Vet Christopher Preston stripped of licence after unprofessional conduct of a serious nature

A Malvern East vet has had his registration cancelled after a series of allegations of inadequate care and treatment of animals.

Vet Dr Chris Preston has been stripped of his practising licence. Picture: Evan Morgan

A Melbourne vet accused of “botching” surgeries on beloved family pets has had his registration sensationally cancelled after “serious shortfalls” in his skills were discovered.

Dr Christopher Preston was stripped of his practising licence by the veterinary watchdog last week following a series of allegations of inadequate care and treatment of animals at his Malvern East emergency clinic stemming from incidents in late 2018 and 2021.

A formal hearing found Dr Preston had engaged in unprofessional conduct of a serious nature, including in instances where he provided poor medical advice, poor communication, used a non-sterile bench for suturing a dog and haggled over whether to do a procedure on a nineteen month old rottweiler without pain relief.

The decision follows a report by the Sunday Herald Sun last year which revealed the prominent vet was under investigation after numerous owners came forward to complain about the treatment they and their pets had received.

Brittany Pullen lodged a complaint after her greyhound Tonto was operated on by Dr Preston after the rescue dog broke its hind leg in September 2018.


Ms Pullen said she was not adequately informed about the possible complications for surgery given the breed’s thin skin, and after a month in hospital with a severe wound at the surgical site which failed to heal, Tonto’s leg was amputated.

Tonto the greyhound had his hind leg amputated following complications from a surgery.

She was initially told surgery would cost $3000-$5000 but she walked away with a bill of more than $16,000.

Ms Pullen said the whole experience had destroyed her faith in the veterinary industry and felt she was “taken advantage of” by Dr Preston.
Tonto, who did recover following the amputation despite contracting a further infection, passed away last month.

And Tonyalee Boxall, 27, said she was forced to euthanise her rottweiler, Onyx, after three “botched” surgeries by Dr Preston.

Dr Preston was found to have engaged in unprofessional conduct of a serious nature.

After discovering a tumour in Onyx’s gum in May last year, Ms Boxall said she was told by Dr Preston he was “confident” surgery to remove the mass would be successful and there was only a “10-15 per cent chance” the cancer had spread.

Instead, Onyx underwent three surgeries over the course of a month.

Ms Boxall claims Dr Preston refused to speak with her or her family during this time despite their “pleas for help” concerning Onyx’s deteriorating state.

The Veterinary Board last month found the surgeon’s unprofessional conduct was not “trivial” and fell well below the standard expected”.

Tonyalee Boxall and her mother Caroline Miller with a picture of their dog Onyx the rottweiler. Picture: David Caird

“The conduct caused a loss of trust in the profession,” the board found.

Lawyer Sebastian Reid, for Dr Preston, urged the board not to cancel his client’s registration, saying he was a “skilful surgeon” and provided a number of references to the panel of “supportive peers who have a belief in his ability”.

“Dr Preston has been a significant contributor to his profession, and he remains a highly respected member of the profession,” Mr Reid said.

The board disagreed, finding the incidents displayed “serious shortfalls in skill and capability”.

“There is a disconnect between Dr Preston’s belief in his ability and the need to meet basic elements of practice,” the board submitted.

Dr Preston had previously faced Veterinary Board hearings in relation to ten separate matters dating back to 2015, most of which resulted in cautions and reprimands.

The board said there had been “many opportunities” for Dr Preston to change over the years, “but these have not been taken”.

“It is with regret that the Panel concluded the minimum sanction which will ensure protection of the public and the profession is cancellation”.

Ms Boxall said the decision came as a relief to many pet owners.