Dr. vet. med. Matt
Matiasovic

Referrals are made by email to contact@mmatiasovic.vet or via the enquiry form on the homepage. Please send a brief case description, relevant history and imaging, and your contact details. We will get back to you as quickly as possible to schedule an appointment. Allow 24–48 business hours for a response.

For efficient planning we need: patient signalment, history, any current diagnostics (blood work, imaging) and the clinical question. The more complete the documentation, the more targeted the planning can be.

No. This is the core of the mobile surgery model: Dr Matiasovic comes with equipment and expertise directly to the practice you trust. Your pet stays in familiar surroundings. In complex situations or very sick patients, referral to a clinic with 24-hour care will be recommended.

Aftercare remains entirely with the referring practice. Dr Matiasovic provides a detailed surgical report including aftercare recommendations. He communicates closely with the practice for any follow-up questions.

Currently at six locations in the Basel region: Breitenbach (SO), Arlesheim (BL), Biel-Benken (BL), Riehen (BS), Liestal (BL) and Delémont (JU). Specific availability per location is shown in the Locations section.

Yes. Because Dr Matiasovic works exclusively on a mobile basis at existing practices and clinics, access is always via a referral or cooperation context. Please speak to your vet about a possible referral or second opinion.

For true emergencies (e.g. respiratory distress, severe trauma), please contact a 24/7 emergency hospital first. For urgent surgical cases Dr Matiasovic aims to attend the referring practice within 24–48 hours of receiving the referral. In trauma cases, initial stabilisation and observation is recommended before definitive surgery.

Most Swiss small-animal policies cover specialist diagnostics and surgery when the underlying condition is covered (illness/accident). Coverage limits, deductibles and pre-existing exclusions vary widely between insurers and plans, so we recommend confirming details directly with your provider before the planned procedure.

Modern veterinary anaesthesia is very safe, even in older patients. Large-scale data report severe perioperative complications (mortality) of approximately 0.05% in healthy dogs and 0.11% in healthy cats (Brodbelt et al. 2008). Pre-anaesthetic blood work and, where indicated, cardiac assessment can further reduce individual risk.

Some discomfort is expected, but we use multimodal analgesia — combining opioids, anti-inflammatories, local/regional anaesthetic techniques and adjunctive medications. Most patients are comfortable and willing to eat from immediately to 24 hours after surgery, and a tailored take-home pain plan is always provided.

A murmur is a sound, not a diagnosis. An echocardiogram is the only reliable way to distinguish a harmless (innocent/physiological) murmur from underlying disease such as myxomatous mitral valve disease in dogs or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats, and to determine whether treatment is needed (ACVIM consensus 2019; 2020).

An echocardiogram is an ultrasound scan of the heart. It provides real-time, non-invasive assessment of the chambers, valves, muscle function and blood flow, usually without sedation in cooperative patients. It is the gold-standard test for diagnosing and monitoring heart disease.

Stable patients on cardiac medication should typically be reassessed every 6 months, including clinical exam, blood pressure and — for most cases — a repeat echocardiogram. Patients in congestive heart failure or recently started on treatment usually require shorter intervals (every 1–3 months).

If lameness persists for more than 1–2 weeks despite rest and first-line treatment from your vet, or if it is sudden, severe or recurrent, specialist assessment is recommended. Early diagnosis of conditions such as cranial cruciate disease, elbow dysplasia or developmental orthopaedic disease typically improves long-term outcomes.

A luxating patella is a kneecap that slips out of its groove, very common in small breeds and graded 1–4. Surgery is generally recommended for symptomatic cases of lower grades, and routinely for grades 3–4, to prevent progressive cartilage damage and pain.

For most dogs, the TPLO (tibial plateau levelling osteotomy) is the most evidence-supported procedure, with consistently superior long-term function compared with extracapsular techniques (Bergh et al. 2014; Krotscheck et al. 2016; Nelson et al. 2013). Extracapsular techniques carry a 6-fold higher risk of marked osteoarthritis and a 30–40% higher risk of a sub-optimal outcome compared with TPLO. Dr Matiasovic routinely performs nano-arthroscopy of the stifle prior to TPLO, enabling direct visualisation of the meniscus and cartilage before the osteotomy.

