MediVet Hillcrest is an independent, locally owned veterinary practice that has rapidly established itself as one of KwaZulu-Natal’s leading first-opinion veterinary hospitals. Established in 2021, we are so proud to have been honoured to receive the Best of Durban – Best Veterinary Practice Award three years in a row, reflecting our commitment to exceptional patient care and client service.
We provide a comprehensive, fully equipped veterinary service, offering preventative healthcare, medicine, surgery, dentistry, diagnostic imaging, in-house laboratory testing, hospitalisation, and emergency care. Our modern facilities allow us to diagnose and treat a wide range of medical and surgical conditions under one roof.
At MediVet, we believe veterinary visits should be as stress-free as possible. Our calm, caring environment and gentle handling techniques help reduce fear and anxiety for both pets and their owners, allowing every patient to receive compassionate, individualised care.
MediVet Physiotherapy is an extension of our veterinary services, providing rehabilitation, pain management, hydrotherapy, laser therapy, acupuncture, and tailored exercise programmes. Working alongside our veterinary team and specialist Veterinary Teams, we help pets recover from injury or surgery, manage chronic conditions, and maintain mobility and quality of life.
Together, MediVet and MediVet Physiotherapy provide a complete continuum of veterinary care—from preventative health through advanced diagnostics, surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term wellness—all delivered with professionalism, compassion, and a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of every patient.
Dr Kath and Dr Deana are both animal whisperers. Appointments start with gentle cuddles, belly rubs and soothing talk. A relationship of trust is firmly in place by the time the patients are examined. Even our anxious tortoiseshell, Ting-Ting, who persistently howls “nooo” all the way to the vet, calms down within minutes. Trips to the vet are… — Marianne Von Delft
Medivet is not just any ordinary Vetinary Practice, it is THE ultimate Veterinary Practice! Professional and modern facilities, clean , fresh, and hygienic, surrounded by beautiful gardens, a professional and welcoming Team, excellent Doctors who have a warm caring bedside manner, giving you quality time to listen to you, and tending to your… — Heather Pretorius
The most unbelievable care for their patients as well as for their patients owners. True representation of what every pet owner wants a vet to be at the most affordable prices.
Beautiful facilities that mirror the true beauty of the hearts of the staff and veterinarians. Not one vet in Durban can match their level of professionalism and true care… — Roxy Mellish
Yes. MediVet Hillcrest is an independent, comprehensive first-opinion veterinary practice in Hillcrest, providing complete healthcare for dogs and cats. Whether your pet needs a routine health check, preventative care, medical treatment, surgery, dentistry, rehabilitation or senior healthcare, our experienced team offers a wide range of veterinary services under one roof.
Our services include:
• Wellness examinations and comprehensive 30-minute consultations
• Puppy and kitten healthcare
• Annual Health Check ups and vaccinations and preventative medicine
• General medicine and chronic disease management
• Soft tissue and emergency surgery
• Advanced pet dentistry, including professional dental scaling, polishing and tooth extractions
• Digital diagnostic imaging and in-house laboratory testing
• Veterinary physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, laser therapy and acupuncture
• Senior pet health assessments
• Microchipping and parasite prevention
• Prescription diets and nutritional advice
• Repeat prescriptions and long-term medication management
As an independent practice, we pride ourselves on providing personalised, compassionate care and building lifelong relationships with our clients and their pets. We believe that continuity of care is invaluable, allowing us to understand your pet's individual needs and support them through every stage of life—from their first puppy or kitten visit to their golden years.
Should your pet require highly specialised treatment, we work closely with a network of trusted referral specialists to ensure they receive the very best care while remaining closely involved in their treatment journey.
At MediVet Hillcrest, we believe exceptional veterinary care is about more than diagnosing and treating illness—it's about building lasting relationships with our patients and their families. We combine experienced veterinarians, modern technology and compassionate, Fear Free handling to provide the highest standard of care throughout every stage of your pet's life.
One of the things that makes our practice different is our commitment to continuity of care. Once you register with MediVet, your pet is allocated to one of our veterinarians who will remain your primary vet whenever possible. By seeing the same veterinarian throughout your pet's life, we get to know your pet as an individual—their personality, medical history, lifestyle and changing healthcare needs. This long-term relationship allows us to provide more personalised care, recognise subtle changes in health earlier and work together with you to make the best decisions for your pet.
Because we dedicate 30 minutes to every consultation, bookings are essential. Longer appointments mean we have time to perform a thorough clinical examination, discuss diagnostic and treatment options, answer your questions and ensure you never feel rushed.
Our patients benefit from:
• Comprehensive first-opinion veterinary care
• Dedicated primary veterinarian for continuity of care
• Longer 30-minute consultations
• Gentle, low-stress Fear Free handling
• Highly experienced veterinary surgeons
• Advanced diagnostic imaging and a comprehensive in-house IDEXX laboratory
• Comprehensive surgery and advanced dentistry
• Veterinary physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, laser therapy and acupuncture
• Personalised treatment plans tailored to each pet
• A caring, experienced team committed to treating every pet as if they were our own
From your puppy or kitten's very first visit through to their senior years, our goal is to become your trusted veterinary partner for life—helping your pet live a longer, healthier and happier life while giving you confidence and peace of mind every step of the way.
Accurate diagnosis is the cornerstone of excellent veterinary care. At MediVet Hillcrest, we have invested in advanced diagnostic technology, allowing us to investigate many medical conditions quickly and begin treatment without unnecessary delays.
Our comprehensive diagnostic facilities include:
Digital Radiography (X-rays) – High-quality digital X-rays allow us to assess bones, joints, the chest and abdomen, helping diagnose fractures, arthritis, lung disease, heart enlargement, intestinal obstructions, bladder stones and many other conditions.
