Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital

Onderstepoort Veterinary Hospital has been exceptional. They performed a TPLO procedure on my Great Dane cross, Shenzi, and I could not have asked for better care. The doctors and student vets were professional, friendly, kind, caring, and incredibly efficient. Communication throughout the entire process was outstanding, which made a very stressful situation much easier to manage. A special thank you to vet student Oliver, who did Shenzi’s initial work-up and was my main point of contact throughout her stay. He consistently kept me informed pre-op, during surgery, post-op, and through recovery. His communication, compassion, and professionalism truly stood out. I am incredibly grateful for the care Shenzi received.

Hi there, I would like to leave a massive complement to the staff that is always so dedicated in helping my dogs. Raven is a frequent pt..as she does have a sensitive gut and intens to vomit blood and diarrhea. Never did the Dr's or students stop looking for the cause. Always willing to attend to my needs and worries about Raven. The communication that I received from the staff is always satisfying me as a mom and my baby... The staff in reception makes me laugh and that's quite a stress reliever I want to mention one exceptionally lady at reception her name is....then all my compliments to the reception staff always helpful an quite funny..I love them. This email can not even describe how I appreciate the staff and hospital. My dogs are all alive and happy because of never giving up, work, dedication, and LOVE CARE.. ONDERSTEPOORT HOSPITAL IS A WONDERFUL INSTITUTION I APPRECIATE THEM SO SO MUCH. Regards Bianca Kruger and Raven Kruger

What an exceptional team of compassionate, knowledgeable experts led by Dr Adrienne Viljoen. They are all dedicated and calm. My very ill horse is on his eighth day in isolation in high care. I have arrived daily at random times and never has he been left alone. I've been greeted with warmth and clear updates on his status by some very exhausted veterinary care givers every time. Thank you team. You are my and Phoenix's Super Heroes.

I hope this finds its way to student veterinarian Denika who helped my family in February 2026. We brought in our pekingese doggy with a suspected stroke. Denika was very kind from the beginning, explaining everything to us in detail about what she was doing, and looking for. She showed so much love and care to Vettie, who loved her just as much. I know Denika was sick, so we missed saying thank you and good bye to her when our dog got discharged. So I hope this email truly shows how much we have appreciated her services, her overwhelming kindness and love, not just to our dog (who was very spoiled) but to our family as well. I hope the Lord, Jesus Christ blesses you forever in your career and personal life. May you continue to show your kindness and care to all who you cross paths with. And another thank you to visiting doctor Lara, her truth filled with compassion helped us deal with the news, but also gave us hope. Thank you.

I can’t stop sharing how great the experience was. It all started when we sent an email enquiring about cost for treatment for one of our cats. Their response was quick and detailed. The excellent service continued from the time of the booking to post treatment follow-up call. Wow wow wow. Thanks to the team there!

On 4th June 2025, my 11-year-old soulmate and dearest companion, Mouse, was admitted to High Care at OP with a sudden and severe gallbladder mucocele. It all happened so fast — and yet from the very beginning, we were surrounded by a level of medical care and compassion that was truly extraordinary. Mouse underwent surgery on the 5th — a complex and high-risk procedure due to the severity of her condition, her age, and underlying pancreatitis. The medical team explained the risks and her poor prognosis with such honesty and empathy, and together we made the decision to give her a chance — because if anyone deserved that chance, it was Mouse. She made it through the surgery. She woke up. And for a moment, hope returned. The next few days in ICU — 5th, 6th, and 7th June — were filled with round-the-clock care, gentle hands, and vigilant monitoring. I knew she was being treated not just as a patient, but as a beloved being. Every detail, every decision, was made with her dignity and comfort in mind. Despite fighting with all the strength she had, supported by the very best medical care in the world, Mouse began slipping into organ failure. On the 7th of June, I had to make the most painful and final decision — to let her go peacefully, surrounded by love. To the entire OP team: thank you. You did everything possible to try and save her. My deepest gratitude goes especially to Dr. M Seedat, her dedicated clinician, and to the remarkable vet student Georgina Agar, who cared for Mouse with such devotion, gentleness, and grace. Georgina — you are going to be an extraordinary vet. Your compassion and calm presence meant the world to both of us. We’ve turned to OP before with our animals when we’ve needed specialist care, and every single time we’ve been met with exceptional knowledge, professionalism, and heartfelt concern. I can say with absolute certainty: if Mouse had any chance at survival, it would have been here — at this world-class academic hospital, with its brilliant and committed team. Mouse was more than a pet — she was family, she was love in its purest form. And in her final days, she was treated with the same reverence and care that we carry for her in our hearts. Thank you, from the bottom of ours Cassandra and Jose Barbosa

Our cat, Tyson, was admitted to Onderstepoort after suffering repeated bladder blockages and complications with another clinic. From the moment we arrived, we felt reassured by the professionalism, compassion, and thorough care provided. A very special thank you to Dr. Mouton for her expertise and kindness, and to the dedicated students, Christopher, Charni, and Rochelle, who went above and beyond in Tyson’s care. They kept me updated, answered my many questions with patience, and treated Tyson as though he were their own. Thanks to their diligence, Tyson is finally stable, recovering well at home. I am deeply grateful for the high level of care and for the empathy shown to both me and my cat during a very stressful time. I cannot recommend Onderstepoort highly enough.