VSOS - Veterinary Specialists of Sydney

Clinical Notes: Beyond Management: Advancing Veterinary Cardiology from Palliation to Cure

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000

VSOS is redefining cardiology referrals with advanced diagnostics and surgical options, helping veterinarians move beyond symptom management toward definitive treatment pathways.

Beyond Possible: Giving Possum Her Quality of Life Back

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 05:52:00 +0000

At VSOS, we are often presented with cases where the solution isn't immediately clear, and other hs have turned our clients away. For a young cat named Possum, the challenge was heartbreaking: she was slowly starving because she could no longer open her mouth.Possum’s journey is a profound example of what happens when a team of specialists refuses to accept "impossible."The Challenge: A Mystery Trauma and a Locked JawPossum had sustained a jaw fracture from an unknown trauma earlier in the yea...

Why Does My Dog Have a Runny Nose, Nosebleeds, or Noisy Breathing?

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 06:39:00 +0000

It can be worrying to notice your dog suddenly sneezing more, developing a runny nose, or even having a nosebleed. While sometimes these signs can be minor, they can also point to more serious conditions. Here’s what you need to know about c

Dog Heatstroke in Sydney

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Dog heatstroke can turn deadly within minutes. Learn the early warning signs, what to do (and what not to do), and when to head straight to VSOS Emergency in Sydney for lifesaving care.

Heat Stroke - Clinician Guidance (VSOS)

Sun, 30 Nov 2025 23:00:00 +0000
Heat stroke requires rapid cooling and early airway management, especially in brachycephalics. This VSOS clinician guide outlines triage priorities, cooling protocols, prognostic indicators, and when to escalate for ICU or ventilatory support.

Snakebite in Small Animals: Advice to Clinicians

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 07:00:00 +0000
Snake envenomation can deteriorate rapidly, even when early signs seem mild. This VSOS clinician guide outlines triage priorities, coagulation testing, antivenom timing, and clear triggers for escalation. Access 24/7 critical care, ventilation, and ambula

Tick Paralysis: Clinician Notes

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:00:00 +0000
Tick paralysis is time-critical but treatable. Learn the VSOS approach to airway protection, blood gas monitoring, ventilation, and intensive nursing care. Early escalation and 24/7 critical care oversight at VSOS can save lives.

Tick Paralysis in Dogs & Cats (Sydney): What To Do When You Find a Tick

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 23:00:00 +0000
Tick paralysis in dogs and cats can turn deadly fast. Learn what to do if you find a tick, how to spot early signs, and when to go straight to VSOS Emergency in Sydney.

Snake Bites in Dogs & Cats (Sydney): Act Fast - This Is an Emergency

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000
If you suspect your dog or cat has been bitten by a snake, act fast, every minute counts. Keep your pet calm, carry them to the car, and head to your nearest vet or emergency hospital. Don’t chase or try to identify the snake. Quick action and antiv

Beyond Possible Cancer Treatment in Dogs: VSOS Pioneers Minimally Invasive Innovation for Dogs

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 07:00:00 +0000
Discover Scout’s inspiring journey at VSOS, where our specialists used advanced interventional radiology and transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) to treat a rare abdominal tumour in a young French Bulldog.

Dr Cherlene Lee - VSOS Cares About our Clients as much as We Do

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0000
It was a chance encounter with VSOS’s Dr Karina Graham that completely changed the way Dr Cherlene Lee viewed referral specialist vets.“I first used Karina and the VSOS mobile vet services by accident,” explains Dr Lee, veterinarian and owner of My Vet Animal Hospital in Waterloo.“Our regular ultrasonographer was away, and we really needed someone for a case, so I thought ‘let’s give Karina and VSOS a go.’ After just one ultrasound, I was completely converted. I w...

Going above and beyond in a Time of Crisis for Mimi

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0000
For Kate, getting an unexpected call to say that her dachshund, Mimi, had been involved in a freak accident that left her unconscious and unresponsive... turned her life upside down. In an instant.Kate knew the next few hours were vital to getting Mimi the best veterinary care... fast. Her first port of call was to her local vet in Wollongong, but with a suspected neurological and spinal injury it quickly became clear that Mimi needed a higher level of specialist care and access to state-of-t...

