With the rise of veterinary clinics and hospitals in recent years, we are also seeing emerging structures established in the veterinary industry in Singapore, and the varied services available. There are clinics, hospitals, and even telemedicine platforms.
Veterinary Clinics Vs Hospitals
The main difference would be veterinary clinics and hospitals – differences lie in the level of care and services provided.
Veterinary Clinics
A veterinary clinic usually focuses on routine and preventative care for animals (think polyclinics or private human GP clinics!). Clinics typically provide services such as vaccinations, wellness examinations, desexing surgeries, dental cleanings/extractions and general health consults. It is equipped with basic diagnostic equipment like x-ray machines and laboratory analyzers to perform essential tests. Clinics are the first point of care for pet owners seeking medical attention.
Animal Hospitals
For complex cases, the patient may be sent off for referral to an animal hospital, or a large clinic equipped with more advanced facilities. Larger clinics can also provide hospitalisations if required. Some clinics also offer specialised procedures like laparotomy surgeries or fracture repairs. If in doubt, do give the clinics a call before booking an appointment.
Specialized Services
For example, Atlas Veterinary Clinic and Surgery provide a little more than your routine desexing surgeries, including:
- Total Ear Canal Ablation & Lateral Bulla Osteotomy (TECA-LBO) for end-stage ear conditions
- Orthopedic surgeries like Knee surgery (Medial Patellar Luxation, Deangelis technique for cranial cruciate ligament tear)
- Jaw Surgery
- Bone fracture repair
- Hip surgery (FHO).
Not all clinics provide such services, which mainly depend on the veterinarians working there, and the additional formal training acquired.
Specialty Clinics
Some clinics are headed by specialists with a focused area of study. The Eye Specialist For Animals is a referral centre for ophthalmology cases, and patients are usually referred there by their primary care veterinarian. Dr Gladys Boo is the only Veterinary Ophthalmologist in Singapore to achieve diplomate status with the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO). To be granted a diplomate of the ACVO, a veterinarian must complete an ACVO residency, and pass all sections of the rigorous ACVO qualifying board exam.
Community Animal Clinic
For Animal welfare groups and shelters, independent rescuers and community dog and cat caregivers may consider the SPCA Community Animal Clinic for assistance. It is Singapore’s only non-profit community animal clinic. Every year, the clinic operations alone require $600,000, so it is reserved strictly for community animals and animal welfare groups, and by appointment only.
Rehabilitation Centres
Rehabilitation centres provide management for chronic conditions like arthritis, or surgical recovery. The rehabilitation veterinarian at RehabVet provides consultation to evaluate your pet’s history and current condition. A management plan may include physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, laser therapy, and other modalities to improve mobility and speed recovery. They may also provide you with exercises to perform at home to complement the in-clinic sessions.
Advanced Care at Animal Hospitals
An animal hospital provides more advanced care for animals with a broader range of facilities and equipment available to handle emergency cases, critical care and specialized treatments. It is very much similar to a human hospital. They often have a dedicated team of board-certified veterinary specialists, including surgeons, dermatologists, radiologists and other specialists from different fields. They would also have advanced diagnostic equipment like CT scanners or MRI, intensive care units, surgical theatres and more extensive laboratory capabilities.
Emergency Care
In the event of an emergency (sudden collapse, difficulty in breathing, bleeding, traumas), heading straight down to 24hr emergency departments may be more prudent. It is important to keep these addresses at hand.
Veterinary Listed Hospitals in Singapore
1) BEECROFT ANIMAL SPECIALIST & EMERGENCY HOSPITAL
991E ALEXANDRA ROAD, #01-27 S(119973)
2) VES HOSPITAL (VETERINARY EMERGENCY & SPECIALTY HOSPITAL)
232 WHITLEY ROAD MOUNT PLEASANT ANIMAL HOSPITAL, S(297824)
For folks staying in the west, there is Westside Emergency, a 24-hour emergency vet clinic. It is staffed 24 hours, who are practised in emergency cases and critical care. They have shared resources with Landon Veterinary Specialists, headed by Dr Landon, an Australian Registered Small Animal Specialist Surgeon with a keen interest in orthopedic, soft tissue, neurologically and minimally invasive surgery.
3) WESTSIDE EMERGENCY
41 ENG KONG TERRACE, #01-01, S(599013)
You can also find the full list of registered clinics here – updated as of 6 Jan 2023 provided by AVS, Nparks.
Ultimate Decision
In conclusion, while clinics focus mainly on routine and preventative care, a vet hospital, or a larger clinic, offers a broader range of services, specialised treatments, emergency care and advanced diagnostics like CT scanners. The decision between a clinic and a hospital depends on the severity of the condition of your pet. For clinics with specialities, clients are usually directed there by their primary veterinarian. If in doubt, a call to a clinic or emergency hospital may be helpful to discern where to head to, to save valuable time.
