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North Coast Veterinary Specialist and Referral Centre

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Sunshine Coast, QLD
North Coast Veterinary Specialist and Referral Centre

North Coast Veterinary Specialist and Referral Centre offers specialist surgical and referral-only v
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16/12/2024

Sweet Trixie presented for assessment of a right ear polyp. Trixie, a 2years and 9 month old French Bulldog, underwent a CT scan. The CT report stated material in the right middle ear and external ear canal, along with thickening of the ear canal wall and slight changes to the bone around the tympanic bulla. This could be due to long-term ear inflammation (chronic otitis media) with some granulation or inflammatory tissue in the ear canal. However, the appearance of this material isn’t typical for a polyp. Otoscopic examination after CT revealed prominent tissue/mass within the distal ear canal. Cytology of the biopsied tissue returned as benign hyperplastic/inflammatory polyp.

07/12/2024

Rip is an adorable 1-year-and-2-month-old Moodle who presented to NCVECC for an emergency consultation due to a history of haemorrhagic diarrhoea (HGE) and vomiting. Acute haemorrhagic diarrhoea syndrome (AHDS), also known as haemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), is a sudden-onset condition in dogs characterised by vomiting and bloody diarrhoea. Some affected dogs may also exhibit abdominal pain, reduced appetite, lethargy, or fever.

Rip's diarrhoea was expected to take a few days to resolve. He was treated with IV fluids and additional medications to support his recovery. Once his diarrhoea had settled and he was eating well, Rip was discharged into his owner's care for continued monitoring at home. 🐶

02/12/2024

Sweet and innocent-looking Ted, a 6.5-year-old Golden Retriever, recently found himself in a bit of trouble! Known for his habit of eating socks and other household items, Ted was taken to his primary care vet after experiencing a bout of vomiting. Radiographs revealed foreign material in his intestines, and a sock was successfully removed from his descending colon. However, additional gastric foreign material was identified, prompting a referral for surgical intervention. At our clinic, Ted underwent exploratory laparotomy surgery, during which a fabric foreign body was removed from his stomach via a single gastrotomy. The remainder of the exploration was unremarkable, and Ted’s recovery was smooth and uneventful. Lets hope Ted has changed his ways! 🐶

29/11/2024

Tiny cutie pie Binky, a 5-month-old Pomeranian weighing just 1.8 kg, was brought in after his owner found him limping on his left forelimb. Radiographs taken by his primary care vet revealed a fracture of the distal radius and ulna, and surgical stabilisation was recommended. Binky underwent surgery to realign and stabilise the fracture using a plate and multiple screws. He was rested over the next four weeks to allow the bone to heal properly and received plenty of cuddles from the nurses during his recovery! 🦴

22/11/2024

Baxter is a beautiful 2-year-old Labrador who was referred to NCVS for evaluation of lumbosacral pain. About a month before his referral, he became suddenly lame in his left hindlimb while running at the park. He initially responded well to anti-inflammatories and pain relief, but the lameness and pain returned two weeks later. Radiographs and a CT scan revealed signs of lumbosacral degenerative disease. To manage his condition, Baxter received an epidural cortisone injection, which is expected to provide localised anti-inflammatory and pain-relief effects. Some cases may require repeat injections over time, but we'll closely monitor Baxter for any signs of recurrence and adjust treatment as needed. 🐾

18/11/2024

Adorable little Lucy, an 8-month-old Maltese Terrier x Shih Tzu, was referred to our internal medicine team due to her being a "poor doer” a puppy smaller than her littermates and growing more slowly, which can suggest an underlying health condition. A CT scan revealed severe, diffuse changes in her lungs and lymphadenopathy, likely the cause of her chronic cough since July. Differential diagnoses include a diffuse infectious process (bacterial/pyogranulomatous, fungal, or less likely parasitic) or a diffuse neoplastic process, such as lymphoma.

