Keep up to date with all our latest news, articles of interest, and case studies from the veterinary world around Hawke’s Bay.
While overindulging during the Easter period may result in a few extra kilograms for us, the consequences for our pets are much greater. The accidental ingestion of chocolate can lead to serious illness or even death for our beloved companions. Chocolate contains theobromine which is poisonous and caffeine which is dangerous to all our pets.…
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The old saying goes; “the eyes are the window to the soul” and I’m sure most, if not all, pet owners could probably attest to this when their little critter stares deeply into their own, especially around dinner time. Which is why we need to make sure we look after our companions’ eyes this summer…
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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…
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General stiffness, slowing down, difficulty rising… Is it just old age? Our senior pets may show subtle signs or be quite obvious in their attempts to tell us about their problems. One of these problems that we commonly see is arthritis. Signs may include lameness in one or more legs, difficulty getting up in the…
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As our pets age, normal and abnormal wear and tear within their joints can start taking its toll. Cartlidge within the joints start to wear thin and it causes inflammation. Once inflammation is present our pets suffer from arthritis. Arthritis is a progressive disease which means that over time it gets worse. Inflammation will lead…
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Summer is nearly here which means our vets are starting to see an increase in grass seed related problems. Barley grass has bristly seeds which stick to anything, anywhere, anytime! Because of their shape these seeds can burrow into fur and skin where they might become lodged. They can also enter nose or ears, get…
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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…
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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…
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In the words of the old song, can a pet “take a trip and never leave the farm”, even in this Covid-19 era of travel restrictions? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. More and more frequently we are presented with dogs who are acting strangely and who are known to, or suspected of having ingested, someone’s…
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Over the last few weeks, we have had a series of dogs presenting to the Dannevirke & Waipukurau clinic with suspected ionophore toxicity, following ingestion of calf milk replacer or meal. While these feeds are fantastic for rapidly growing young calves, the products can pose a very serious danger to dogs and other…
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WHEN’S THE BEST TIME TO HAVE YOUR DOG DESEXED? Recently, if and when to spay (female) or castrate (male) your dog has become a topic of debate and everyone seems to have slightly different opinions. The reason for this is that there is pros and cons of performing this procedure at different ages, and these…
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Whisky was admitted in a critical condition earlier this month after eating a significant amount of rat bait. Upon arrival the 11-month-old ridgeback was lethargic, pale, coughing softly and refusing to eat or drink. He didn’t improve with initial treatments and urgently needed a lifesaving blood transfusion. Basil, a 7-year-old greyhound came to the rescue…
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