Articles
Heat Stroke
Heat stroke can be an extremely deadly emergency.
We see it mainly in summer but it can occur at any time.
During hot summer days, start work early if you can. Try to avoid the main hottest parts of the day. If you have large work days, alternate your team, so dogs get a good chance to rest.
Ensure when tying dogs up, at the yards for instance, they have shade and they have water. Same goes if they are locked in their kennels. They need to be able to get out of direct sun light, and they need to have fresh water available.
Signs of heat stress:
• Excessive panting.
• Trembling.
• Seizure/collapse.
If you suspect heat stress, the first thing you should do is cool the dog down. Put him in a trough where you can control the head to make sure it is not submerged. If you have a hose, cool running water is perfect. You need to get that dog to the vet ASAP. When transporting them to the clinic, put them inside the ute cab and crank the air conditioning.
FOOT BALANCE
Read more >Friday 27th of July 2018:
Equine Annual Warrant of Fitness
Read more >Friday 27th of July 2018: With the equestrian season kicking off in most disciplines, Spring is a good time for your horse to have its annual “warrant of fitness”.
ENDOSCOPY IN EQUINES
Read more >Wednesday 25th of July 2018: We have had a couple of interesting cases over the last few months where our Vets have been able to use the endoscope to help diagnose and address issues.
The endoscope is a flexible camera/video /light source that we can use to help investigate respiratory tract in horses as they allow us to gain access visually to some of the nooks and cranny’s that make up a horses upper and lower respiratory tract.
Arthritis, not just an old dog problem
Read more >Thursday 29th of March 2018: Arthritis will be in almost all our working dogs by the age of 5. The severity depends on breeding and size of the breed, previous injuries, nutrition and how well they have been looked after.
Medical Management of Arthritis
Read more >Thursday 29th of March 2018: To get the most out of your team, ensure you take measures to keep them comfortable.
Rat Bait
Read more >Thursday 29th of March 2018: Rat bait (rodenticide) poisoning is the most common poisoning we see in the clinic. It generally affects dogs as they are more readily ruled by their stomachs! Rat baits work by preventing the production of clotting factors (anticoagulants). This lack of clotting factors causes prolonged and uncontrolled bleeding which is often fatal if untreated.
Feeding Athletes
Read more >Thursday 29th of March 2018:
TRANSPORT OF HORSES TO EVENTS BY ROAD/SEA:
Read more >Thursday 8th of March 2018: The transportation of horse to events in NZ [such as HOY] is commonplace but in saying that it needs to be managed to maximise athletic performance, and minimise the risk of any negative impact on horse health. After all it is a long expensive and disappointing trip to an event to have your horse perform below their best.
Road transport can be detrimental to horse's lungs, muscles, gut function and weight
EQUINE CASE: ACUTE EYE TRAUMA
Read more >Thursday 8th of March 2018: Alfie is a 22 year old Kaimanawa gelding who had the misfortune of getting the wrong end of a stick during a wind-storm.
He presented with acute right eye pain – eyelids tightly closed with profuse tearing.
Attention all rabbit owners – are your rabbits up to date with their vaccination??
Read more >Friday 2nd of March 2018:
The Tetanus Grin
Read more >Friday 22nd of December 2017: Tetanus is a condition that is caused by bacteria called, Clostridium tetani. The bacteria infects wounds where there is little to no oxygen and produces a toxin that affects nerves (neurotoxin) in a way that prevents muscles from relaxing, thus causing stiffness.
Mycoplasma
Read more >Monday 18th of December 2017: Mycoplasma Bovis is a bacterial disease affecting cattle.
For more information on the outbreak in the Patoka area- click here. If you have any concerns with regards to your particular situation please get in touch with one of our Veterinarians
Be Aware of Algal Blooms this Summer
Read more >Monday 18th of December 2017: At this time of year care needs to be taken with dogs around streams, rivers and lakes due to the possibility of algal blooms.
Heat stroke in dogs
Read more >Monday 18th of December 2017: It's this time of year that we are concerned about our furry companions overheating. Any dog is at risk of heat stroke but particularly brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds and dogs with a long or thick hair coat.
That Christmas Ham - More Harmful Than We Thought
Read more >Monday 18th of December 2017: This year has raced with speed, and another Christmas is coming up soon. We all know what that means; ham, roast and all sorts to satisfy the taste buds.
Tail Docking and other legislation updates:
Read more >Thursday 5th of October 2017: As of October 2018, the non-therapeutic docking of dogs tails will be prohibited in New Zealand.
Derm Defense
Read more >Tuesday 3rd of October 2017: During the spring and summer months we see a high number of dogs with itchy skin.
In the past, the only way to manage atopy (itchy skin) was through medications such as antihistamines and steroids but Hill's nutritionists and veterinarians have developed a new Prescription Diet specially formulated to help manage environmental sensitivities in dogs.
Vaccinations – what you need to know to make the best decisions for your canine companion
Read more >Tuesday 3rd of October 2017: Vaccinations are designed to prevent your pet from contracting diseases. We have a few different vaccines available in NZ based on what diseases pose a risk to your dog.
Flea products – What’s out there now?
Read more >Wednesday 27th of September 2017: It seems like companies are bringing out new flea products every few months these days, and even we find it hard to keep up! Here is an overview of the products we have in store.