University Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Simply the best place you can take your fur babies.

They do a lot of great work here and you can get your beloved pet fixed for FREE if you are in dire straits!

I've always had good experiences when I've brought my cat here for specialist appointments. The veterinarians are great and it's an essential place for future veterinarians to learn.

Was quoted $4,500 for surgery on my dog's leg. Was able to find an alternative vet to do the surgery for $1,200. Reception was also very rude - refused to provide scans that i had paid $750 for. Totes rip off

This is a great place, they give sensational care.

My dog had heart disease and was under the care of the cardio specialist for over a year. We were given a lot of false hope and conflicting information in this time. They told us twice that we made his condition worse by 1. Bringing him to the vet too often therefore making him stressed and 2. We were accused of aspirating him on his meds even though that wasn't true. We spent nearly $15,000 trying to keep our dog alive but he died ignored and alone in one of their cages. We'd rushed him there with breathing problems but they didn't administer intravenous oxygen and removed him from the oxygen tent helping him breath. We were told he was stable then suddenly got a phone call 2 minutes before his painful death that we should euthanise him. He went into arrest before the phone call ended. He suffered horribly and unnecessarily by their ignorance. The vet on duty could not have cared less and told us "Well he couldn't live in the ICU forever" as we cried over our dead dog in front of us.

When our dog was in the ICU (3 times) I spoke to the specialist and nurses daily. I was repeatedly told he was stable, wagging his tail and eating only to be told later in the day that he wasn’t improving and had to stay in the ICU. These contradictions made it impossible for us to manage our expectations. He stopped eating and accepting his meds. The cardio specialist blamed a gastro issue and didn't care that our dog didn't eat for 3 weeks before his death.

His arrhythmia was ignored and not treated. I was told not to worry about it. 24 hours later he went into congestive heart failure. Our dog was discharged with fluid in his lungs and no change to his meds which were causing side effects. I was told he was ‘treatment resistant’ and that we may have to euthanize him in a few weeks but he was taken off intravenous oxygen and put on oral meds to “give him a chance”. I did not understand this but stupidly trusted the specialist.

The day before he died our dog was discharged to us after 3 days in ICU. I was horrified by his condition. He was skeletal. He had dyspnea and his legs could barely support him. He had grazes where they shaved him and pieces out of his head and nose where they had super glued the oxygen tube to his fur. Earlier in the day a vet nurse told me he was grooming, eating, bright eyed- LIES. When I asked the vet if we were risking his life taking him home she said “probably not”.

18 hours later we rushed him to the ICU in respiratory distress. We saw the same vet who told us he was doing better in the oxygen tent and we could go home while they did tests. She said they wouldn’t put him on intravenous oxygen. She said we maybe aspirated him giving him his meds. This was untrue. 3 hours later she called me to request to immediately euthanize him as he had “suddenly decompensated”. During our 2 minute phone call he went into arrest and couldn’t be revived. There was no time to euthanize him and he died suffering and in pain. For our dog to die this way in the ICU when we thought he was receiving the best care is very difficult to come to terms with.

We arrived at the clinic about 5 minutes after he had died. The vet didn’t explain how he died but suggested a blood clot. We were in shock and he was in the morgue overnight. When we came back the next day the specialist didn't see us or explain what happened. A nurse carried our little boy out to us cold and stiff from the fridge in a white plastic bag. It was very traumatic.

A few days later I emailed the specialist. He did call me but didn’t explain how our dog died. He suggested a heart attack but said everyone was taken by surprise. After suffering a heart tear, three episodes of congestive heart failure and being rushed to the vet in respiratory distress it is hard to understand how experienced vets wouldn’t be able to recognise how sick our dog was. I feel he was let down and died in unnecessary pain. It is unethical for them to have treated us and our dog this way. I don't recommend coming here.

Well I have read these reviews and nothing could be further from the true in our case.
Yes they are expensive and $250 after hours is high, however when you need someone at 3am for your pet it is good value. We had our dog Poppy diagnosed with cancer at 3am and the Vet at the time was so compassionate and caring. He made an appointment for the same day to see the oncology specialist and the compassion and care was great. This as you know was such a emotional time for us and Poppy and the understanding from these professionals was outstanding. The organisation has set protocols for the treatment of cancer, however due to the stress for both Poppy and I they modified them to help us cope. Poppy received 14 months chemo therapy and the service was exceptional and the help in the final time was amazing.
I have no hesitation in recommending the vets, nurses and reception staff.

UPDATE: I was contacted by the vet hospital, we discussed what happened, I was issued a refund, and was assured that some processes were put in place to ensure this won't happen again - this was appreciated. However, I do however still have concerns about how many times it was suggested to me to euthanise my pet for a treatable condition during that initial visit. I was in a vulnerable position and the vets are in a trusted position, It scares me to think how many people would trust the vet and go through with unnecessary euthanasia if put in a similar position.
I can only relay my experience at this vet versus another vet I visited at the same time. I believe it's important to leave the original review as this was my experience, but also to show the follow up from the vet hospital in response in order to be fair.

ORIGINAL REVIEW: I had an awful experience. Suggested euthanasia to me multiple times for a treatable condition. Very dismissive of my concerns when I took my pet back in because I instinctively knew he was still ill; I was told it was normal and they sent me home again. Took him to a new vet and they were horrified with the treatment and that the Sydney university vet released him so quickly, and told me that if had listened to them then he would have died.