OWNER TO OWNER
About Dr Tara Card
For Dr Tara Card, veterinary care has always been about more than treating illness. It is about understanding the animal, the family, and the everyday life they share together.
A gentle, personal approach to pain care
Over the years, Tara has developed a particular interest in caring for geriatric patients and animals living with pain, stiffness, reduced mobility, and age-related changes. She understands how deeply these challenges can affect not only pets, but also the families who love them.
Her approach is calm, gentle, and practical, with a focus on improving comfort, function, mobility, and day-to-day wellbeing through integrative care that can work alongside conventional veterinary medicine.
BBA · BVMS · CertAVP · PgCert · VPS · MRCVS
Tara’s path into veterinary medicine
Tara qualified as a veterinary surgeon from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in 2009, after first graduating from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1998. She is an RCVS-registered veterinary surgeon, and her career has taken her across both the United States and Great Britain, giving her a broad and compassionate perspective on veterinary care.
Before specialising in pain management, Tara’s veterinary career spanned continents and species — from wildlife conservation fieldwork to companion-animal general practice.
How Zuni shaped her work
Tara’s interest in chronic pain and geriatric care became especially personal through her own dog, Zuni. Zuni lived to the remarkable age of 18 and remained in wonderful health, apart from osteoarthritis and cognitive decline. As Zuni aged, Tara explored many ways to help her stay comfortable, mobile, and able to enjoy a good quality of life for as long as possible.
That experience deepened Tara’s passion for supporting older pets and helping families navigate the changes that can come with ageing — from arthritis and chronic pain to cognitive changes and shifts in daily comfort.
Training in laser and acupuncture
Tara began using therapeutic laser therapy in clinical practice while working in Texas in 2017. Since then, she has seen first-hand how supportive therapies can play an important role not only in pain management, but also in helping patients with inflammation, recovery, wound healing, mobility, and overall comfort.
To further support this work, Tara undertook the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice through the University of Liverpool Veterinary Medicine in 2021, with further training in anaesthesia, acute pain, and chronic pain. She also became certified in veterinary acupuncture with the Western Veterinary Acupuncture Group in 2024, allowing her to offer another gentle, targeted option for patients who may benefit from a more individualised and multimodal approach to care — whether used on its own where appropriate or alongside medication and other veterinary treatments.
Why home visits
At the heart of Beyond the Vet Clinic is Tara’s belief that veterinary care does not always have to happen in a clinical setting. For many older pets, anxious animals, or those struggling with discomfort, being seen at home can create a greater sense of comfort, trust, and safety. By visiting patients in their own environment, Tara is able to assess how they move, rest, and cope in daily life, while helping them feel as relaxed as possible.
Beyond the Vet Clinic was created to provide compassionate, personalised care for pets who need a little extra support. Tara’s aim is to work alongside families to help their pets feel more comfortable, mobile, and content through every stage of ageing.
Considering a referral for your pet?
Start with a free, no-obligation enquiry. We are always happy to talk things through and explain how a home visit could help.