In the Basel region, cruciate surgery (typically TPLO) generally ranges from approximately CHF 3'000 to CHF 3'500 (incl. radiographs, consultation, anaesthesia and medication), depending on the dog's size, additional tests, implants and hospitalisation requirements. A detailed cost estimate is always provided in your practice of choice before surgery. Cheaper options are available, but they are functionally inferior to TPLO.

Any new, changing or persistent lump should be sampled — typically by fine-needle aspiration and cytology — rather than 'watched'. The principle is simple: see it, sample it. Cytology guides whether surgery is needed and, crucially, how widely the lump must be excised (Consensus on Grading Canine Soft Tissue Sarcomas).

BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) is a breathing disorder affecting flat-faced breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs and Bulldogs. Surgery typically widens the nostrils, shortens an overlong soft palate and removes everted laryngeal saccules, significantly improving breathing, exercise tolerance, sleep quality and heat tolerance (Liu et al. 2017).

Laparoscopic spay uses smaller incisions (typically one 1 cm incision) and provides direct visualisation of the ovaries. Published evidence shows significantly less postoperative pain, faster return to normal activity and fewer wound-related complications compared with conventional open spay (Devitt et al. 2005; Culp et al. 2009; Charlesworth & Sanchez 2019).

Cost depends on the patient (size, weight, age) and the host practice. As a guide, a laparoscopic spay in the Basel region typically ranges from approximately CHF 1'600 to CHF 1'800, including anaesthesia, monitoring and standard pain relief. A precise estimate is provided in advance.

Core elements are: strict activity restriction as advised, all medications given as prescribed, an e-collar or recovery suit at all times until cleared, and a daily check of the surgical wound. Detailed written instructions are provided after every procedure, and routine follow-ups are managed by your practice.

Contact your vet promptly if you notice marked swelling, redness or discharge at the wound, any wound opening, sudden severe lameness or worsening of the original lameness, any new persistent vomiting, marked lethargy, or inappetence. Early intervention usually prevents minor issues becoming major ones.

It depends on the procedure. After most soft-tissue surgeries, short lead walks resume within 1–2 weeks. After orthopaedic surgery (e.g. TPLO, fracture repair, patellar surgery), strict lead-only activity is usually required for 8–10 weeks, with off-lead exercise and jumping reintroduced gradually and on veterinary advice.

Yes, alternatives such as soft cones, inflatable 'donut' collars and recovery suits/bodysuits are acceptable, provided they reliably prevent the pet from reaching the wound at all times. Even brief licking can cause infection or wound breakdown, so any alternative must work 24/7 — including overnight and when unsupervised.

Dr Matiasovic usually uses intradermal sutures, which do not require removal. If skin sutures or staples are used, these are usually removed 10–14 days after surgery, generally by your veterinary practice during the standard recheck.

Librela® (bedinvetmab) is a monoclonal antibody against nerve growth factor (NGF) that can effectively reduce osteoarthritis pain. However, post-marketing pharmacovigilance and recent peer-reviewed analyses (Farrell et al., Vet J 2024; Frontiers Vet Sci 2025) have linked it to rapidly progressive osteoarthritis (RPOA), pathological fractures and joint destruction. Comparable anti-NGF therapies in human medicine (e.g. tanezumab) were never approved by the FDA or EMA due to the same safety signals.

In our evidence-based position, Librela® is not a first-line treatment. It should be reserved for confirmed end-stage osteoarthritis, only after conservative multimodal therapy has failed (NSAIDs, adjuvant analgesics, weight management, physiotherapy, intra-articular treatments) and when surgical salvage (e.g. TPLO, arthrodesis, joint replacement) is not feasible or has been declined by the owner. It must not be used to mask undiagnosed lameness, as post-operative analgesia, or as a substitute for diagnosis.

The Diplomate title represents the highest level of professional qualification in veterinary medicine. Achieving the European or American specialist diploma requires many years of intensive training after graduating from veterinary school. The formal pathway includes at least a one-year internship (a general specialist residency) followed by a three- to four-year intensive specialist residency in a specific discipline (e.g. surgery). During this period, candidates acquire the academic and clinical skills required to sit the certification examination. The rigorous examination is held once a year for eligible candidates and spans several days. Successful candidates are awarded the Diplomate title and must recertify every five years to demonstrate they continue to practise at the highest level in their field. Further information at www.ebvs.eu or vsks.vet.