The University Clinic for Small Animals is a core facility of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna.

The university’s guiding principles to “teach with responsibility”, “heal with ambition” and “research with vision” express our aspirations as well.

As a university veterinary clinic, we have made it our mission to

… prepare students, vocational trainees and veterinarians through further and continuing education, providing them with the necessary knowledge and skills to confidently master the current and future challenges of the profession. Our teaching is research-based with a focus on caring for patients and developing competence.

… provide the best possible care for animal patients in a spirit of trust and cooperation with animal owners, referring veterinarians and our affiliated clinics and other cooperating institutions within and outside Vetmeduni.

… contribute to the well-being of animals and humans through outstanding achievements in research, actively participate in the multiplication and dissemination of clinical research findings, and ensure that the results from our academic and research activities benefit patients quickly and to the greatest extent possible.

The University Clinic for Small Animals sees itself as a source of innovation and inspiration. As a central institution of the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, it makes a valuable contribution to society by ensuring that the university is prepared to tackle the challenges of the future at all times.

As part of the Animal Hospital at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, the University Clinic for Small Animals has a special responsibility as a teaching hospital for initial, further and continuing education.

• We believe that sound clinical and practical training, supplemented by inquiry and debate among the students, are the most important part of our mission. This objective determines our daily work at the clinic. In direct contact with the patients, and under the supervision of experienced teachers, the students acquire “Day One Competences” in the fields of small animal, pet, bird and reptile medicine that are necessary for a successful start to their careers.
• Our educational objectives and content are based on the current and anticipated professional demands and are subject to a continual process of assessment and adaptation.
• Beyond the medical content, we also aim to impart soft skills for communicating with animal owners, veterinary colleagues and the public, to highlight the social and ethical responsibility in dealing with animal patients, and to equip students with up-to-date knowledge about managing a veterinary practice.
• The volume of knowledge required in all areas of small animal medicine is increasing at a rapid pace, making lifelong learning a necessity. For this reason, we encourage and promote a positive attitude to lifelong learning at the very beginning of our students’ university career.
• Our continuing education programmes give veterinarians the opportunity to specialise according to the highest international standards. We are also active in the field of further education in order to pass on new knowledge to our colleagues in a targeted manner.
• The high-quality professional training and continuing education of animal nursing staff is a matter of great concern to us, which is why we work closely together with the Veterinary Nursing School at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna to help train the next generation of veterinary nurses.

The well-being of our patients is extremely important to us, and we believe that working together with pet owners in a spirit of mutual trust is key to achieving the best possible outcome for the animals in our care.

• The University Clinic for Small Animals offers a high degree of professional competence with superbly trained veterinarians, a highly motivated nursing and administrative team, and state-of-the-art infrastructure.
• The interdisciplinary cooperation between specialists from a wide range of different disciplines allows us to care for our patients on an individual basis with the highest level of professionalism.
• As a referral clinic, we cooperate closely with veterinary practitioners. We provide comprehensive advice and support to pet owners and referring veterinarians.
• In accordance with the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna’s Code of Conduct for Animal Welfare, we keep and care for our patients in line with the highest quality standards and the latest scientific findings on animal welfare.

With outstanding, internationally recognised achievements in hypothesis-driven research, we contribute to the welfare of animals and humans alike.

• In applied research in particular, we contribute to the global progress in veterinary care by testing hypothesis-based issues from everyday clinical routine and veterinary practice within the framework of scientific studies.
• We ensure the quality of our research through interdisciplinary cooperation within the clinic, with referring veterinarians, with partner institutions within the university and with non-university national and international research institutions.
• We publish the results of our research and scientific studies in international journals and present them at forums both in Austria and abroad.
• We guide students and staff in their scientific work. In the sense of Good Scientific Practice, we are committed to the principles of scientific honesty and act with an awareness for our ethical responsibility to animals, humans and society.

Our strength lies in our team. A collegial work environment and responsible cooperation are necessary to achieve the goals we have set. For this reason, the satisfaction and motivation of our employees are extremely important goals for us. To achieve these goals,

• the values formulated in the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna’s Code of Conduct, such as collegiality, appreciation, honesty, loyalty and willingness to compromise, are given high priority;
• we communicate openly and foster a culture of open feedback;
• occupational safety, healthcare, work–life balance and inclusion are key concerns;
• we expect our employees to be willing to perform and to acquire and pass on knowledge and skills on an ongoing basis; and
• we see not only leaders, but all employees as role models.

We strive to ensure and constantly improve the quality of our processes while doing business in an economically viable manner. For this reason,

• we regularly inform our employees about the clinic’s goals and how they have been achieved;
• work processes are regulated, transparent for all employees and subject to a continuous improvement process;
• all employees are called upon to actively and creatively contribute to the design and improvement of the clinic’s processes;
• we use a complaints management system to learn from the feedback of our patient owners and referring veterinarians; and
• we fulfil our mandate in compliance with the principles of cost effectiveness, economy and expediency.