The Team

Veterinary Surgeons

Tom Cave BVSc MSc (clinical oncology) DSAM MRCVS

RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine

Tom graduated as a vet from the University of Bristol in 1996 and spent 4 years in private practice in the southwest gaining the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Medicine in 1999. He then moved to the University of Glasgow as a resident in clinical oncology and haematology where he became Senior Clinical Oncologist. In 2003 he returned to the southwest to provide a private oncology and internal medicine referral service.

Tom was awarded the RCVS Diploma in Small Animal Medicine in 2004 and his MSc in Clinical Oncology from the Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies at Birmingham University in 2005. Tom has a particular interest in medical oncology and haematology but enjoys all aspects of canine and feline internal medicine.

Special interests and research areas: Medical oncology, Haematology (anaemia, clotting disorders), Feline dysautonomia. Selected publications
Nele Van Den Steen CertSAM MSc(Clinical Oncology) DipECVIM-CA MRCVS

European Specialist in Small Animal Medicine

Nele graduated as a vet from Ghent University in July 2002. After two years of small animal practice in the Midlands, she moved to Newmarket where she completed a small animal internship at the Animal Health Trust. She continued as an oncology fellow and studied for a Masters in Clinical Oncology at the University of Birmingham.

Nele was awarded her MSc in 2012. In 2010, she joined Dick White Referrals to complete a residency in small animal internal medicine and gained her RCVS Certificate in small animal medicine in 2011 and her European Diploma in 2012.

Nele loves spending her time outdoors and is looking forward to learning to climb and surf now she has moved to the West Country. Nele has a springer spaniel called Bobby and is serious danger of adding another in the near future.
Chantal Teixeira Rosa DVM BVSc (Hons) MMedVet(Med) MRCVS

Chantal graduated as a veterinary surgeon from the University Vasco da Gama, Portugal, in 2007. After two and a half years in small animal private practice in Portugal, she completed a one year rotational internship in small animals at the VRCC - Veterinary Referral Center in Essex, United Kingdom. Chantal then did her small animal internal medicine residency from 2011-2014 in the Faculty of Veterinary Science, Onderstepoort, by the University of Pretoria. She hás also completed her South African small animal internal medicine specialty and obtained her MMedvet (Med) degree in 2014. Her research was on vitamin D status in canine spirocercosis and its potencial importance in the neoplastic transformation.

Chantal has a special interest in oncology, endocrinology and nephrology. In her spare time, Chantal enjoys going out with friends, visiting new places, dancing and going to the gym.
Ross Doust BVSc CSAS DECVS MRCVS

European Recognised Specialists in Small Animal Surgery

Ross graduated from the University of Queensland in 1991. After working in Australia for three years he travelled to the UK and worked as a locum in mixed practices in Wales, Scotland and several areas in England before taking full time work in Lewes. In 2000 Ross started a small animal surgery residency at the University of Glasgow during which time he completed the Royal College certificate in small animal surgery and the European diploma in small animal surgery.

Following a short term appointment as lecturer in soft tissue surgery at the University of Glasgow, Ross moved to the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket as Soft Tissue Surgeon. Ross then spent time as a surgeon at Fifth Avenue Vet Specialists in Manhattan and as Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Surgery at the University of Melbourne.

Ross joined Cave Veterinary Specialists in September 2011. He is particularly interested in all elements of oncologic and reconstructive surgery, head and neck surgery including laryngeal paralysis, thoracic surgery including tumours and cardiac abnormalities, abdominal surgery including urinary incontinence. Ross is also happy to see trauma and orthopaedic cases.

Ross is actively involved with the European College and is on the Credentials Committee which assesses the progress of surgical residents from all over Europe each year.
Peri Lau-Gillard Dr.Med.Vet CertVD DipECVD MRCVS

European Specialists in Veterinary Dermatology

Peri graduated in 1996 as a Veterinary Surgeon from the LWU in Munich, Germany. She completed her doctor thesis in 1999 whilst working part-time as a locum in small animal practice and also performing various castration projects abroad. Peri moved to the UK in 2000 and worked at two small animal practices in Nottingham as an assistant, before joining the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket in 2001 as a Scholar in Veterinary Dermatology. She completed the training program in 2004 and was also awarded the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Dermatology that year.

