A Vet for Dandenong Pet Owners
We're proud to care for pets from Dandenong at our Mulgrave hospital. Family owned since 1981, we offer everything from puppy and kitten vaccinations to dentistry, imaging and surgery under one roof.
Vietnamese spoken here — Chúng tôi nói tiếng Việt
Members of our team speak Vietnamese, so Dandenong families can discuss their pet's health, treatment options and costs in the language they're most comfortable with. Just let us know when you book and we'll arrange it.
Your local vet for Dandenong
Waverley Gardens Veterinary Hospital is roughly eight kilometres from Dandenong, about a thirteen minute drive via Springvale Road and Police Road. We're in Mulgrave on the corner of Police Road and Hansworth Street, opposite Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre, with free on-site parking.
Dandenong pet owners have plenty of options closer to home, so people who make the drive to us usually do it for one of two reasons: they want a smaller, family-owned practice where they see the same vet each visit, or they were recommended by someone who has been coming here for years. We've been in Mulgrave since 1981 and most of our new clients arrive by word of mouth.
Dandenong is one of the most culturally diverse municipalities in Australia. Members of our team speak Vietnamese, and we'll always take the time to explain a diagnosis clearly rather than in clinical shorthand — in whichever language works best for you.
We run in-house pathology and digital imaging, so bloods and x-rays are usually available the same visit rather than waiting days for an external lab. Dentistry, desexing and soft tissue surgery are all performed here with dedicated anaesthetic monitoring throughout.
Getting here from Dandenong
269 Police Road, Mulgrave VIC 3170 — corner of Police Road & Hansworth Street, opposite 7-Eleven.
By car & parking
Head north-west via Princes Highway or Heatherton Road to Springvale Road, then west into Police Road. We're on the corner of Police Road and Hansworth Street, opposite the 7-Eleven.
Public transport
Bus services link Dandenong with Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre, which is directly opposite the clinic. Check the PTV Journey Planner for the best connection.
Accessibility
Our clinic has steps at the entry, but we are happy to assist — please call us prior to your arrival on 03 9547 7877 and we'll arrange everything for you. Our car park entry is via Hansworth Street.
Popular services for Dandenong pets
Everyday care and more complex work, all under one roof in Mulgrave.
Vaccinations
Core and non-core vaccinations tailored to your pet's lifestyle and risk, protecting them from preventable infectious diseases.
Learn more
Dentistry
Professional dental cleaning, polishing, digital radiography, and treatment for periodontal disease to keep your pet's mouth healthy and pain-free.
Learn more
Surgery
A wide range of soft tissue surgeries performed to the highest standards, plus orthopaedic procedures in partnership with specialist surgeons — all in-house.
Learn more
Diagnostic Imaging
Advanced X-ray and ultrasound imaging to non-invasively visualise internal organs and structures, helping us diagnose conditions quickly and accurately.
Learn more
Desexing
Safe routine spaying and neutering under general anaesthesia, preventing unwanted litters and providing long-term health and behavioural benefits.
Learn more
Anaesthesia
Safe and effective general anaesthesia protocols for surgical and diagnostic procedures, meticulously monitored by trained staff using advanced equipment.
Learn moreWhy Dandenong families choose us
- Family owned and locally run in Mulgrave since 1981.
- Consultations available in Vietnamese — just ask when you book.
- In-house diagnostics, dentistry and surgery — no extra referrals for routine care.
- GapOnly and VetPay available for easier payments.
- 4.8★ average Google rating from local pet owners.
- Free on-site parking, entry via Hansworth Street.
What to expect at your first visit
New to us from Dandenong? Here's exactly how it works, start to finish.
1. Book a time that suits you
Book online any time of day, or call us on 03 9547 7877 and we'll find a slot. Let us know what's going on when you book — an itchy skin problem needs a different amount of time to a routine vaccination, and we'd rather give you the right appointment length than rush you.
2. Arriving and parking
We're on the corner of Police Road and Hansworth Street in Mulgrave, opposite Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre. Parking is free and on-site, with car park entry via Hansworth Street, so you're not circling for a space with a nervous dog in the back seat. There is a step at the entry — tell us if you need a hand and someone will meet you at the door.
3. Bring what you have
Your pet's vaccination card or paperwork if you have it, the name of any food or medication they're on, and your council registration or microchip number if it's handy. If you don't have any of it, that's fine — we'll work it out with you.
4. The consultation
Allow around 20 minutes. Your vet takes a full history, then does a nose-to-tail physical exam — eyes, ears, mouth and teeth, heart and lungs, abdomen, skin, joints and weight. We'll talk through what we find in plain language, and you'll get the options and the likely costs before anything goes ahead.
5. Transferring your records
Tell us your previous clinic and we'll request your pet's history for you. There's nothing for you to chase up, and it means we start with the full picture rather than guessing.
6. Afterwards
You'll leave knowing what happens next — when the next vaccination is due, what to watch for at home, and when to check back in. If something changes in the meantime, call us; a quick phone conversation often saves a trip.
Pet care notes for Dandenong owners
The things that actually come up in Melbourne's south-east, season by season.
Dandenong Park, Tirhatuan and the creek trail
Dandenong Park, Tirhatuan Park and the Dandenong Creek trail cover most local walking. Greater Dandenong publishes which areas are off-lead and at what times. The creek path and parkland edges are where we see grass seeds lodged in paws and ears, so run a hand between the toes and inside the ears after a walk through long grass.
Snakes through the parklands, September to March
The Dandenong Valley parklands and creek line carry tiger and brown snakes over the warmer months. Keep dogs leashed near water and long grass. Collapse followed by apparent recovery, wobbliness, dilated pupils or bleeding that won't stop is an emergency — antivenom works best given early.
