Our Specialist Surgical Services
Common Conditions We Treat
Orthopaedic & Neurologic
Surgery & Conditions Seen
Non-exhaustive list of orthopaedic and neurologic conditions seen:
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Arthroscopy (keyhole)​
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Fracture Repairs (All Types) ​
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Cranial Cruciate Ligament Disease (Find out more)​
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Hip luxation (Find out more)​
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Hip dysplasia
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Medial Patellar Luxation (Find out more)
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Elbow dysplasia
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Shoulder dislocation / instability
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Angular limb deformity
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Arthrodesis (Fusion of joint)
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Tendon and ligament injuries
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End-stage arthritis
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Amputation
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Spinal fractures (All Types)
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Intervetebral Disc Disease (IVDD) (Find out more)
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Lumbosacral disease
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Soft Tissue Surgery & Procedures Seen
Non-exhaustive list of soft tissue conditions seen:
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Tumour (cancer) removal​
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Emergency surgeries​
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Exploratory Laparotomy (For any disease or condition)
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Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)​
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Skin Tumours​
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Ureteral blockage​​
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Ectopic ureters​​
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Urethral blockage​
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Urethral prolapse
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Hernias (All hernias)
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Thoracotomy
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Portosystemic Shunt (PSS)
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Subcutaneous Ureteral Bypass (SUB)
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*Please note that this is a non-exhaustive list which includes only the more commonly seen conditions.
Expert Surgical Care, Peace of Mind
Specialist care you can trust, with a dedicated team and seamless support.
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Rest assured that your pet is in expert hands, with care provided by a board-certified specialist surgeon and registered Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists.
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A dedicated, compassionate team at a vet-owned and led hospital—no corporate influence or fly in fly out staff.
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A streamlined referral process designed to minimize stress for referring vets, pet owners, and patients.
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Transform patient outcomes with evidence based medicine & tailored surgical solutions
Dr Derniese Goh
BSc, DVM, MANZCVS (Small Animal Surgery), FANZCVS (Small Animal Surgery)
Board Certified Specialist Small Animal Surgeon
Head of Surgery Department
Singapore Veterinary Association, Executive Committee
Dr Derniese Goh is an Australian Board-Certified Specialist in Small Animal Surgery, holding Fellowship qualification with the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS). Her clinical interests include minimally invasive surgery, orthopaedics, neurologic and soft tissue procedures.
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Dr Goh completed her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Master’s degree at the University of Melbourne. Singaporean born and bred, her early academic foundations were laid at Hwa Chong Institution and Nanyang Girls’ High School through the Integrated Program. With years of experience in multidisciplinary referral hospitals across Australia, Dr Goh is now back in Singapore, ready to serve and contribute to the local community.​​​
​​Dedicated to clinical excellence and the advancement of the veterinary profession, Dr Goh was part of the Surgery Chapter Committee of the ANZCVS in Australia, and currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Singapore Veterinary Association.
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She strives to provide the best possible care for each pet, by building strong relationships with both pet owners and referring veterinarians. Pet owners can trust that she will be there for them throughout the entire process, offering reliable support and clear communication. She believes in giving excellent aftercare and ensures follow-up to make sure pets are doing well.
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At home, Dr Goh is a devoted pet parent to two dogs—a Border Collie and a Japanese Spitz—and two cats, a Domestic Shorthair and a Ragdoll—all of whom accompanied her from Australia. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the outdoors through cycling, running, swimming, and hiking.
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PUBLICATIONS
D GOH, A House, AP Moores, A Renwick, C Franklin, E Kulendra, S Polak, J Pink, M Triglia, J Neville-Towle, M Hamilton, D Sajik, C Pfeiffer
Surgical management of superficial digital flexor tendon luxation in dogs: 48 cases (2005-2020), Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2021
D GOH, A House
Presumed septic sacroiliitis in a puppy with unilateral hind limb lameness and sciatic nerve neuropathy, Journal of Veterinary Medicine and Science, 2021
A Beer, T Hernon, Z Halfacree, R Mullins, A Moores, B de la Puerta, J Timmermans, C Shales, D GOH, E Best, P Bristow
Complications associated with and outcome of surgical intervention for treatment of oesophageal foreign bodies in dogs, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2022
E Kulendra, A Beer, G Hockley, D GOH, P Lafuente, K Perry
Outcome of Supraglenoid Tubercle Fractures in 12 Dogs, Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, 2021
C Howes, J Sumner, K Ahlstrand, R Hardie, D Anderson, S Woods, D GOH, B de la Puerta, H Brissot, S Das, M Nolff, L Liehmann, G Chanoit
Long-term clinical outcomes following surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax caused by pulmonary blebs and bullae in dogs - a multicentre (AVSTS Research Cooperative) retrospective study, Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2020
Our Procedure & What to expect
1. Specialist Consultation
During the initial consultation, our specialist surgeon will assess your pet’s condition after a referral from your vet or emergency team. They will explain the recommended procedure, why it’s needed, and the expected outcomes.