Lucy underwent a right lateral thoracotomy (open chest surgery) to remove her right cranial lung lobe. She was also diagnosed with a Mycobacterial infection, requiring a prolonged course of antibiotics. Little Lucy is such a trooper, we wish her a speedy recovery. 🐶

15/11/2024

Rosie, this lovely 9- years 3-month old Pug presented for evaluation and treatment of a perineal mass that has been present for 2–3 years. Her owner noted that the mass fluctuates in size and sometimes appears inflamed. Cytology using fine-needle aspiration (FNA) where cells from the mass were extracted and examined under a microscope suggested it is likely an inflamed mast cell tumor (MCT), a type of malignant tumor made up of mast cells. While MCTs commonly form as nodules or masses in the skin, they can also impact other organs, such as the spleen, liver, intestines, and bone marrow. Recently, her owner also noticed a new mass on Rosie’s left hindlimb. Following diagnosis, surgery was performed to excise both the perineal mass and the mass on Rosie’s left distal hindlimb. Rosie has been progressing well at home after the procedure.

11/11/2024

Paws 🐾, a sweet 12-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix, was referred to our internal medicine team to investigate her elevated liver enzymes. She was sedated for an abdominal ultrasound, following her procedure she was sent home with liver-supportive medications and antibiotics. A follow-up blood test to check her liver enzyme levels is recommended in one month, with the possibility of further treatment or surgery if needed.

$Brave, sweet little Matilda has shown incredible resilience after suffering a severe pelvic fracture and open wounds on ...$

08/11/2024

Brave, sweet little Matilda has shown incredible resilience after suffering a severe pelvic fracture and open wounds on her abdomen and side from a car accident. Following surgery to stabilise her hip and multiple bandage changes, during which she was very patient and cooperative, Matilda is now recovering well, with only a mild limp in her left hind leg. What a trooper! 🐶🦴🐾

04/11/2024

This very cute 9-year-old Australian Terrier, Tilly, was brought to the emergency team after experiencing vomiting and restlessness. She was admitted overnight for IV fluid therapy, blood tests, and imaging. Radiographs and an abdominal ultrasound revealed intestinal dilation and a possible foreign body in the colon, but surgery was not recommended at that time. Tilly remained on IV fluids and received pain relief throughout the night. The next day, repeat abdominal radiographs confirmed the intestinal dilation had resolved. Tilly was eating well, toileting normally, and appeared happy and comfortable, so she was able to return home that afternoon. 🐶

28/10/2024

The beautiful and affectionate Sophie, a 1-year, 2-month-old Border Collie, was presented with right forelimb lameness that had been ongoing for 3-4 months, worsening over the last 1-2 months. While the lameness improved slightly with rest, it worsened after exercise. Sophie was diagnosed with an OCD (Osteochondritis Dissecans) lesion in her shoulder joint, a condition where diseased cartilage separates from the underlying bone. She was admitted for a right shoulder arthrotomy, a surgical procedure to access and treat the joint by removing fragments and gently debriding the bone. Sophie will need strict rest, and post-operative physical therapy is recommended for her recovery. Sophie got lots of cuddles from our wonderful ward nurse Nieve during her stay. 🥰

26/10/2024

Daisy, a sweet 2-year, 8-month-old Groodle, was brought to the emergency team after being involved in a dog fight. She had a wound on the right side of her chest, though her owner reported no breathing difficulties or coughing following the incident. Daisy was admitted for wound cleaning and surgical closure under general anaesthesia. The procedure went smoothly, and Daisy was able to return home later that afternoon.

18/10/2024

Adorable 6-month-old kitten Holly visited the emergency team after experiencing vomiting and abdominal pain. Although her regular vet had administered an anti-emetic, Holly still wasn’t her usual self. Known for scavenging and chewing on toys, string, and other objects, radiographs were taken. These showed normal movement of ingesta into the large bowel, with no signs of obstruction at this time. However, a linear foreign body couldn’t be entirely ruled out, so Holly’s owner will be closely monitoring her at home. 🐈

12/10/2024

Molly, an active 8 and half year old Australian Cattle Dog with a passion for running, returned to NCVS for the second time this month. She had previously been admitted for cruciate disease and a partial cranial cruciate ligament (CRCL) rupture, which required an arthrotomy of the left stifle (knee). During that procedure, the torn cruciate ligament and medial meniscus were removed, and a Triple Tibial Osteotomy (TTO) was performed.

