Tata Trusts Small Animal Hospital, Mumbai (Mumbai)

Tata Trusts Small Animal Hospital, Mumbai (SAHM) is a 102,000 sq ft veterinary facility at Mahalakshmi developed in partnership with the Royal Veterinary College, UK, and supported by Tata Trusts and Tata Sons. It is designed specifically for dogs and cats, from routine OPD consultations through to complex tertiary surgeries and round-the-clock critical care. If you live in Mumbai or are travelling through the city with your pet and need a hospital that can handle everything from a vaccine appointment to a cardiac crisis, this is one of the most comprehensively equipped options in India.

The Facility

SAHM occupies a purpose-built G+4 storey building spanning over 100,000 sq ft, designed in consultation with international veterinary hospital architects following global best-practice guidelines. The scale of the infrastructure is significant for India: the hospital recorded 14,026 OPD visits, 18,066 IPD admissions, 20,967 laboratory tests, and 6,760 diagnostic imaging procedures (CT, USG, MRI, X-ray) in its reported figures. It has also handled 1,768+ emergency cases, performed 613 surgeries, and treated 3,626+ stray animals.

The building houses a specialized critical care unit staffed around the clock, a comprehensive in-house pathology laboratory, and diagnostic imaging that includes CT and MRI -- capabilities rarely found together under one roof at a veterinary hospital in India. The hospital describes its design as following "global best practice" verified with international architects, which distinguishes it structurally from most standalone urban clinics.

Specialities and Services

SAHM operates across twelve confirmed speciality departments: Blood Transfusion, Cardiology, Dental Care, Dermatology, Diagnostic and Imaging, Diagnostic Pathology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Preventive Health Check-Ups, Soft Tissue Surgery, and Dialysis. This breadth matters practically -- if your dog is referred for a cardiology workup, an ECG and echocardiogram can be done in-house rather than requiring a separate appointment at a different facility.

On the services side, the hospital provides General Consultation, Inpatient Care and ICU, Surgery, Advanced Infection Control, and Internal Medicine. The presence of a dedicated advanced infection control protocol is worth noting for pet parents bringing animals that are immunocompromised or post-surgery, as cross-infection risk in a busy hospital setting is a genuine concern.

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation is listed as a standalone speciality, which is useful for dogs recovering from orthopaedic surgery or neurological events. Dialysis is confirmed as a service -- this is uncommon at Indian veterinary hospitals and relevant if your dog or cat has been diagnosed with acute or chronic kidney disease.

Emergency and Critical Care

The Emergency and Critical Care department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The hospital states it maintains a "fully equipped emergency team" and that critically ill patients are admitted to intensive care wards staffed continuously. The hospital's own language describes this as "nose-to-nose" care, meaning direct patient monitoring rather than remote observation.

One specific policy is worth understanding clearly before a crisis happens: emergency treatment for life-threatening conditions is provided free of charge. However, treatment assessed as routine or rehabilitative is handled at the attending doctor's discretion and depends on the emergency caseload at the time. This means walk-in access is not guaranteed for non-emergency cases, and inpatient admission is subject to available capacity assessed on the day.

For pet parents in Mumbai whose dogs or cats have been referred for a serious condition -- or who are simply looking to know which hospital to head to in a 3 AM emergency -- the 24x7 availability and the confirmed ICU infrastructure make SAHM a practical first-call option in the city.

Inpatient Wards

The hospital runs multiple inpatient wards. Animals that need to stay are housed in ward settings that the hospital describes as providing the same level of care and attention as at home. Patients requiring critical monitoring are moved to intensive care wards staffed around the clock. The distinction between general inpatient wards and the ICU matters when a referring vet discusses care pathways with you -- it is worth confirming at the time of admission which level of monitoring your pet has been assigned to.

Admission to inpatient care is not automatic -- the clinical team makes a decision after physical assessment of the patient, and it is subject to the number of beds available at the time. The hospital is transparent about this policy on its website, which is useful for managing expectations if you are coming from outside the city.

What the Numbers Tell You

The patient statistics published by SAHM give a sense of the hospital's volume and operational scope. Over 18,000 IPD admissions indicate a high-volume inpatient service. The 613 surgeries performed and 6,760 diagnostic imaging cases suggest that the hospital is actively used for tertiary referral cases, not just walk-in consultations. The 3,626+ stray animals treated also reflects a parallel welfare commitment alongside private patient care.

Testimonials from the hospital's website include a case where a puppy named Ted was treated successfully for Parvovirus -- a disease that is rapidly fatal without aggressive inpatient management, including IV fluids, anti-nausea medication, and infection control. The owner, Nishikant Khandle, described it as a "one-stop solution for all pet care needs" and noted that "the medical attention is top-notch." Another reviewer, Jyoti Bhatt, specifically commented on pricing transparency: "There were no surprises, just honest service and top-quality care." Neither testimonial confirms specific pricing figures, but the transparency observation is consistent with the hospital's stated value of compassionate communication.

Species Policy and What This Hospital Is Not

SAHM is explicitly a small animal hospital for companion animals -- dogs and cats only. It does not treat exotic pets (reptiles, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs) and is not equipped for large animals. If you are travelling with a species other than a dog or cat, you will need a different facility.

The hospital is also clear that it is "equipped only for medical treatment" -- there is no boarding service, grooming facility, or pet hotel attached to this address. Pet parents visiting Mumbai who need short-term boarding for their dog while sightseeing will need to arrange that separately. This listing is relevant to you if your dog or cat needs medical attention in Mumbai, whether that is a planned specialist consultation or an unplanned emergency.

Partnership with the Royal Veterinary College, UK

The hospital was developed in partnership with the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in the United Kingdom. The RVC is a globally recognised veterinary institution, and the partnership has influenced both the design of the facility and the clinical standards it operates to. For pet parents who have experienced the gap between a local clinic and a referral hospital, this institutional backing is a meaningful differentiator when deciding where to take a pet with a complex or undiagnosed condition.

Getting There

The hospital is located at Gangaram Babu Sakpal Road, Saat Rasta, Adarsh Nagar, Mahalakshmi, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400011. Mahalakshmi is centrally located in Mumbai and is accessible from most parts of the city. You can reach the hospital by phone at 022 6538 3538. In an emergency, calling ahead before you arrive is advisable so the team can prepare for your arrival.