3. Pre-Anaesthesia Blood Tests and Checks
Our surgeon will discuss your pet's pre-anesthesia blood work with you as well as risks of anesthesia for your pet prior to the surgery.
5. Surgical Procedure/
Surgery
Trained nurses closely monitor your pet’s vitals during and after the procedure to ensure stability. Post-operative care and discharge plans will be discussed based on your pet’s condition.
2. Diagnostics
Imaging modalities such as X-ray (radiography), CT (computed tomography) or ultrasound may be used to better understand your pet's condition before the surgery occurs.
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These are all services offered in-house within our hospital.
4. Stabilization
If your pet is not stable enough to undergo the surgical procedure, a referral to the emergency and critical care department for stabilization may be recommended and discussed with you.
6. 24-hour Emergency and Critical Care Team
If your pet needs overnight monitoring, our Emergency and Critical Care team will provide continuous assessment. If any concerns arise after discharge, you can contact our emergency team via our 24 hour hotline anytime for advice.
Answering pet owners' FAQs
Your pet has been referred by your veterinarian to the Surgery Department
at Westside Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital.
Here are some FAQs that may help as you prepare for the upcoming appointment:
Do I have to make an appointment?
The Surgery Department operates on a referral-only basis. Once your veterinarian has made a referral to us, we will contact you directly within 24 hours to schedule an appointment.
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You do not need to make an appointment if your pet has been seen by, admitted and subsequently transferred from the Emergency and Critical Care department. The Surgery team will collaborate with the Emergency and Critical Care department, and a surgical consultation will be arranged, either in-person or via phone call.
My pet has just been referred for surgery by my veterinarian, what happens next?
Your veterinarian has just made a referral to our Surgery Department. Once our team at Westside Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital has received the referral form, we will contact you directly within 24 hours to schedule an appointment.
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Please contact us via phone (6931 0095) or email (info@westsideemergency.com.sg) if you have not heard from the team after 24 hours.
What to expect during my appointment?
The consultation with the specialist surgeon will be in the morning.
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An in-person consultation together with your pet is preferred. If you are unable to be present for the appointment and a family member, carer or a friend is able to bring your pet in for the appointment, a phone consultation with you at that time may also be performed.
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During the consultation, an examination and assessment of your pet will be performed, treatment and management options and their associated prognosis and costs will all be discussed with you, allowing you to make an informed decision about your pet.
When is surgery going to be performed?
In most cases, following the consultation in the morning, surgery is performed that same afternoon. If you prefer to have surgery scheduled for a different day, please inform our team when making the appointment.
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If your pet requires diagnostics initially, or further planning for more complex cases, or are pending any diagnostic results, surgery may be scheduled for a different day. Your surgeon will discuss this with you during the consultation.
Do I need to fast my pet before the appointment?
Yes, please fast your pet from midnight before the appointment (i.e. no food after dinner – this also means no treats or snacks). Your pet may drink a small amount of water.
Can I groom or bathe my pet?
Please avoid grooming or bathing your pet at least 2 days prior to your appointment.
My veterinarian has prescribed some medications for my pet that I usually give in the mornings, should I still give it before the appointment?
If the medication is a pain relief, especially one that requires to be given with food, you do not need to give it in the morning of the appointment. If your pet is admitted for surgery, the Surgery team will be administering stronger pain relief intravenously to ensure that your pet remains comfortable throughout their stay.
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If the medication is an ongoing prescription such as heart medication, please continue to give it as per usual.
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It is best to contact us if you are unsure.
How long does my pet need to be in hospital for?
Most pets are hospitalised overnight after their surgery. This ensures a smooth recovery following their general anaesthetic and surgery, which would include round-the-clock nursing care (feeding, toileting etc), the administration of intravenous pain relief and constant monitoring through the night. The Emergency and Critical Care team is fully staffed 24/7 to look after your pet.
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Your pet may be discharged the next morning if there are no unexpected complications.
Diagnostic imaging and simple procedures like biopsies are usually outpatient procedures.
How much is a specialist consultation and is a deposit required?
A specialist surgical consultation is $200 (excluding GST). The estimated cost of surgery would vary for every individual and this will be discussed with you during the consultation.
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A 50% deposit of the estimated cost of surgery is required on admission of your pet.
I am worried about my pet's condition; can I be seen earlier? What if my pet requires urgent specialist surgery out of hours?
If you are worried about your pet, please bring your pet in to be assessed by our Emergency and Critical Care Department.
The Emergency and Critical Care Department operates 24/7 – no appointments are necessary but a call prior to making your way down is recommended.
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Your pet will be assessed, admitted and stabilized as required after the emergency consultation. The surgeon will be contacted by the team should your pet require urgent specialist surgery afterhours.