Starting out
Before he graduated from Cambridge Veterinary School in 1988, David already knew that he wanted to concentrate on ophthalmology in his professional career. Seeing practice in Solihull, West Midlands, John Heath CertVOphthal MRCVS senior partner in the 608 Veterinary Group captivated David with his enthusaism for the subject.
Specialisation
Before graduating David gained experience with Dr Keith Barnett at the Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, an internationally recognised expert in the field. After qualifying David worked as assistant veterinary surgeon and then resident in veterinary ophthalmology at the Trust, before gaining his certificate in veterinary ophthalmology and moving to the Royal Veterinary College to undertake a PhD investigating the pathology of chronic superficial keratitis in the German Shepherd dog (see photo).
Research, Clinical Practice and Teaching
After gaining his PhD David stayed at the RVC, as resident in clinical pharmacology with a particular interest, perhaps not surprisingly, in ocular pharmacology. After two years researching the practical and theoretical aspects of ocular drug delivery, he moved back to the Animal Health Trust for a period as Clinical Investigative Ophthalmologist before completing the circle, as it were, and moving back to Cambridge.
Here he is now Associate Lecturer in Veterinary Ophthalmology in the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, a position he combines with teaching at St John’s College, where he is fellow, Director of Studies in Veterinary Medicine and College Lecturer in Pathology.
Hello,
I have a question regarding cataracts in a degus.
I have yet seen this animal but I was wondering if you had any experience regarding cataracts in degus which are not related to diabetes?
Do they get this for any other reason? This animal is just 1 year old, and is showing no clinical signs of diabetes.
I might be able to send you photographs once I have seen this degus. I should probably rule out diabetes first?
Thank you for your reply.
Kind regards
Gro-M Amundsen BVM &s
Everyone knows that diabetic degus get cataracts, but that’s not to say that older normoglycaemic animals can’t get age-related cataracts – maybe that is what you are going to see here? Send me a picture when you have seen the animal please!! Yours ever, David