Diagnostic Ultrasound – Ultrasound provides a detailed, non-invasive examination of the abdominal organs, including the liver, kidneys, bladder, spleen, pancreas and gastrointestinal tract. It is also invaluable for pregnancy diagnosis and investigating soft tissue conditions.
IDEXX In-House Laboratory – We use a comprehensive IDEXX diagnostic system, enabling us to perform a wide range of blood, urine and laboratory tests while your pet is at the clinic. These include complete blood counts, liver and kidney function, electrolytes, pancreatic testing, endocrine screening, SDMA kidney testing, urinalysis and much more. Rapid results often allow us to diagnose illness and begin treatment during the same visit.
Microscopy – Our laboratory microscope allows us to examine skin samples, ear swabs, urine sediment, blood smears and fine needle aspirates. This helps us diagnose skin infections, parasites, ear disease and many other common conditions quickly.
Zoetis Vetscan Imagyst™ AI Diagnostics – We use the Zoetis Vetscan Imagyst™ system, an artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostic platform that enhances the accuracy and speed of faecal parasite examinations. AI technology analyses samples alongside veterinary expertise, helping identify intestinal parasites rapidly and improving diagnostic confidence.
Blood Pressure Monitoring – Routine blood pressure measurement is particularly important for senior pets and those with kidney disease, heart disease or endocrine disorders, allowing us to detect hypertension before it causes serious complications.
Pre-Anaesthetic Health Screening – Before every general anaesthetic, we recommend blood testing to assess your pet's organ function and overall health, helping us tailor the safest anaesthetic protocol for each individual patient.
For more specialised investigations, we work closely with leading veterinary reference laboratories for histopathology (biopsies), cytology, microbiology and culture, hormone testing, allergy testing and advanced infectious disease screening.
By combining advanced imaging, a full IDEXX laboratory system, AI-assisted diagnostics and experienced clinical interpretation, we can often reach a diagnosis sooner, begin treatment earlier and provide the highest standard of care for your pet.
Yes. Our two experienced veterinary surgeons perform a wide range of routine and advanced surgical procedures, including sterilisations, lump removals, soft tissue surgery, abdominal surgery, bladder stone removal, wound reconstruction and emergency surgery. Every patient receives an individual anaesthetic plan, careful monitoring throughout their procedure and dedicated nursing care during recovery to ensure the safest possible experience.
We are also passionate about veterinary dentistry, as dental disease is one of the most common—and often most painful—conditions affecting dogs and cats. Our dedicated dental suite is equipped with modern dental equipment, including an ultrasonic scaler, high-speed dental drill, polishing system and dental irrigation, allowing us to perform comprehensive oral examinations, professional scale and polishes, surgical and non-surgical tooth extractions, treatment of oral infections and advanced periodontal care.
Every dental procedure is performed under general anaesthesia, enabling us to thoroughly assess the mouth, treat painful teeth safely and comfortably, and restore your pet's oral health. Good dental care not only relieves pain and bad breath but can also improve eating, comfort and overall quality of life.
Yes. MediVet Hillcrest offers one of the most comprehensive veterinary rehabilitation services in the Upper Highway area, providing a multidisciplinary approach to pain management, mobility and recovery.
Our rehabilitation team includes Dr Deana Rautenbach, a qualified veterinary acupuncture practitioner, and Sr Lauren Paxton, a qualified Animal Rehabilitation Practitioner with extensive experience in helping pets regain strength, function and quality of life following injury, surgery and chronic disease.
Our rehabilitation services include:
• Veterinary physiotherapy
• Heated hydrotherapy
• Therapeutic laser therapy
• Veterinary acupuncture
• Individual rehabilitation programmes
• Arthritis and chronic pain management
• Post-operative rehabilitation
• Neurological rehabilitation
• Mobility, gait and strength assessments
• Weight management and fitness programmes
Every rehabilitation programme is individually tailored to your pet's condition and lifestyle. Treatment plans may combine physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, laser therapy and acupuncture to maximise recovery, reduce pain and improve long-term mobility.
These therapies are particularly beneficial for pets recovering from orthopaedic or spinal surgery, cruciate ligament injuries, fractures and soft tissue injuries, as well as those living with arthritis, neurological disorders or age-related mobility problems. They can also help improve fitness, maintain muscle strength and support healthy ageing in senior pets.
By combining advanced rehabilitation techniques with conventional veterinary medicine, we aim not only to help pets recover faster but also to keep them comfortable, active and enjoying the best possible quality of life.
Yes. We stock a wide range of long-term medications and veterinary prescription diets to support the ongoing health of your pet. Our knowledgeable team is always available to advise you on the most appropriate products for your pet's individual needs.
Many long-term medications and repeat prescriptions can be prepared in advance for convenient collection. We kindly ask that you allow sufficient notice when requesting repeat medication, as your veterinarian will review your pet's medical records to ensure their treatment remains safe, effective and appropriate.
We also stock prescription diets for a variety of medical conditions, including:
• Kidney disease
• Urinary tract disease
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Food allergies and sensitivities
• Weight management
• Arthritis and joint support
• Diabetes and other chronic health conditions
If your pet's prescribed food is not currently in stock, we can usually order it promptly for you.
Our experienced reception team and three qualified veterinary nurses are trained to assist with repeat medication requests, prescription diets, parasite prevention products and general healthcare advice. If you have any questions about your pet's medication or nutritional requirements, they will be happy to help or arrange for one of our veterinarians to discuss your pet's treatment plan with you.
