About BoneVet
Specialist-level veterinary orthopaedic and neurosurgical care, delivered directly to your primary care clinic.
Dr Mark Tonzing
BVSc(Hons) MACVSc(SA Surgery)
Mark has extensive experience in all aspects of canine and feline orthopaedics and spinal surgery. He has worked in orthopaedic and neurosurgical referral practice for over 22 years, including 13 years in specialist-led multi-disciplinary referral centres and 9 years as a peripatetic veterinary orthopaedic surgeon.
After graduating with honours from the University of Melbourne in 1993, Mark pursued a career in surgery. In 2000, he was admitted as a member of the ACVSc by examination in small animal surgery. In 2002, he undertook a 3-year surgical residency for advanced training in orthopaedics and spinal surgery at Willows, one of Europe's leading specialist small animal referral hospitals. Mark has worked for 13 years in multi-disciplinary specialist-led referral centres as an orthopaedic & neurosurgeon in addition to offering peripatetic orthopaedic & neurosurgical services for a number of years.
Mark’s last 3 years in the U.K. were spent at the award-winning Paragon Veterinary Referrals in Yorkshire, before returning to Australia in 2021.
Mark is trained to perform total elbow replacement with both the BioMedtrix TATE and BioMedtrix Iowa State systems. He has substantial experience with all major total hip replacement systems in dogs and cats, performing the United Kingdom’s first feline total hip replacement and the world's first bilateral feline total hip replacement.
His areas of special interest include joint replacement, minimally invasive fracture repair, arthroscopic management of joint disease, and surgical management of Hansen type II intervertebral disc disease. In 2005, the British Veterinary Orthopaedic Association awarded Mark the Lesley Vaughan prize for original orthopaedic research. He has presented research at international scientific meetings and lectured to vets in the United Kingdom, continental Europe and Australia.
The Peripatetic Service
BoneVet operates as a completely self-contained peripatetic (mobile) surgical service. By bringing state-of-the-art equipment directly to primary care veterinary clinics, Mark ensures that patients receive uncompromising specialist-level surgical care in a familiar, less stressful environment.
We work diligently to ensure excellence of care for the patient and complete peace of mind for the pet parent. We provide procedure information sheets to help guide owners on the surgical journey, and detailed aftercare plans to leave nothing to chance once the patient returns home.
Complimentary Radiographic Reporting
Informal radiographic reporting is offered as a complimentary service to primary care veterinarians: no obligation, no charge, even if there is no possibility of our involvement in the surgical management of a case.
We are always happy to review patient files and advise on management options, regardless of circumstance.
Scope of Surgeries
- Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement Management of cruciate ligament injury (TPLO, Isometric UHMWP lateral suture), medial/lateral patellar luxation realignment (tibial tuberosity transposition, distal femoral osteotomy, trochleoplasty), total hip replacement (dogs & cats), arthrodesis, and complex fracture repair (locking plates, linear, circular/Ilizarov & hybrid ESF).
- Neurosurgery Hemilaminectomy, pediculectomy, corpectomy, ventral slot, dorsal laminectomy and stabilisation procedures for IVDD (Hansen types 1 & 2). Treatment of vertebral fracture/luxation, cervical spondylopathy (Wobbler syndrome), atlanto-axial instability, and degenerative lumbosacral disease.
- Arthroscopy & Minimally Invasive Keyhole investigation and surgery for joint disease, elbow dysplasia (coronoid disease), and shoulder OCD. Osteochondral Autograft Transfer System (OATS) for stifle OCD.
Equipment & Logistics
We do not compromise on the quality of our surgical hardware, bringing a comprehensive inventory directly to your theatre:
- • Aesculap & Stryker cordless surgical drills, sagittal saws, pin and wire collets.
- • Aesculap Acculan 4TI cordless radial saws for TPLO procedures.
- • Stryker TPS system high-speed electronically regulated neuro-drills.
- • Stryker & Storz Arthroscopic equipment (4x scopes for all sizes, 3-CCD cameras, Xenon/LED light sources).
- • Extensive range of Synthes & Aesculap orthopaedic instruments.
- • Comprehensive implant inventory (locking plates, conventional plates, IMEX ESF systems, TPLO implants).
- • Gima Electrosurgical unit, surgical aspirator, and Melag high vacuum type B hospital-grade autoclave.
Publications & Scientific Presentations
Publications
- Patellar Luxation in 70 Large-Breed Dogs Gibbons S, Macias C, Tonzing MA, Pinchbeck G, McKee WM J Small Anim Pract. 2006 Jan;47(1):3-9
- Preliminary Results of Five Feline Total-Hip-Replacements Witte PG, Scott HW, Tonzing MA J Small Anim Pract. 2010 Jul;51(7):397-402.
Scientific Presentations
- Post-surgical meniscal injuries following 392 tibial plateau levelling procedures April 2004 (BSAVA), April 2005 (BVOA)
- Management of fractures of the lateral aspect of the humeral condyle in 34 dogs April 2003 (BSAVA)