner to understand the investigations carried out and the treatments recommended
  • Referring veterinarians are contacted with relevant information within 24 hours of the animal being discharged
  • We work with referring veterinarians to determine whether on-going treatment is best suited to their practice or continuing under our care
  • Veterinary staff are on site 24/7 to provide dedicated, continuous care of our hospitalised patients

Our orthopaedic service offers treatment for a variety of basic and complex orthopaedic conditions including but not limited to:

  • Basic and complex fracture repairs
  • Arthroscopy (keyhole surgery)
  • Cranial cruciate ligament rupture
  • Patellar luxation (dislocating kneecap)
  • Hip dysplasia & Hip luxation (dislocation)
  • Correction of angular limb deformities (ALDs)
  • Tendon repair

Our neurosurgery service deals regularly with routine and urgent neurologic conditions such as Intervertebral disc disease ('slipped disc') and intracranial (brain) and spinal neoplasia (tumours)

Our on-site CT and high-field MRI give us the ability to offer an accurate diagnosis in a timely fashion and guide the best surgical treatment for your pet without treatment delay. 3D printing of custom-made patient-specific guides based on preoperative computed tomography are used for accurate management of complex spinal stabilisation cases.

Our soft tissue surgery service is happy to accept referrals in all aspects of soft tissue surgery including:

  • Cardiothoracic and Respiratory Surgery
  • Head, neck and other ear-nose-throat (ENT) surgery
  • Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary surgery
  • Urogenital Surgery

Our service also offers minimally invasive and reproductive surgery including laparoscopic ovariectomy and ovariohysterectomy and wound management and reconstructive surgery either after substantial trauma, infections or following large resections for cancer management.

UCD Veterinary Hospital

UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
T: +353 1 716 6000 | Location Map(opens in a new window)