Dr. Kate

I am a Hong Kong native.

The reason was simple initially—I wanted to become a veterinarian because I love dogs! After finishing Form 4 in Hong Kong, I was grateful for the opportunity to study in Melbourne, Australia, where I completed two and a half years of high school plus a five-year veterinary program. I graduated from the University of Melbourne at the end of 2003 and started practicing in Hong Kong in March 2004. Before immigrating to the UK in 2024, I had already been practicing for over 20 years!

Although I am only a General Practitioner with no specialist qualifications—just two or three diplomas—during those two decades, I worked at large organizations like the SPCA and spent most of my time working diligently in small clinics. In this industry, I’ve met many fellow veterinarians and assistants and encountered a wide variety of furry friends and their parents. This has taught me a great deal, both in terms of knowledge and understanding of human relationships.

Having been in the UK for a year and a half, I’ve only worked in locum positions at the Medivet Group. Honestly, like most of you, I’m not entirely accustomed to the cultural differences in this industry. From caring for elderly patients and consultation procedures to deciding which medications to prescribe and not having assistants in the consultation room, I’ve often felt quite powerless. However, these experiences have also made me even more determined to help and educate everyone on how to take good care of their furry companions.

I’m grateful to have found the right partners here in the UK. My former assistant, Karen, whom I’ve known for a long time, co-founded the company with me. She handles a lot of backend work, allowing me to focus on frontline tasks without worries. We’ve also set up this website to provide professional advice and services, hoping that the "Vet Mama" brand can continue to grow and help furry parents here!

There’s also our driver and long-distance house call assistant, Ivan, who holds an officially recognized Pet Taxi license! (He was the one who drove my five furry bosses from France to the UK!) He frequently handles pet flights or cross-border transportation, so he’s very knowledgeable about pet entry and exit procedures. As a new OV (Official Veterinarian), I often seek his advice!

I hope our team continues to grow, offering more and more products and services for everyone!

Let me update/clarify a few things for everyone:

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1️⃣ I’m based in HA8📍 and can typically accept house calls within about an hour’s drive. 🐶

House call fees depend on the distance.
2️⃣ I also make irregular house calls to other parts of the UK. 🐱

🩺 What I can do during house calls:
💊 Basic body checks
💊 Vaccinations and rabies shots (must be arranged in advance, as I don’t stock vaccines at home)
💊 AHC (Animal Health Certificate for traveling with pets) and EHC (Export Health Certificate for exporting pets to other countries)—I am a registered OV (Official Veterinarian).
💊 Consultations and second opinion consultations (based on previous lab reports, with additional advice).

🩺 Limitations to note: I only carry basic tools like a stethoscope, otoscope, and thermometer. I can prescribe medication to a limited extent on the spot, but I don’t carry injectables. If needed, I can write prescription letters, and you’ll have to purchase the medications online yourselves. (One pet parent told me that a medication sold to her at a clinic was three times the price of buying it from an online shop 😲.)

Additionally, I cannot draw blood because I currently have no connection with any laboratory (hopefully, this will change later). Tests must be done through a clinic 😿. I don’t have a regular clinic I work at, only occasional locum shifts.

3️⃣ I also offer online consultations or second opinion consultations via Zoom meetings. I can prescribe a small number of medications, but there may be cases where I cannot prescribe any medication for your pet and can only offer advice. Ultimately, you will need to take your pet to a clinic for further tests or examinations. This is because prescribing certain Prescription-Only Veterinary Medicines (POM-Vs) here requires a physical examination.

💊 This includes controlled drugs, antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics, or antivirals. 🐶🐱

4️⃣ I provide acupuncture and moxibustion treatments.

Karen

Hello, my name is Karen. I have loved animals since I was a child. Due to housing restrictions that prevented me from keeping pets, starting from my final year of kindergarten, I would spend every school holiday at my aunt’s house. Living with my aunt’s large pack of dogs was the most longed-for and joyful part of my childhood. After moving out and becoming independent at 18, I have kept pets continuously for over 30 years. Over the years, I have cared for cats, dogs, hedgehogs, tortoises, terrapins, and geckos. Currently, I have a bearded dragon and a dog at home.

In 2001, I started working at a veterinary clinic and also served in a mobile veterinary unit. By chance, I even ran a veterinary practice for nearly seven years. Starting from a small clinic with very limited resources, I expanded it into a veterinary practice offering more diverse services, along with a pet shop and grooming services. During my house call visits, I gained a lot of knowledge and experience beyond what is typically learned in a clinic. I was also very fortunate to meet Dr. Kate through my work.

After leaving Hong Kong, nearly a year has passed since I moved to the UK. During this year, I have tried various things and started taking on new challenges. I am delighted that Dr. Kate and I have established a new company in the UK. Our goal is to provide professional knowledge to pet owners, source high-quality food, supplements, and daily necessities for pets, and help them enjoy a healthy and high-quality life in the UK.