ABOUT US
Our Story
Our hospital is the first established veterinary hospital in Dubai which opened its doors in 1979. It was named The Veterinary Hospital to distinguish it from human hospitals as at that time it was the ONLY veterinary service provider in the city of Dubai.
Its first location was in Jumeirah 1 where we welcomed our clients for over 20 years. We moved to Al-Quoz for another 10 years before relocating to our current location on Al Wasl Road, where we have been since 2018.
TVH was initially owned and operated by Dr William Collins, who used to see a large variety of species, including horses, camels, exotic animals and falcons. In 1997, he was joined by Dr Maxwell Spicer as a senior veterinarian. Our hospital has been under the same ownership and management for most of its operating years which ensures continuity of standards and client relationships.
Since the hospital opened its doors in the seventies, we have provided thorough, diligent care to tens of thousands of patients and owners, enhancing the quality and longevity of our patients’ lives and prolonging the enjoyment of the relationship for their families.
With over 100 years of combined experience, our team is always ready to provide exemplary high-quality care and assistance to pet patients of all ages, breeds and sizes. In our capable and loving care, your pet will be treated as one of our own.
Why Choose Us
- Our veterinary surgeons uphold the professional ethics and clinical standards as proud members of The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (United Kingdom). R.C.V.S
- Gold Standard rating from The International Society of Feline Medicine ISFM, distinguishing us as a truly cat-friendly clinic alongside our dedication to other species of pets.
- Friendly and professional services to all clients and their pets.
- Transparent and honest pricing system. We explain the charges and provide estimates whenever possible.
- Representative price for quality of service received. Our prices may be higher than others, but they are commensurate with our highly skilled staff and the services they provide.
- Unlike shorter consultation time offered by other service providers; at The Veterinary Hospital you will receive a 20-minute consultation meaning extra time spent addressing your queries and concerns.
- Continuous client-vet relationship wherever possible to ensure case continuity.
- An overnight nurse is present on the premises making sure all patients are attended to at all times.
- Out of hours emergency service shared with 2 other clinics in Dubai.
- Multilingual team (English, Arabic, Spanish, Serbian, Tagalog, Nepali) so you won’t need to be concerned about communication issues around your pet.
- All our veterinary surgeons participate in annual continuing professional development courses, enhancing their broad knowledge and keeping it current.
- For the rare and unusual cases, we seek advice from an international network of expert consultants and specialists in their fields providing us with support and cutting-edge technical knowledge.
- We are committed to providing you and your pet with the best equipment and facilities and we have a long-term reinvestment plan to ensure we can offer you the very highest level of care.
Our Vets
Meet our team that, together with a fantastic nursing and support staff, will tend to your beloved pets.
Dr. Max Spicer
BVSc, MRCVS
Dr. Max Spicer hails from Devon in England. He qualified from Liverpool University in 1990 with his BvSc degree and is also a member of The Royal College of Veterinary surgeons.
Max joined The Veterinary Hospital in 1997 and became managing partner in 1999. Since graduating; his focus has always been in companion animal medicine and surgery; with particular interest in orthopaedics and disorders of the eye and skin.
He holds high regard for exemplary patient and client care, and has noticed that with an ever changing and expanding population in Dubai, pets constantly need attention to a wide variety of problems. He has therefore taken an aggressive stride towards providing a comprehensive service by hiring four veterinarians that are highly specialized in their respective fields. He is very proud of the fact that his hospital is the only one in Dubai that can offer all such necessary services under one roof.
Dr. Max also insists on having people on his team that are friendly, approachable and flexible to client’s needs.
He has been living in Dubai since 1997 and met his wife, Michelle, here. They have two children, Guy and Charlotte, and enjoy family life with their two rescued dogs and cats.
Dr. Ruben Arias del Rio
Dr. Ruben graduated from the University of Extremadura, Spain in 1997 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery.
Ruben specializes in complicated fracture repair and spinal surgery. He is the first vet to perform spinal disc replacement (c-lox) surgery in the Middle East and receives referrals from other clinics in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the GCC region.
