Sara M. Cowan, DVM, DACVIM

Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists

Dr. Sara Cowan joined Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialists (TBVS) in 2015 after spending 13 years in Sydney, Australia with her Aussie husband Geoff and two children. Dr. Cowan had a feeling that TBVS best met her vision for settling into the area, and it has not disappointed, working alongside colleagues from veterinary hospitals across Tampa Bay, as well as collaboration with specialists in her own hospital (offering internal medicine, surgery, oncology, radiology, dermatology, neurology, and ophthalmology) to achieve the highest quality of care in a patient-centered and values-driven environment. The practice also has a 24 hour emergency department that is extremely busy tending to the emergent needs of veterinarians, pets and their families in the Tampa Bay area and beyond. Families travel from as far south as Ft. Lauderdale and as far north as Gainesville to consult with Dr. Cowan on various internal medicine disorders such as chronic kidney disease, respiratory problems, endocrine (hormonal) conditions, liver disease, blood disorders, auto-immune diseases, urinary issues, nasal issues and more. Her goal is to have families feel her virtually wrapping her arms of care and expertise around them as she guides them through the complex decision making options often required with internal medicine disorders. She will also diligently communicate with the often much-loved primary veterinarian who has been caring for that individual patient often for 10 or more years, weaving them into the decision making process as a further layer of support to families with sick pets.

Dr. Cowan was born in Chicago, Illinois and received her BS and DVM degrees from The University of Florida with honors. She was selected for a highly regarded small animal internship at North Carolina State University in 1999, and then completed an internal medicine residency program at The University of Tennessee. She completed board certification and was awarded the ACVIM Resident Research Award in hematology (blood disorders) in 2003. Off for an Outback adventure with her husband from 2004-2015, Dr. Cowan worked as a specialist at the notable Small Animal Specialist Hospital, where she also taught students, interns and residents. She was an invited member of The University of Sydney Mentoring Program for students from 2010-2015. She also held regular lectures and spoke at conferences to colleagues in the greater community, and wrote board certification exams for the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists. Sara was the Director of Infection Control and Antibiotic Use for her Sydney hospital and carries these principles and directives into TBVS and our wider community. Dr. Cowan attended a cutting-edge Masterclass on non-surgical endoscopic procedures in New York City in 2015, and now brings all of this global experience to our area.

Sara enjoys all aspects of Internal Medicine, with a particular interest in blood disorders, responsible antibiotic use, and endoscopy. Dr. Cowan is one of the few veterinarians in the Tampa Bay area skilled in placing tracheal and urethral stents, and can also use endoscopy to aid other chronic respiratory and urinary problems in dogs and cats. Sara has a natural focus on compassion, communication and empathy, with detailed attention to the well-being of the sickest of patients, distressed pet owners, and the hard-working staff.