How the VSOS mobile vet specialists helped increase this clinic’s profitability

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 05:00:00 +0000
Dr Robert Zammit’s 40-year-old practice - Vineyard Veterinary Hospital - has experienced an increase in profitability in recent years since he and his team began using VSOS’s (Veterinary Specialists of Sydney) in-clinic mobile small animal surgery services.“Using the team at VSOS is like employing an extra veterinarian without having to pay wages, superannuation, holiday pay, sick leave or anything else. It’s fantastic,” says Dr Zammit.“To be able to make a referral to a spec...

Rita's Urinary Tract Issues

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000
Rita the German Shepherd was suffering from an issue within her kidney where she was passing blood. Unable to be treated by her local vet, her owner sought advice from Veterinary Specialists of Sydney’s Dr Karina Graham.Under the MicroscopeDr Karina Graham had an instinct of what could be the issue and was able to diagnose this by using a microscopic camera to check her kidney to confirm.A New Type of ProcedureDr Karina Graham used her experience gained from overseas to perform a new, non-i...

Round the Clock Emergency Care Vital for Willow’s Speedy Recovery

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000
When Greg and Kumio Waters first noticed their 12 year old Toy Poodle, Willow, had stopped eating and wasn’t moving well, they knew something wasn’t right. But even after rushing Willow to her local veterinarian it wasn’t clear what was causing her health to deteriorate.Despite Willow being on antibiotics to treat a suspected abscess, the local vet felt there was something else going on that needed deeper investigation. But in order for the vet to do the tests, Willow would need to stay...

Yoshie and the Case of the Missing Tennis Ball

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000
Yoshie, the adorable 2 year old British Bulldog loves to chew and chase balls. Unfortunately for Yoshie, this time it was to his detriment. Yoshie presented to Veterinary Specialists of Sydney with reports he had swallowed a tennis ball at the park. After having X-rays taken, it clearly showed that the ball was still in his stomach. The team at VSOS had to determine whether it could be removed via an endoscope or surgery.What To Do?After deliberation and to prevent surgery, VSOS specialist Dr...

Atlas and His Severe Case of Hip Dysplasia

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000
Atlas wasn't just another patient; he was a six-month-old Golden Retriever. Diagnosed with severe Hip Dysplasia early in life, Atlas was already struggling with the simple joys of being a puppy. When he was referred to the VSOS Orthopaedic team, his journey toward a "new beginning" truly began.The "Sway and Click"Atlas’s family first noticed something wasn't right when his typical puppy trot turned into a noticeable "hip sway." More concerning was a distinct "click" that could be felt when he walked....

Alfie Beats the Odds to Return Home

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 04:00:00 +0000
Alfie is your average nine-year-old Golden Retriever. He has always been healthy, with nothing more than an annual visit to the vet.But one sunny Sunday afternoon in November, he collapsed after an action-packed day out with his family.“We had spent the day out on the river on our barge,” explains Alfie’s owner, Philippa Tapfield. “Alfie had been swimming, fishing and running around the bush.By the time we got home, he went really quiet. I initially thought it was exhaustion after suc...

Archie has surgery to repair his Patella Luxation

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 03:00:00 +0000
Archie, a tiny eight-month-old poodle mix, was born into a world of physical challenges. While most puppies are busy chasing balls, Archie struggled with severe deformities in his hind legs, making every step a hurdle. When he arrived at VSOS, our surgical team knew that a standard approach wouldn't be enough for this brave little dog.The Situation: Beyond a Standard CaseArchie was diagnosed with Patella Luxation, a common condition where the kneecap slips out of its groove. However, Archie’...

Louis and the Urinary Stones

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 03:00:00 +0000
Louis, the 8-year-old Cavalier King Charles, was referred to VSOS with symptoms including haematuria (blood in urine), dysuria (difficulty urinating) and stranguria (straining to urinate). An ultrasound revealed a large stone in his bladder. He was booked in to have a Percutaneous Cystolithotomy (PCCL) with two of our internal medicine specialists, Dr Barbara Gallagher and Dr Karina Graham. This procedure is a non-invasive way of removing the stones without him undergoing ...