He has worked in Dubai since 2009 and specializes in small animal surgery, soft tissue, orthopaedic and spinal, plus he has developed a special interest in Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome, as he has noticed a need for this in Dubai due to the increasing numbers of flat nosed breeds that struggle in the summer heat.
Previous to living in Dubai, Ruben lived and worked in the UK for 11 years, 5 of which was with the PDSA (People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals), a busy animal charity hospital. While he was there, he studied for the Certificate in Small Animal Surgery and gained a great deal of experience through the number and variety of cases that were placed under his care.
Ruben also spent some time at Animal Medical Centre Referrals, observing and assisting in theatre with some of the best orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeons and The Referral Hospital of Liverpool University. He was offered a residency in surgery at North Kent Referrals in London but chose to join The Veterinary Hospital of Dubai instead, where he is able to perform his own referral surgical cases.
Dr. Farah Murrani
Dr. Farah graduated from Baghdad University, Iraq in 1999. She was instrumental in the rehabilitation of the Baghdad Zoo in 2003 following the war in Iraq. This led her to receive a one year internship at North Carolina Zoo in the US.
She gained her experience working internationally in South Africa, Dubai and Oman.
She holds a post graduate degree in veterinary business management from Liverpool University.
Dr. Amber Lovegrove
Dr Amber graduated from St. George’s University, Grenada – West Indies in 2009, she went on to pass the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) exam and practiced in the UK for many years before the calling of hot weather brought her out to the UAE in 2015.
She has a special interest in Internal Medicine and holds a general practitioner certificate in the field. She also loves caring for your senior pets and to spend time with nervous animals making their vet visits as stress free as possible. You can be rest assured that your pets will be in safe hands with her.
More recently she developed a keen interest in small animal nutrition and she gained a certificate in Veterinary Natural Nutrition from The College of Integrated Veterinary Therapy. Currently she is enrolled in a therapeutic nutrition course.
During her working years in Dubai, she has accumulated 2 fur-babies, a one-eyed cat and a rescue Saluki. You will be able to recognize her on your next visit to us once you spot her sparkly shoes which is her trademark.
Dr. Marko Knezevic
Dr. Marko graduated from Belgrade University in Serbia in 2007 with a Masters in Veterinary Science and started his career in the family owned clinic, alongside his father. It was there that Marko developed a strong interest in small animal medicine.
In 2011, Marko moved to Beijing, China and then in 2012, he arrived in the UAE working first in Fujairah before moving to Dubai.
Over the years in small animal practice he developed a keen interest in ultrasonography and cardiology.
Marko is currently studying for a postgraduate certificate in Feline Medicine.
He lives in Dubai with four rescued cats (one is blind), and enjoys walking, playing tennis and going to the beach in his free time.
Dr. Carme Tordesillas – Olivar
Dr. Carme graduated as a Veterinary Surgeon from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona) in Spain in 2007. After graduation she spent 3 years furthering her knowledge and practical skills by conducting post-graduate internships at specialist referral hospitals in both the UK and Spain.
In 2011, after working at a number of vet practices, she became the owner and clinical director at her own small animal practice in Liverpool. Whilst running her own practice in Liverpool she was nominated for ‘Vet of the Year’ in both 2013 and 2014.
In 2014 life brought her to the UAE where she’s been happily living and working since then.
After her initial work in Abu Dhabi, she moved to Dubai in 2016 in order to join The Veterinary Hospital’s team- “I am impressed with the professionalism and friendliness at TVH and hope to be working here for many years to come!”
She passed the exam for the European GP Certificate in Small Animal Surgery in 2017 and currently she is studying towards her Certificate in Ophthalmology (UAB Barcelona).
Does she miss home? “Of course, I do miss my family and my Jack Russell, Taxi, who unfortunately isn’t fit to fly so he can’t be here with me”. But I love living in Dubai and I’m here with my lovely energetic son Henry Roc (who is a big animal lover and always happy to “help” cuddling dogs and cats) and my mischievous ginger cat Ranga (who we rescued from the street after suffering a tail injury -now fully recovered-)”.