TTO surgery involves making three cuts in the tibia (shin bone), removing a small wedge of bone, and securing the area with a surgical steel plate. This technique changes the mechanics of the knee joint so that a cranial cruciate ligament is no longer needed for stability. Molly, who lives on a property, was on strict rest to allow the bone to heal. Unfortunately, she got away from her owner during a controlled lead walk and following a traumatic incident she became acutely lame.

Molly returned to NCVS, where radiographs revealed a fracture of the left tibia and fibula, requiring surgery to realign and stabilise the tibia. The bone was stabilised with two plates and multiple screws and a bone graft was taken from her right shoulder and placed into the fracture site which should aid in the bone healing process. Molly will now continue her recovery at home with the aid of sedation. We hope she’ll be back running on the farm soon. 🐾

08/10/2024

Yogi, a lovable 2-year and 9-month-old gentle giant, presented with a large skin mass on his ventral thorax that had been slowly growing. A CT scan of his chest and abdomen was performed for staging and surgical planning, along with a fine needle aspirate (FNA) under general anesthesia for in-house cytology to assess any changes in the cell population. The CT report indicated that the mass was most likely an intramuscular lipoma or an infiltrative lipoma, which is a lump of fatty tissue that grows just under the skin.

Yogi underwent surgery to remove the infiltrative lipoma from his chest. A significant amount of tissue was removed along with the mass to reduce the risk of recurrence, and a drain was placed to help remove any excess fluid buildup under the skin. Yogi's owners have been instructed on how to regularly empty the drain while caring for him at home. The mass has been submitted for histopathology, and we will contact the owners once the results are back. We wish Yogi a smooth and speedy recovery. 🐶

01/10/2024

Meet Toffee, a smiley and happy 9-and-a-half-year-old Beagle! She visited NCVS for a mass on her lower right lip. During her examination, a heart murmur was also detected, prompting an echocardiogram. Toffee underwent an excisional biopsy of the mass and samples were sent to the lab for further analysis. The echocardiogram results revealed that her murmur is due to mitral valve degeneration/regurgitation. Currently Toffee does not require medication for this condition. It’s recommended to reassess her in 12 months unless there are any signs of deterioration. Toffee’s owners will continue to monitor her at home and will be notified once the biopsy results are available.

28/09/2024

Smiley Millie, an adorable 13year old Jack Russell Terrier, visited our medicine team. Such a happy girl! 🐶

25/09/2024

Excitable and happy Ronnie, an 8-year-old English Staffordshire Bull Terrier, initially presented with intermittent non-weight bearing on his left hindlimb and pain upon palpation of the caudal lumbar spine and lumbosacral region (where the pelvis meets the spine). Ronnie underwent an MRI, which confirmed degenerative lumbosacral stenosis. This condition can be caused by nerve compression from a bulging intervertebral disc or other soft tissues, as well as instability between the lumbar vertebrae and sacrum. Aging can lead to dehydration and degeneration of the intervertebral disc between the last lumbar vertebra and the sacrum, causing it to bulge and compress nerves. This results in the narrowing of the vertebral canal and the intervertebral foramina, a condition known as 'stenosis.' When medical management is ineffective, treatment can include epidural administration of steroid medication and local anaesthetic as an alternative to surgery. Ronnie received an epidural steroid injection and is on strict rest for a few weeks. Treatment typically consists of three epidural injections, with the second and third injections given at 2 and 6 weeks after the first. 🐾

Address

5/30 Chancellor Village Boulevard Sippy Downs
Sunshine Coast, QLD
4556

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm

Telephone

+61754537555

Website

http://www.ncvs.net.au/

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Videos

Meet Baz! Baz had a total hip replacement with Dr Warrick. Mental stimulation is important for patient's recovery, especially when they are hospitalised for a few days for rehab and nursing care. Here is Baz thoroughly enjoying his lick mat! #vetspecialist #specialist #dog #pet #vetclinic #vetsurgery #surgery #vetcare #emergency #sunshinecoast #sunshinecoastvet