About Dr Sally Mujaj

and her small friend Maggie

I am the newest member of the Small Friends Vet team having just completed a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Melbourne in 2017. Before starting my veterinary degree I completed a PhD in human medical research, with a focus on the immune system and using that to fight cancers such as lymphoma and leukaemia. However, while I was completing my PhD, my own dog, Bertie the beagle, was diagnosed with lymphoma, the same disease I was trying to cure in humans! This, together with Bertie’s best buddy, Crash the beagle, passing away from a brain tumour, is what initially sparked my interest in the veterinary world as I came to realise that our medical treatments of pets, although having vastly improved since then, lags far behind what is available for humans.

After both my dogs passed away I decided to take a break from human research and shift my focus to research that helped animals. I took a 3 month internship in Namibia at the Cheetah Conservation Foundation where I shadowed the vet and helped out where I could. During this time, I fell in love with the veterinary work and upon my return to Australia, I completed my doctorate and then sent in my application to the University of Melbourne to start my veterinary degree, from which I graduated last year with distinction.

Drawing from my previous research background, as well as my own experiences with my pets, I have a strong interest in helping our more geriatric pets. Specifically, I am interested in finding treatment plans for lymphoma that are both feasible for our owners as well as helping our small friends. I am also interested in pain management and trying to ensure that we can make our older small friends as comfortable as possible in their golden years.

Since starting at Small Friends I have adopted my own new small friend. Her name is Maggie and she is an 8 year old greyhound! Maggie loves doing zoomies in our yard and you might see us going for walks around Yerrabi pond – one of her favourite spots! Maggie loves other dogs and children so feel free to come say hello if you see us!