The Austin Vet Specialists

The Austin Vet Specialists Veterinary Specialists in Adelaide

04/09/2026

Meet Vet Nurse Naziah

One of the wonderful faces behind the care at The Austin!

We sat down with Naziah to learn a little more about the person behind the scrubs; from her journey into veterinary nursing and what she loves most about the profession, to life behind the scenes at The Austin.

When you need us, we're here to help.
Phone: (08) 8166 3828
Email: [email protected]
Address: 19-21 William St, Mile End SA 5031

Beautiful Penelope, a 7-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross, recently presented to The Austin Vet Specialists f...
02/09/2026

Beautiful Penelope, a 7-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cross, recently presented to The Austin Vet Specialists for treatment of a medial patellar luxation affecting her left stifle. A luxating patella occurs when the kneecap moves out of its normal position within the groove of the femur. In Penelope's case, her patella was luxating towards the inside of her knee.

Pre-operative radiographs identified stifle effusion, mild degenerative changes and confirmed displacement of the patella. To improve the alignment and stability of Penelope's knee, our specialist surgical team performed a block trochleoplasty combined with tibial tuberosity transposition.

A block trochleoplasty involves deepening the trochlear groove where the patella normally sits, helping it remain securely within the groove as the knee moves. A tibial tuberosity transposition involves repositioning the attachment point of the patellar tendon to improve the alignment of the quadriceps mechanism and help the patella track more normally.

Combining these techniques helps address the underlying biomechanics contributing to patellar luxation, with the goal of improving stability, comfort and long-term limb function. Penelope recovered beautifully from her procedure and will now continue through her post-operative recovery and rehabilitation.

Thank you to Penelope's family and referring veterinary team for trusting The Austin's Specialist Surgery team with her care.

When you need us, we're here to help.
Phone: (08) 8166 3828
Email: [email protected]
Address: 19-21 William St, Mile End SA 5031

Feline HCM | When heart disease can be hiding in plain sight Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most commonly diag...
31/08/2026

Feline HCM | When heart disease can be hiding in plain sight

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most commonly diagnosed form of heart disease in cats. It causes abnormal thickening of the muscular walls of the heart, particularly the left ventricle.

As the heart muscle thickens, the ventricle can become less able to relax and fill normally between beats. Over time, this can increase pressure within the heart and may lead to enlargement of the left atrium and other complications.

One of the challenges with feline HCM is that some cats can have no obvious clinical signs, particularly during the earlier stages of disease. In some patients, a heart murmur or abnormal rhythm may be detected during a routine examination, while others may not show signs until the disease has progressed.

When clinical signs do occur, they can include:
* Increased or laboured breathing
* Reduced activity or exercise tolerance
* Weakness or collapse
* Changes in heart rate or rhythm

HCM can also increase the risk of congestive heart failure and arterial thromboembolism, where a blood clot obstructs blood flow; most commonly to the hind limbs.

Echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart) plays an important role in diagnosing HCM and assessing the structure and function of the heart. These findings help determine the severity of disease, identify complications and guide ongoing management.

While HCM cannot always be cured, appropriate monitoring and treatment can help us manage the disease and support quality of life for affected cats.

When you need us, we're here to help.
Phone: (08) 8166 3828
Email: [email protected]
Address: 19-21 William St, Mile End SA 5031

12-year-old Bob was referred to The Austin Medicine Service for further investigation and staging following a diagnosis ...
28/08/2026

12-year-old Bob was referred to The Austin Medicine Service for further investigation and staging following a diagnosis of stage 1 splenic hemangiosarcoma, as well as more recent concerns including increased appetite and thirst and elevated liver enzymes.

Earlier this year, Bob underwent extensive investigation and surgery with his referring veterinary team after abnormalities were identified involving his bladder, spleen and liver. His procedure included removal of bladder stones, a splenectomy and liver biopsy.

Histopathology identified polypoid cystitis within the bladder, vacuolar hepatopathy within the liver and changes within the spleen highly concerning for hemangiosarcoma. His bladder stones were also confirmed to be calcium oxalate uroliths.

More recently, Bob developed polyphagia (increased appetite) and polydipsia (increased thirst), alongside elevations in his liver enzymes and cholesterol. These findings raised concern for hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease) as another possible underlying condition requiring investigation.

Bob was referred to The Austin for the next stage of his diagnostic journey, bringing together our Internal Medicine and Diagnostic Imaging teams. A full-body staging CT was performed to look for any evidence of metastatic disease and provide our Medicine team with further information before progressing with additional endocrine testing.

Cases like Bob's highlight the value of a multidisciplinary approach. By bringing together advanced diagnostic imaging, internal medicine expertise and the important work already performed by the referring veterinary team, we can build a more complete picture of complex patients and help guide the next steps in their care.

Thank you to Bob's family and referring veterinary team for trusting us to be part of his ongoing care.

When you need us, we're here to help.
Phone: (08) 8166 3828
Email: [email protected]
Address: 19/21 William St, Mile End SA 5031

“What an amazing, compassionate bunch of humans.” Receiving words like these about our team is incredibly special. When ...
26/08/2026

“What an amazing, compassionate bunch of humans.”

