Pet owners facing complex illnesses affecting their animals have had limited options in T&T over the years.
Beyond the work of general veterinary practitioners, there has been no dedicated specialist service locally focused exclusively on diagnosing and managing intricate internal diseases in dogs and cats.
That has now changed.
Dr Avin Arjoonsingh, a T&T national whose professional journey has taken him through some of the most respected veterinary institutions in the United States, now leads the country’s first specialist veterinary internal medicine service, established at the University of the West Indies School of Veterinary Medicine at Mt Hope.
His appointment marks a significant milestone for veterinary care in the country and represents the culmination of years of intensive training and international experience. He is also set to travel to Botswana in a few months for further exposure to his professional discipline and is a volunteer with India-headquartered Mission Rabies.
“I always had a love of science,” Arjoonsingh recalls. “Even in primary school and high school, medicine was a path I thought I would choose. My love for helping animals and combining that with medicine naturally drove me toward veterinary medicine.”
A graduate of Hillview College and the UWI School of Veterinary Medicine, Arjoonsingh spent several years teaching at UWI before pursuing advanced specialist training abroad. His academic journey included a rotating internship at Tuskegee University, followed by a three-year residency and veterinary clinical master’s programme at Washington State University.
Today, he holds a nationally unmatched distinction. As a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), he is the country’s only board-certified veterinary internal medicine specialist for dogs and cats.
The specialty focuses on diseases affecting internal organs and body systems, including the liver, kidneys, lungs, endocrine system and blood disorders. While general practitioners manage a broad range of conditions, internal medicine specialists dedicate years to mastering the diagnosis and treatment of complex diseases.
“It is similar to human medicine,” Arjoonsingh explains. “You might visit your general practitioner and then be referred to a cardiologist, pulmonologist or another specialist. Veterinary medicine works in much the same way.”
The referral-only service began operations in August 2025 and accepts cases from veterinarians. The clinic helps diagnose difficult conditions, develops long-term treatment plans and works collaboratively with referring veterinarians to ensure continuity of care.
Among Arjoonsingh’s special interests are endocrinology and haematology—fields in which he has published research and continues to maintain professional links with international colleagues. He also worked as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida before returning home.
Yet his ambitions extend beyond clinical practice.
As a lecturer, he views education as central to the service’s mission. Veterinary students rotate through the internal medicine programme, gaining exposure to advanced diagnostic reasoning and patient management that were previously unavailable locally. Student feedback, he says, has been overwhelmingly positive.
“I am very passionate about clinical veterinary education,” he notes. “I want to guide the next generation of veterinary students, interns and residents into becoming the best professionals they can be.”
The service also reflects a broader vision for the future of veterinary medicine in the country.
Dr Arjoonsingh believes the profession in T&T has enormous, untapped potential. He sees opportunities for future specialties such as cardiology, oncology and neurology and hopes eventually to see the establishment of advanced diagnostic facilities and 24-hour veterinary hospitals.
“I think veterinary medicine is a low-hanging fruit that Trinidad can pick,” he says. “We have the intelligence, we have the drive, and we have the people - especially among the students - to move the profession forward.”
For pet owners, the new service offers access to expertise that previously required overseas consultation. For veterinary practitioners, it provides a specialist partner. And for the country, it signals a new chapter in animal healthcare - one led by a Trinidadian whose global achievements have now come home.