Koda the Frequent Flyer receives a Stent for an Irregular Blood flow

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 03:00:00 +0000
Koda is a 2 year old from Darwin who was underweight and showed symptoms of lethargy and drowsiness. With no specialist in Darwin able to do a CT scan, he was flown to Adelaide to be checked out at a specialist animal hospital there. Referred onto VSOS from the referring clinic in Adelaide, Koda was then flown home to Darwin first, then onto Sydney to see our team.The SituationThe CT scan showed an abnormality with his liver, where blood was passing through a vessel that shouldn’t have. The...

Honey the Cavoodle had Dysuria

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 02:00:00 +0000
Dr Karina Graham, an Internal medicine specialist, specializes in this field. One of her recent patients, Honey an 11 year-old Cavoodle, presented to VSOS with symptoms of straining when trying to urinate, dripping urine inappropriately, vomiting bile and not wanting to eat.The SituationWhen she arrived, the emergency team placed a urinary catheter to empty her bladder and saw her urine was dark red in colour (containing blood). An x-ray was taken to observe her urinary tract and calculi (har...

Minnie receives ground-breaking procedure known as Chemoembolisation

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000
Minnie, the Jack Russell was diagnosed with a liver tumour around 8-9cm in size. The team at VSOS, with the assistance of Dr. Richard Pow and Dr David Benz who are specialists in this type of procedure in humans, were on hand to assist in a groundbreaking procedure known as Chemoembolisation...

On the hardest day of Jimmy Barnes’ life… the VSOS team was there

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 23:26:00 +0000
“I think it’s time, Jimmy.”These were the words that iconic Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes had been dreading for 15 years.They came from Dr Karina Graham – a specialist in small animal medicine at Veterinary Specialists of Sydney (VSOS) – who was like family to Jimmy ever since she became the primary vet specialist for his two beloved 15-year-old miniature schnauzers – Snoop Dog and Oliver Twist.Jimmy had seen Karina and the VSOS team treat every pet that they care for as if ...

Reuniting Chicks with their Family

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000
Every year in spring and summer many chicks are rescued unnecessarily by well-meaning people. A common myth is that birds won’t accept their chicks back after being touched by humans.Reuniting a chick with its family gives it the best chance of survival. Even with the best care, we cannot teach them the essential life skills for their species. Read on for guidelines on if you need to bring a baby chick in to care....

Saving missing pets with VSOS

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000
At Veterinary Specialists of Sydney (VSOS), we’re passionate about bringing affordable, world-class veterinary care to sick and vulnerable animals… no matter how they make their way to us! For the past few weeks, we have done extraordinary work looking after the injured and missing pets that have found their way through our doors.Raising Thousands for Charlie’s Veterinary TreatmentCharlie went on quite the adventure to get to VSOS. When he was brought into the VSOS 24/7 em...

Breaking New Ground in Arthritis Care for Dogs: Hunter’s Story

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 07:00:00 +0000
Meet Hunter, a Siberian Husky with severe arthritis who found hope at VSOS. Our team performed Australia’s first-ever transarterial embolisation (TAE) for canine elbow arthritis, transforming his quality of life.

Pioneering the Future: Australia’s First Bionic Limb Procedures

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 03:00:00 +0000
At VSOS, our core mission is to push the boundaries of what is possible in veterinary medicine, ensuring that life-changing surgeries become a reality for more than just a select few. Recently (2022), our surgical team achieved a historic milestone: successfully fitting bionic limbs in an Australian veterinary first. This achievement represents the pinnacle of orthopaedic innovation, blending human-grade technology with specialised animal care to restore mobility to two very special patients....

Leading the way in Innovative Animal Care

Sun, 13 Jun 2021 05:00:00 +0000
At VSOS, our team works at the cutting edge of veterinary care. We are compassionate and highly-skilled specialists who are committed to providing world-class care for our patients.And that’s why innovation is so central to the work we do.We are innovative thinkers, always looking for new and efficient ways to improve the care we provide. Our specialist animal hospital is testament to that. Innovation is at the core and has been a driving factor in every decision we have...

Bringing State-Of-The-Art Care to the Pets of Sydney

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 05:00:00 +0000
When VSOS was founded in 2017, the idea to build a state-of-the-art specialist animal hospital in Sydney was just a spark… but within three years that dream has turned into a reality.The result – a product of determination, innovation and a dedication for providing superior care to their patients – is revolutionary for veterinary care in Sydney.Location, location, locationBy far the lengthiest part of the journey to building the hospital was finding the right lo...