Looking ahead
Looking ahead – animal health planning Potential animal health issues, tasks to consider and reminders for this month include… February 2026 Dairy – Autumn calving herds Dry cow therapy (DCT) and/or internal teat sealant (ITS): If you’re after DCT and/or internal teat sealant ITS you will need to contact your primary veterinarian for a DCT […]
Poisonous plants and toxic compounds
Poisonous plants and toxic compounds Listed below are some of the most commonly encountered poisonous plants and toxins that cause issues with companion animals and livestock. If you are concerned that your animal has had access to any of these poisons, or if they are showing signs that can be attributed to any of these […]
Why feed your pet a premium food brand?
Why feed your pet a premium food brand We all know that super-premium pet foods can appear expensive to buy – but are they really? When daily feeding amounts for individual foods are calculated correctly there isn’t actually that much difference… for example, for a 5kg cat “X” brand premium food compared to “X” brand […]
Top tips for car travel with anxious dogs
Top tips for car travel with anxious dogs Some dogs lose their mind with excitement when it comes to going for a ride in the car (car = dog park!), while others can lose their mind with fear or stress. Here are some top tips to help make car travel with an anxious dog a […]
Microchipping and registration for dogs
Microchipping and registration for dogs Did you know that all puppies must be registered with the local council by the time they are three months old? Registration All dogs must be registered with the local council. Puppies should first be registered by the time they are three months old, or if a dog is newly […]
What’s parvo?
What’s parvo? Canine parvovirus is a highly contagious viral infection which causes depression and a sudden onset of profuse smelly bloody diarrhoea, vomiting and fever. Parvovirus infection in dogs can lead to severe dehydration and death and is prevalent throughout New Zealand. Dogs infected with parvovirus excrete infectious virus in their faeces from 10 days […]
Board and lonely dogs
Finding solutions to your dog’s boredom and loneliness Wouldn’t it be good if you could spend all day at home with your dog? Unfortunately few of us are lucky enough to have a life of leisure and with some people’s busy lifestyles, dogs can be left alone at home for extended periods of time with […]
Guinea pigs and Vitamin C
Guinea pigs and Vitamin C Guinea pigs, like humans but unlike all other domestic animals, cannot make their own vitamin C. Other mammals have an enzyme which helps the body produce vitamin C, but guinea pigs and humans lack this enzyme. Therefore, they must receive vitamin C from their diet, and as it cannot be […]
Walking dandruff
Walking dandruff? Walking dandruff (“cheyletiellosis”) in rabbits is caused by a common rabbit fur mite (Cheyletiella parasitovorax). They are nicknamed “walking dandruff” because these large, whitish mites crawl across the skin and fur, and cause excessive flaky skin on a rabbit. Infested rabbits spread it to other rabbits, and this highly contagious, non-burrowing mite can […]
Cat vaccinations and disease prevention
Cat vaccinations and disease prevention Cat vaccinations – what diseases do they help to prevent? Most cat vaccinations aim to prevent at least three diseases in kittens and cats: Feline Panleukopaenia Virus, Feline Herpesvirus 1 and Feline Calicivirus. Feline Panleukopenia VirusFeline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV), also called Feline Distemper or Feline Enteritis, is a highly contagious […]