University news

The doors have opened on the most advanced animal hospital in Europe.

More than 10 years in the planning, the University of Glasgow’s Small Animal Hospital will have over 11,000 visits annually from across the UK and will provide a new benchmark in the care of animals.

Based within the world-leading Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the £15million hospital will see a host of services offered, including a diagnostic suite complete with both MRI and CT scanners, a radioactive iodine unit for cats, an underwater treadmill and a pain and rehabilitation centre all of which are centred around the light and airy central treatment area.

The hospital has been constructed on the University’s Garscube Campus in Bearsden and its sloping grass roof complements its environment. A central atrium allows the hospital to be lit by natural light providing a calming ambience to anxious pets and their owners.

Professor Stuart Reid, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, said: “The opening of new hospital is a step-change in the treatment of small animals. It represents the latest in care for pets and is the most advanced such facility in Europe.

“The patients we treat will still receive the best care available, but this will now be in the best surroundings available. With cutting edge facilities and capacity for training veterinarians at all stages of their career, the Faculty will be using the building as a flagship for its clinical provision.”

“We are delighted that the hospital is opening and look forward to welcoming patients from across the UK.”

When pets first arrive at the hospital, they are assessed in one of the thirteen new consulting rooms. From here they can be moved to any one of a number of specialist areas.

These areas include:

- a centre for comparative oncology – the first in Scotland

- a unique pain and rehabilitation centre with an underwater treadmill

- a diagnostic imaging suite complete with an MRI scanner and CT scanner

- ultra-modern operating theatres complete with cameras to allow remote viewing of procedures

- an endoscopy suite with the most advanced endoscopy equipment available

- purpose-built wards designed to allow the best nursing care to be delivered

The MRI and CT scanners will allow for the diagnosis of neurological conditions such as slipped discs or brain tumours. The hospital also houses a state of the art endoscopy room housing the most up to date endoscope allowing visualisation of early cancerous changes in the gut of both dogs and cats.

Dr Mark Jackson, director of the new Small Animal Hospital, explained that cancer is a key clinical discipline  with an increasing number of cases being referred to the hospital each year.

Many types of cancers occur in humans and dogs and cats, and some are more common in pets such as skin cancer and breast cancer in un-neutered animals

Dr Jackson said: “Our centre for comparative oncology gives a wide range of treatment for most types of cancers in small animals.

“Pets are living longer than ever before and this is leading to the diagnosis of diseases more commonly seen in geriatric patients.

“As well as allowing us to treat these conditions, the new facilities will allow us to gain a better understanding about the development of illnesses and produce new ways to both diagnose and treat them.”

The centre also has an important role as a training hospital, where approximately 120 veterinary students and 30 veterinary nursing students will shadow specialists trained in all aspects of veterinary medicine, surgery and nursing.

Professor Stuart Reid said: “The new hospital will allow the vets of tomorrow to learn in the most advanced surrounding, allying the first-class building with access to the some of the best specialist vets in their field. As a training aid, it is unsurpassed.

“We are immensely proud of our Small Animal Hospital and feel sure it will provide a world-class service for the pet owners of the UK.”

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For more information please contact Ray McHugh or Stuart Forsyth in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3535 or email r.mchugh@admin.gla.ac.uk or s.forsyth@admin.gla.ac.uk.

If you wish to support the work of the Small Animal Hospital by making a gift, please contact Sarah Hunter in the Development and Alumni Office on 0141 300 4951 or email s.hunter@admin.gla.ac.uk

First published: 8 September 2009