Baits and chemicals around older properties
Dandenong has a lot of older housing backing onto commercial and industrial land, and rat bait and snail bait are common in sheds, garages and back fences. Both are lethal to dogs and cats and the signs are delayed. If there's any chance your pet has eaten bait, ring us straight away and bring the packet — early treatment is straightforward, late treatment often isn't.
Market food and cooked bones
The market and food strip are part of life here, and they're a regular source of trouble. Cooked bones splinter, fatty meat can trigger pancreatitis, and onion and garlic are toxic to both dogs and cats. Keep plates and bin bags out of reach, especially around family gatherings and Tet.
Summer heat and hot pavement
South-east Melbourne regularly gets 35°C+ days. Walk early morning or after sunset, and use the back-of-the-hand test on the footpath — if you can't hold it there for five seconds, it's too hot for paws. Brachycephalic breeds (pugs, French bulldogs, British shorthairs) and older or overweight pets are at real risk of heat stress, and it can turn serious in minutes.
Grass seeds through spring and summer
Dried grass seeds are one of the most common reasons we see dogs from October through to autumn. They work into paws, ears, eyes and armpits and burrow. Check between the toes and inside the ears after any walk through long grass, and don't wait if you see a weeping hole between the toes or sudden head shaking.
Snakes near the creeks and reserves
Tiger and brown snakes are active in Melbourne's south-east from roughly September to March, particularly along creek lines, wetlands and reserve edges. Keep dogs on lead near long grass and water. Sudden collapse then apparent recovery, wobbliness, dilated pupils or bleeding that won't stop is an emergency — do not wait to see if it passes.
Fleas, worms and heartworm
Our climate keeps fleas going year-round, not just in summer, and mosquitoes carry heartworm. Consistent monthly or annual prevention is far cheaper than treating an infestation or heartworm disease. We'll match a product to your pet's weight, lifestyle and household — including what's safe if you have both dogs and cats.
Dental disease — the quiet one
Most dogs and cats over three have some degree of dental disease, and pets hide oral pain well. Bad breath is not normal. Reluctance to chew on one side, dropping food, pawing at the mouth or a sudden preference for soft food are all worth a look. Every consultation includes an oral check.
Weight and joints
Keeping a pet lean is the single most effective thing you can do for their joints and their lifespan. If you can't feel the ribs easily under a light layer, they're carrying too much. Our nurses run weight checks and can build a realistic feeding plan — free of judgement, and free of charge.
Microchipping and council registration
Pets in this area are registered with the City of Greater Dandenong. Dogs and cats must be microchipped and registered with council from three months of age, and registration renews annually on 10 April. Cats are subject to a night-time curfew in parts of the municipality. We microchip, keep your details linked to the right registry, and can provide the paperwork council asks for.
Costs, insurance and payment
Cost matters, and pretending otherwise doesn't help anyone. Before any treatment, procedure or admission, we talk Dandenong clients through what's involved and what it's likely to cost, so there are no surprises at the counter. If there's a more affordable way to get to the same outcome, we'll tell you about it.
We accept Visa, Mastercard and EFTPOS. We're a GapOnly clinic, which means if you're with a participating pet insurer your claim is assessed while you're still with us and you only pay the gap rather than the full bill up front. VetPay payment plans are also available if you'd rather spread the cost of a larger procedure over time.
Preventative care is almost always the cheaper path. Annual health checks, vaccinations, parasite prevention and keeping teeth clean cost far less than treating the problems they prevent — and your pet has a much better time of it.
Emergencies and after hours
During opening hours, call us on 03 9547 7877 before you drive over if you can. It takes thirty seconds, and it means the team is ready for you when you arrive rather than finding out at the door. If it's genuinely urgent, come straight in — we'll triage you.
Outside our hours, the Veterinary Referral Hospital in Dandenong is open 24 hours on 1300 385 874. It's a short drive from most of the south-east, including Dandenong, and they'll let us know what happened so we can follow up with you.
Call immediately, day or night, for: breathing difficulty, collapse, a seizure lasting more than a couple of minutes, suspected snake bite, a swollen or painful abdomen (especially in a large-breed dog), straining to urinate — particularly in male cats — vomiting that won't stop, suspected poisoning (chocolate, snail bait, rat bait, human medication), heat stress, or trauma from a car or a dog fight.
What our clients are saying
Don't just take our word for it — here's what local pet owners have to say about their experience with us.
★★★★★Dr Tu and the whole team at Waverley Gardens are absolutely wonderful. Our golden retriever Max had his annual vaccinations and check-up, and the care was second to none. They took so much time to explain everything to us.
Jessica Nguyen
★★★★★Brought our cat Mochi in for a dental procedure and I was honestly nervous, but the team were so reassuring. Quyen kept us updated throughout and Mochi is now eating better than ever. Couldn't be happier.
Michael Tran
★★★★★We've been coming here for years and wouldn't go anywhere else. Amy and Shiloe are brilliant nurses who genuinely care. Our elderly beagle gets treated with such kindness and patience every single visit.
Sarah O'Brien
Ready to experience it for yourself?
📅 Book an appointment todayNew here? Common questions
We also care for pets from
Waverley Gardens Veterinary Hospital — your local vet near Dandenong
Your Pet's Family Doctor — family owned and locally run since 1981.
- Address
- 269 Police Road, Mulgrave VIC 3170Get directions
- Phone
- 03 9547 7877
- Opening hours
- Monday – Friday: 8:30am – 6:00pmSaturday: 9:00am – 12:00pmSunday: Closed
Booking from Dandenong? We'd love to meet your pet.
Book online in under a minute, or call us and we'll find a time that suits you.