dog's paws

Broken Toe Nail

The physical break in the toe nail or dewclaw causes a cracked nail with an exposed nail bed.  The nail bed can bleed or become infected.  This can be so painful that your pet may stop bearing weight on the affected leg. If left untreated, nail infections can spread up to the joints of the…

orange Persian cat sleeping

Bladder Obstruction

Bladder obstruction (commonly called a blocked bladder) is caused by a buildup of sludge, crystals or stones in the bladder.  It is these crystals and stones, which obstruct the urethra (outflow tract of the bladder) and can cause an obstructed bladder, meaning your pet can not urinate. The inability to urinate causes the bladder to…

Annual Health Checks.

Why are health checks so important? As they say, ‘prevention is always better than a cure’ and here at Vet Services we take routine health checks very seriously. Health exams are very important in assessing the condition of your pet and in helping to detect any underlying disease or problems. Pets age five to eight…

red heart clip art

Heart Disease

As our pets age, they can develop changes to their heart which can lead to heart disease and eventually heart failure. Some animals are more susceptible to this due to their breed. A normal heart: Takes deoxygenated blood from the body via a large vein called the Vena Cava and pushes it into the right…

How to collect a sample for facial eczema pasture spore counting.

Facial Eczema Pasture Spore Counting Facial eczema is a disease caused by the fungus Pithomyces chartarum; which produces a toxin (sporidesmin) resulting in liver damage and photosensitivity. It grows on dead plant material at the base of the sward and thrives in warm, humid conditions. A good way to determine the risk level of your…

brown and white short coated dog

Kennel Cough

Central Hawkes Bay has had an outbreak of kennel cough. This disease can and will spread very fast between dogs and we recommend a vaccination to help protect your dogs. What is kennel cough: Kennel Cough (also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis) is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Dogs commonly contract kennel cough at places…