Receiving words like these about our team is incredibly special. When a pet becomes unexpectedly unwell or injured, we know how frightening those late-night trips to hospital can be. In those moments, compassionate care matters just as much as clinical care; for our patients and for the people who love them.

Our Urgent Care team is here through the night, providing veterinary care when it's needed most, while doing everything we can to make an overwhelming experience feel a little less frightening.

Thank you to this beautiful family for trusting us with their cat's care and for taking the time, at 1am no less, to share such kind words about our team.

And to our incredible vets, nurses and support staff; this one is for you.

When you need us, we're here to help.
Phone: (08) 8166 3828
Email: [email protected]
Address: 19-21 William St, Mile End SA 5031

Not your average day in the hospital! Vet Techs, Teya and Amii enjoyed some cuddles with this very exotic patient during...
24/08/2026

Not your average day in the hospital!

Vet Techs, Teya and Amii enjoyed some cuddles with this very exotic patient during their visit!

Any guesses what species our new friend might be? 🤔

When you need us, we're here to help.
Phone: (08) 8166 3828
Email: [email protected]
Address: 19/21 William St, Mile End SA 5031

Dexter presented to The Austin Surgery Service for surgical marginal excision of a subcutaneous mast cell tumour located...
21/08/2026

Dexter presented to The Austin Surgery Service for surgical marginal excision of a subcutaneous mast cell tumour located over his left distal metacarpophalangeal region — near the lower part of his front limb.

Due to the location of the tumour, closing the surgical site primarily with sutures would have placed significant tension on the surrounding tissues. Instead, Dexter's surgical team made the decision to allow the wound to heal by second intention.

But what does that mean?

Second intention healing is when a surgical wound is intentionally left open rather than being completely closed with sutures. The body gradually fills the wound with healthy granulation tissue, before new skin cells migrate across the surface and the wound contracts over time.

While an open surgical site can look confronting, this can be a carefully planned approach for wounds where primary closure may not be appropriate, allowing the body to progressively heal the area with ongoing wound management and monitoring.

Dexter recovered beautifully from his procedure and is doing well post-operatively.

A big thank you to Dexter's family and referring veterinary team for placing their trust in The Austin Surgery Service and allowing us to be part of his care.

When you need us, we're here to help.
Phone: (08) 8166 3828
Email: [email protected]
Address: 19/21 William St, Mile End SA 5031

Tupps is a 9-year-old Border Collie who was referred to our Urgent Care team for further investigation of a suspected he...
19/08/2026

Tupps is a 9-year-old Border Collie who was referred to our Urgent Care team for further investigation of a suspected hepatopathy (liver disease).

Her work-up included repeat blood testing to closely monitor her liver values and overall health, alongside a CT scan of her chest, abdomen and spine to help our team investigate the cause of her changes.

With significantly elevated liver enzymes on blood evaluation, toxicity was one of the primary differentials considered, with potential causes including paracetamol toxicity. Tupps remained in hospital with our Urgent Care team following her imaging, where she received IV fluid therapy, supportive care and close monitoring.

When Tupps first arrived, she was understandably very nervous during her triage and examinations. But as she settled into hospital, we were lucky enough to see more and more of her beautiful personality come through.

She slowly transformed into quite the little love bug, greeting the team with tail wags, leaning in for cuddles and making sure she received plenty of affection between her treatments.

Being in hospital can be a big experience for our patients, particularly when they're already feeling unwell. We were so proud of how far Tupps came during her time with us and loved being able to make her stay as comfortable, calm and love-filled as possible while she received the care she needed.

When you need us, we're here to help.
Phone: (08) 8166 3828
Email: [email protected]
Address: 19/21 William St, Mile End SA 5031

14/08/2026

We recently had a slightly different patient for our imaging team…

We recently welcomed Froggy the Green Tree Frog to The Austin Vet Specialists for a CT scan!

Come behind the scenes with us as Froggy undergoes advanced diagnostic imaging, giving our team a detailed look at what’s happening beneath the surface; all in a patient considerably smaller than we’re used to seeing.

Froggy is proof that no two days in veterinary medicine are quite the same.

When you need us, we're here to help.
Phone: (08) 8166 3828
Email: [email protected]
Address: 19-21 William St, Mile End SA 5031

12/08/2026

Meet Nicole | Animal Care Attendant

Nicole is one of the wonderful Animal Care Attendants here at The Austin Vet Specialists, working behind the scenes to help keep our hospital running smoothly and our patients comfortable throughout their stay.

We sat down with Nicole to learn a little more about her role, what a day as an Animal Care Attendant looks like, and what she loves most about working with our patients and team.

Press play to meet Nicole and learn more about the people behind the care at The Austin Vet Specialists.

When you need us, we're here to help.
Phone: (08) 8166 3828
Email: [email protected]
Address: 19-21 William St, Mile End SA 5031

Address

19-21 William Street
Adelaide, SA
5031

Telephone

+61881663828

Website

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