Striking the balance – veterinary medicine with Dr Stuart Burrough
Striking the balance – veterinary medicine with Dr Stuart Burrough
Dr Stuart Burrough – Director – Vet Marlborough – image supplied
Striking the Balance in Veterinary Medicine with Dr Stuart Burrough of Vet Marlborough
Striking the balance in veterinary medicine is possible! In this episode, Dr. Stuart Burrough, a passionate veterinarian from Vet Marlborough, talks with Julie South about his experiences in the field of veterinary science.
Dr Burrough introduced stem cell therapy to treat arthritis in dogs. He also became the third to be certified in the Pennhip technique. Today Dr Burrough discusses these innovative techniques he brought to his clinic.
Additionally, he discusses the importance of safety, trust, and realistic expectations when it comes to veterinary treatments.
Founder and Director of Vet Marlborough
Dr Stuart Burrough – Director of Vet Marlborough – image supplied
Dr Burrough is the founder and director of Vet Marlborough and specialises in small animal medicine.
He introduced stem cell therapy for arthritis treatment in dogs and heads the Canine Reproduction Team.
With several decades of experience in his field, he has a lot of wisdom to impart, which we are excited to share with you.
One thing that stood out during the podcast was Dr Burrough’s commitment to using evidence-based practices when determining the effectiveness of treatments. Although this is something you’d expect of a scientist, not all doctors feel the same way.
He noted that “as scientists, we rely upon factual evidence to determine the effectiveness of treatments.”
Dr Burrough emphasised the importance of safety when making treatment recommendations.
“Safety is a crucial factor in the recommendation of any treatment,” he added.
Trust building with clients
Building trust with clients is also a crucial aspect of the vet-patient relationship.
Dr Burrough talked about how “building trust with clients plays an important role in making a recommendation.”
He believes that results can also help with the effectiveness of the treatment.
However, he was quick to add that while the stem cell treatment was effective for 85% of patients, there were still 15% that did not respond. Thus, it is important for clients to have realistic expectations before going into the treatment.
Dr Burrough’s experience has shown that perseverance pays off. He faced negativity from relatives who quoted statistics about the low success rate of getting selected to veterinary school. Despite this, he remained determined and gained confidence after receiving good results in his School Certificate examination.
As he shared “I believe anyone can achieve what they set out to do – it’s about hard work and dedication.”
Innovative clinic
Dr Burrough is also enthusiastic about introducing innovative techniques to Vet Marlborough.
He was only the third vet in New Zealand to become certified in the Pennhip technique.
Dr Burrough flew to Las Vegas for a weekend to complete the training course and now offers TPLO surgeries for cruciate ligament injuries. Previously this procedure was only performed by specialist surgeons.
He also aims to launch laparoscopic surgeries for non-invasive bitch spay. Dr Burrough is excited about laparoscopic-assisted gastropexies for giant breed dogs and working Huntaway dogs.
This technique involves anchoring the stomach to the abdominal wall to prevent it from twisting. As small animal vets will know, a GDV is a serious emergency that can result in a mortality rate of up to a third.
Dr Burrough’s passion for innovation extends to veterinary research.
Canine Reproduction Team
He heads the Canine Reproduction Team, which is studying the use of progesterone to determine ovulation timing in bitches.
The team aims to improve fertility outcomes by reducing the number of days that bitches need to stay in the clinic for breeding.
“We are always looking for ways to improve outcomes for our patients and their owners,” he said.
The Great Outdoors
Outside his work, Dr Burrough enjoys sailing, scuba diving, skiing, and spending time in Marlborough Sounds and Nelson Lakes National Park.
He enjoys the lifestyle of Marlborough, noting that “the perception of distance is different in Blenheim, where five minutes of driving is seen as a long way away.”
High Standards of Care – Small Animal Veterinarian sought
Dr Burrough and his team at Vet Marlborough are dedicated to providing best practice standards of care.
In fact, Vetstaff is currently looking for someone who shares their passion for providing best practice standards of care to join their team.
For more information – Vet Marlborough | Companion Animal Veterinarian
If you’re interested in being part of the type of team Dr Burrough describes, we encourage you to get in touch with either Julie South or Isobel Cooper at VetStaff.
Be deliberate – choose a PEOPLE.first vet clinic employer – quote by Julie South
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