In 2005 Peri moved to the South West coast to start work at the University of Bristol as a Clinical Associate in Dermatology. Next to seeing clinical dermatological cases, Peri was involved in a variety of postgraduate and undergraduate teaching. During her time in Bristol she was also working alongside the well-known international dermatologist Dr Peter Hill and Miss Susan E Shaw, which enabled her to fulfil the requirement to take the examination to become a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Dermatology. Peri joined our referral service in January 2011 and was awarded the European Diploma in Veterinary Dermatology in 2012 .

In her spare time, Peri enjoys long walks and running with her three dogs Dylan, Buster and Milli, a good workout in the gym, ballroom classes with her husband and socialising with friends.
Tim Trevail BVetMed CertVDI DipECVDI MRCVS

European Veterinary Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging

Tim graduated from the Royal Vet College, London in 2004 and after a spell in small animal practice in Oxfordshire, undertook a small animal internship at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket followed by a three year residency in diagnostic imaging at the University of Glasgow. He subsequently worked as a clinician teacher in small animal diagnostic imaging at the University of Liverpool and as a clinical radiologist in a multidisciplinary private referral practice in Derby furthering his experience with MRI and CT.

He passed his RCVS certificate in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2008 and the European diploma in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in 2011 and is a European Veterinary Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging.

Tim enjoys all aspects of diagnostic imaging having published and presented internationally on radiology, MRI and CT. He particularly relishes the problem solving challenges of imaging and wishes to provide a first class, friendly imaging service to both his colleagues at the Cave Veterinary Specialists and local vets.

Tim grew up in Cornwall and relishes the opportunity to join Cave Veterinary Specialists to expand the radiology department and return to the West Country. In his spare time, Tim is a keen sports enthusiast, partaking in and watching any sport going, in addition to catching up with old friends.
Nicki Grint BVSc PhD DVA DipIECVAA MRCVS

European Specialist In Veterinary Anaesthesia & Analgesia

Nicki graduated from Bristol Vet School in 2000, and stayed on to undertake an internship and then residency in veterinary anaesthesia. In 2005, she moved to Liverpool Vet School to undertake a three year lectureship post, becoming head of division in 2007. After leaving Liverpool, Nicki locumed at the Animal Health Trust, the Royal Veterinary College, and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her PhD in pain and pain relief at Bristol University and holds the RCVS certificate and diploma in veterinary anaesthesia. She is also a European diplomate in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia.

Nicki runs the anaesthesia service at Cave Veterinary Specialists, and together with the excellent nursing staff, ensures that the patients are sedated and anaesthetised safely, and that they are comfortable and pain-free after any painful procedures and surgeries
Lorna Arrol MA VetMB DipECVN MRCVS

European Specialists in Veterinary Neurology

Lorna graduated from Cambridge university with degrees in neuroscience and veterinary medicine. After enjoyable time spent in general practice Lorna undertook a neurology and neurosurgery residency at the University of Liverpool. After which she succesfully passed the European Diploma examination required to gain status of European Veterinary Specialists in Veterinary Neurology in 2012.

Lorna enjoys all aspects of neurology but has a particular interest in epilepsy especially in juvenille dogs and inflammatory brain and spine diseases and enjoys neuorsurgery. In her spare time she enjoys running, walking her dogs and reading books.
Katie Hamilton BVSc MACVSc(SAS) MRCVS

Katie graduated as a veterinary surgeon in 2004 from the University of Bristol. She spent three years in small animal practice before completing a small animal internship at a private clinic in Surrey in 2008.

Katie returned to general practice in 2011, during which time she gained her Australian membership in small animal surgery. In 2014 she finished a small animal surgical residency at the University of Bristol.