HK PRACTITIONER Following successful completion of this intensive training, I passed the European College of Veterinary Surgeons qualification examinations to become a European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery. Only veterinarians who have completed this level of training are qualified to be called ‘specialists’, and there are still relatively few true veterinary specialists in Hong Kong. Pets are referred to a specialist when a general practitioner sees a case they believe requires specialised expertise or equipment, or when a pet owner requests a specialist. During a consultation with the specialist, the referring GP’s notes are read and the pet examined. A discussion regarding investigatory and treatment options then takes place with the pet owner before any further tests or procedures are performed. I work mainly with dogs and cats. I’m interested in all types of surgery, ranging from routine to advanced orthopaedic, neurology and soft tissue procedures. In general, Hong Kong owners care deeply for their pets. If problems arise, it is often best to get them treated as early as possible to give us the best chance of helping the animal.
Trust me, I’m a vet specialist
I have lived in Hong Kong with my family since 2015, my wife and I have two kids. In our free time, we enjoy family walks with our dog in the New Territories.
Charmaine Ng talks pet troubles with VSH Hong Kong’s veterinary small animal surgical specialist, Dr Nicolas Woodbridge A day at VSH begins at 8.30am. The team and I start by checking our inpatients, making sure that the animals are doing well and creating a plan for the day. This may include performing further investigations such as blood tests or CT scans. After lunch, we start operating on the patients who have been admitted for surgery. We are often busy helping patients into the evening and sometimes late into the night. I am a European Specialist in Small Animal
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Surgery, which means that I have undertaken significant extra training. In my case, I qualified as a veterinarian after five years of training at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), London, UK. I then undertook a Small Animal Internship at the RVC. After this, I worked in general practice for a year before completing a three-year Small Animal Surgical Residency at the state of the art referral centre, Dick White Referrals, Cambridgeshire, UK.
Dr Nicolas Woodbridge is a European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery at VSH Hong Kong, the only dedicated specialty referral and emergency practice in Hong Kong. Using a North American model of referral practice, VSH provides specialised, expert veterinary care for complex medical and surgical problems. vsh.com.hk