From bustling Brisbane clinics to Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast practices, Dr Kieren Maddern brings world-class veterinary anaesthesia and pain management directly to the patient’s side. Her role is simple but vital – to make every procedure safer, smoother, and more comfortable for pets, while giving vets and owners peace of mind.
Meet Dr Kieren Maddern – Specialist Anaesthetist
Kieren’s fascination with anaesthesia began during her veterinary degree at the University of Queensland, where she was drawn to the challenge of keeping patients stable under complex conditions. After roles in general practice, emergency care, and university referral centres, she completed a senior clinical training scholarship in the UK.
Now a European-boarded specialist in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia, she brings the precision of a human anaesthetist with the insight that comes from working exclusively with animals. Based in South East Queensland, Kieren partners with clinics across Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, and the Gold Coast, allowing pets to receive specialist-level care.
Kieren believes every pet deserves individualised attention, every anaesthetic should be planned precisely, and that clear communication changes outcomes. For veterinarians, she offers collaboration, knowledge sharing, and seamless integration into their workflow.
For pet owners, she offers reassurance, transparency, and the comfort of knowing their pet is monitored by a dedicated specialist from start to finish.
Anaesthesia is often the most worrying part of surgery for pet owners. My job is to stay focused on your pet every moment, guiding them through with comfort, vigilance, and care, even when you can’t be by their side.
Dr Kieren Maddern - Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia & Analgesia
Kieren’s work is about more than anaesthesia, it’s about creating confidence and comfort for everyone involved.
For veterinarians, she provides specialist-level anaesthesia and pain management for complex or high-risk cases, working within existing teams so care is seamless and disruption is minimal.
For pet owners, she offers reassurance and transparency, with the knowledge that their pet is supported by advanced monitoring, tailored pain control, and proven safety protocols.
And for patients themselves, it means a smoother, safer experience from first sedation to full recovery.
By combining precision, compassion, and partnership, Kieren helps pets wake up calm and comfortable, gives vets the freedom to focus fully on their work, and ensures owners feel supported and reassured at every step.
Mobile expertise that elevates surgical outcomes through precision monitoring, targeted pain relief, and exclusive one-to-one attention.
Expert anaesthetic services for complex surgical procedures and medically compromised vulnerable patients.
Tailored strategies to prevent, control, and eliminate discomfort throughout recovery.
Compassionate comfort-focused care ensuring dignity and peace for end-of-life patients.
Remote consultations for anaesthetic planning, risk assessment, and owner guidance.
When complex cases demand specialist expertise, collaboration matters. Our anaesthetic partnership enhances patient outcomes while supporting your practice goals, providing seamless integration and clinical excellence for challenging procedures.
Focused on complex, high-risk cases, and there until your patient is stable.
We bring advanced equipment, specialist protocols, and tailored anaesthetic plans.
One specialist focused on your patient from pre-op assessment to recovery.
Advanced monitoring techniques and specialist equipment to protect the most vulnerable patients.
Clear clinical communication, transparent discussions, and coordinatedcare that builds confidence.
Professional partnerships with leading practices throughout Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Sunshine Coast.
I’m a board-certified specialist veterinary anaesthesiologist with over 20 years of clinical experience. I graduated with honours from the University of Queensland in 2000 and then pursued advanced training in anaesthesia and analgesia, including a residency in the UK. In 2009, I became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (ECVAA), which is the qualification that makes me a registered specialist.
Over my career, I’ve worked in general practice, emergency medicine, and university teaching hospitals, and I have provided specialist anaesthesia services in Australia, Asia, and the UK. This broad background means I’ve managed a wide range of cases and developed a deep, practical expertise in keeping patients safe and comfortable under anaesthesia.
A specialist veterinary anaesthesiologist is a vet who has undergone additional intensive training specifically in anaesthesia and pain management beyond the standard veterinary degree. In my case, that meant several years of residency training and passing challenging board examinations to become certified by a college of veterinary anaesthesia. The key difference is that anaesthesia is my full-time focus and area of expertise, whereas general practice vets must juggle many disciplines.
I stay up-to-date on the latest anaesthetic drugs, techniques, and monitoring methods, and I’ve had extensive experience managing complicated or high-risk anaesthesia cases. In practical terms, working with a specialist means you have someone whose sole job is to ensure the safest possible anaesthesia and optimal pain control for each patient – especially when things get complex or out of the ordinary.
My approach is very patient-centred and thorough. I believe in planning anaesthesia tailored to each individual patient – considering their health conditions, temperament, and the procedure they’re undergoing. A big part of my philosophy is proactive pain management: I aim to prevent pain before it starts and control it effectively throughout and after surgery, so the animal wakes up as comfortably as possible. I also prioritise safety at every step, from careful pre-anaesthetic assessments to vigilant monitoring during the procedure and smooth recovery afterwards. Additionally, I value open communication and teamwork – I make sure to discuss the anaesthetic plan with the veterinary team beforehand and keep everyone in the loop, so we all work together for the best patient outcome.
When I’m brought in to help with a case, I become part of your team, not an outsider. Here’s how I typically collaborate with clinic teams at each stage of an anaesthetic case:
Throughout this process, you remain the primary veterinarian for your patient. My role is to support you by managing the anaesthesia aspects, not to take over the case or client communication.
Yes, I’ve managed a broad spectrum of challenging cases over the years. This includes patients with serious health issues (like heart disease, kidney failure, or breathing difficulties) and those undergoing complicated or prolonged surgeries. Because of my specialist training and experience in referral hospitals and emergency settings, I’m very comfortable handling high-risk anaesthetic situations. I approach these cases with careful planning and extra vigilance, using advanced monitoring and techniques to maximise the patient’s safety.
“I cannot recommend Dr Kieren Maddern highly enough. She has cared for both of my tiny, health-compromised Pomeranians, who are high risk when it comes to anaesthesia. As a very anxious owner, the thought of putting them under is always stressful, but knowing Dr Kieren is in control makes all the difference.”
“Working with Kieren brings a sense of calm and confidence to even the most complex cases. With her managing anaesthesia, we can focus entirely on dentistry, knowing every detail of patient safety is being handled with care and precision.”
“Kieren shares our passion for cats. Her specialist training and knowledge allowed us to safely pursue treatments that required anaesthesia in a manner that ensured the utmost safety for Mr Gibbs. Her level of planning, communication, and care was extraordinary.“
