Advanced surgical care for pets with complex conditions, led by specialist surgeon Dr Ben Mielke at our North Melbourne hospital.
We’re growing our surgical services to support families whose pets need advanced vet care. Led by specialist surgeon Dr Ben Mielke, our specialist team can now care for more complex cases here at Lort Smith, so your pet can stay in a hospital you already know and trust.
It also means we can do more for referring vets whose patients need advanced surgery. And because we’re a not-for-profit, our specialist services help fund the community programs that make vet care possible for more pets and the people who love them.
Dr Ben is a European Board-Certified Specialist Surgeon with extensive experience in complex referral cases across soft tissue, orthopaedic, trauma and minimally invasive surgery. His background includes:
Find out more about each of the specialist surgical services we offer at our North Melbourne hospital.
Minimally invasive surgery uses small incisions and specialised equipment to operate inside the abdomen or chest. Compared with traditional open surgery, it often means less pain, a faster recovery and a shorter stay in hospital.
Five-year-old Coco arrived in a lot of pain and couldn’t move her back legs. A CT scan showed a herniated disc pressing on her spinal cord, so a specialist orthopaedic surgeon came in to operate. The very next day, Coco was walking normally.
If your pet already sees one of our vets, they can refer you to our specialist team.
Your regular vet can refer your pet to us. Not sure which option is right for your pet? Our team can help.
We’re here to support you and your patients. To refer a patient for specialist surgery, please complete our online referral form.
Complete the online referral form, or email [email protected] for patient referrals and advice
Free interpretation of radiographs, and free clinical advice for complex or uncertain cases
Every procedure starts with a specialist consultation. If you go ahead with surgery, the consultation fee comes off the total. Final costs can vary depending on your pet’s needs. Health Care and Pension Card holders pay a concession price.
To book a specialist consultation for your pet, give our team a call. Referring vets can email us any time.
Lort Smith’s specialist surgical service in North Melbourne cares for pets who need advanced surgery, from cruciate ligament surgery (TPLO), fracture repair and hip and elbow dysplasia, to spinal surgery for disc disease, airway surgery for flat-faced breeds, ear canal surgery and complex soft tissue and urinary procedures. Led by European Board-Certified Specialist Surgeon Dr Ben Mielke, our team works closely with your family vet, so your pet gets expert care and continuity from referral through to recovery.
