My Brilliant Career: Fixing pets makes families whole again

Tell me about how you ended up becoming a vet.

It started with me going to school at Bellville High School, where I matriculated in 2011, and then I studied at Stellenbosch University for six months in 2012. I then transferred to the University of Pretoria when I got accepted into veterinary sciences. I graduated from Onderstepoort in 2017 and completed my year of compulsory community service at Themba Animal Clinic in Stellenbosch.

I then started working at Bryanston Veterinary Hospital in 2019, where I completed an external residency programme in a small animal surgery. I completed my MMedvet (surgery) degree in 2024 to become a small animal specialist surgeon. I also became a partner at Bryanston Veterinary Hospital in 2023.

I have always loved animals and wanted to be able to help them when they cannot help themselves.

What does a typical day look like for you at Bryanston Veterinary Hospital?

I start the morning with hospital rounds, seeing each patient with the assistance of our excellent support staff — kennel hands, animal health technician and nurse. Then each client gets phoned with an update. After that I start my consultations for the day and then proceed to theatre and perform surgeries until the work is done.

What do you enjoy most about being a vet? 

For me the best is to be able to fix my patient and make families whole again. For example, patients that come in paralysed due to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and require surgery so they can recover and walk again.

What qualities do vets need?

Love and compassion for animals are obvious, but grit, determination and being a hard worker are more important because it is an extremely demanding — and rewarding — career.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I am privileged enough to have always wanted to be a vet, so my dream came true.

What advice do you have for new vets? 

With hard work and determination, you can make a real change in the community around you and it can really be a fulfilling career, but you always need to look after your mental health — all vets' lives matter.

What advice do you have for pets owners in terms of animal care?

Good quality food is important as well as regular, medium-intensity exercise — walks that are low impact to prevent joint injuries, but also regular, daily, to ensure they stay fit and do not become overweight.

I would recommend a check-up at the vet at least once a year to pick up problems or concerns early so we can try to prevent major complications, instead of needing to perform major surgery on something that might have been avoided.