Articles

Keep up to date with all our latest news, articles of interest, and case studies from the veterinary world around Hawke’s Bay.

white and brown dog wearing santa hat

Holiday Hours

Christmas is fast-approaching, our clinics have been busy with people getting ready for the holidays and it won’t be long before most people enjoy a few days off with friends and family. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need assistance with your animals over the break – we have an holiday team…

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Hind Scanning

It’s that time of year again – time to see if the boys are more than just talk! As an integral part of the rural community, we are all acutely aware of the toll that Gabrielle took on many HB Deer Farms with slips, missing bridges, escaped deer and boxed mobs – a tricky time…

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white cat

High blood pressure in cats – the silent danger

Middle aged to older cats can suffer from high blood pressure (hypertension). It occurs when a cat’s arterial blood pressure is continually higher than normal. This can be the result of worsening renal function or hyperthyroidism (elevation in thyroid hormone) but mostly we just don’t know why it happens. High blood pressure can affect many…

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Heifer Teat Sealing

  Heifer teat sealing is one of the most effective interventions we can perform to improve animal welfare on farms across New Zealand.   Heifer mastitis before or after calving, or during the first lactation, significantly affects udder health and lifetime milk yield.   Heifers have been shown to have a higher risk of clinical mastitis…

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Heat Stroke

Dogs do not perspire the way humans do; in fact, the only sweat glands that they have are on the pads of their feet. Dogs pant to cool themselves. If the surrounding air is not considerably cooler than the animals’ body temperature – as in the case of a hot, stuffy automobile – the cooling…

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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…

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Healthy Teeth

Dogs, like us, have two sets of teeth during their lives. The deciduous (baby) teeth appear shortly after birth and are replaced by the permanents at around four to six months of age. Deciduous teeth cause few problems except where they are retained beyond about eight months of age. If this occurs, displacement of the…

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Hawkes Bay Together!

HAWKES BAY TOGETHER The Vet Services team joined the sea of black and white across Hawkes Bay on Thursday 6th April. Wearing our local colours to show our support for the regions recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle. If you would like to support Hawkes Bay Together please text GIVE to 2923 to make an instant $3…

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Hastings Working Dog & Ram Run

It is that time of year again. Time for your rams soundness examinations and for your working dog team to have their annual health check examination and vaccination. Rams should be palpated and tested for Brucellosis at least 6 weeks prior to mating.   Our Ram Run visits will begin in early November so that…

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Guidelines for use of long acting anthelmintics in sheep: pre-lamb

While long acting anthelmintics have a role in the management of parasites in lambing ewes and the subsequent levels of pasture contamination, their use contributes to the onset and extent of anthelmintic resistance. With growing concern over the number of farms in NZ now showing clinical and subclinical issues with anthelmintic resistance, the following should be considered…

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Grass tetany in cattle (Grass Staggers)

We are hearing of lots of beef cows across Hawkes Bay dropping dead around calving this spring. That got your attention – and it is true!!! This spring is the perfect picture for cows getting grass staggers and we have confirmed this with bloods pre calving in many herds. Cold and wet season, short green…

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