Contents:

• The Vet Shortage and Afterhours Emergency Care
• On-Line Store
• Kohimarama Vet Clinic Veterinarians
• Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) in Dogs
• Pets and Guy Fawkes
• Saturday Hours
• New Clients

Dr Tucker recently attended 2 separate meetings involving the NZ Veterinary Council, afterhours emergency clinics, and Auckland veterinarians. The main topic of the meetings being, that all clinics in Auckland can help reduce the severe pressure on understaffed emergency clinics.
The shortage of veterinarians in New Zealand has been exacerbated by Covid, with emergency clinics often having to keep patients waiting for extended periods of time. To help alleviate this wait, you may have to travel further to get attention for your pet.
So plan ahead, if your pet is unwell, phone the clinic during our open hours. Act early, because access to after-hours clinics may require a long wait.

You can now purchase your pet products from our Kohi Vet Online Store and have them delivered to your doorstep.

Products Available Online Include:
• Pet food (including prescription diet)
• Flea treatment
• Worming treatments
• Treats Cats + Dogs
• Dental Care products
• Shampoo
• Adaptil/Feliway (Products for stressed pets)

The link to our online store is on our website.

https://shop.kohivet.co.nz/

Dr. Russell Tucker
Russell is the senior veterinarian and part-owner of this family-owned business and works full-time at the clinic. Russell is a Board Certified Veterinary Dentist™ and spends the majority of his time attending to Kohimarama Veterinary Clinic patients as well as referral dental cases.

Dr. Vanesa Flagel
Vanesa is well known to many of the clients at Kohimarama Vet Clinic where she worked as a nurse for 3 ½ years. Vanesa is an Argentinian Veterinarian who graduated from the University of Buenos Aires in 2016. After a year of traveling, Vanesa found a home in New Zealand. In April 2021 Vanesa passed the Preliminary (MCQ) Examination of the Australasian Veterinary Exam which allows her to work as a veterinarian under the supervision of Russell Tucker. Vanesa is taking her final examination in November 2022.

Dr. Anindita Basu
Anindita graduated from Massey University in 2021 and commenced employment in May 2022. Apart from work, Anindita enjoys reading, going to the gym, and traveling. She is from the beautiful city of Kolkata and looks forward to getting to know your cherished pets.

As our pets age, the tissues lining the joints may deteriorate and degenerate. DJD refers to arthritis or osteoarthritis which is the result of this gradual deterioration. As the joint deterioration continues, the joint becomes unstable, leading to ligaments such as the anterior cruciate rupturing.
What are the signs of DJD?
• Sleeping more
• Slower on walks, or not walking as far
• Resent being touched in certain areas
• Accidents in the house, or walking while trying to defecate.
• Taking more time standing up
• Difficulty getting into the car
• Carrying the head or tail lower
• Reluctance to go upstairs
• Sitting with their hind legs stretched out (lazy sit)
• In Auckland the signs of DJD are more obvious when the seasons change, especially during the spring months.

Treatment
Many dogs with DJD are overweight. If your dog is overweight they must lose weight in a controlled manner. There are several weight-reduction diets available that we supply at Kohimarama Veterinary Clinic. Most of the damage caused by DJD is irreversible. The goals of treatment are to improve the quality of life by minimising pain and discomfort and to delay the progression of the disease. The quality of life can be improved by modifying the environment so that the dog can get around more readily and by providing pain relief.

Modern analgesics
• Non-steroidals are very effective for pain relief. Blood tests are necessary to monitor kidney and liver function
• Gabapentin is an effective drug, especially when given with other medication.
• Antinol™ is a green-lipped mussel extract
• Laser therapy. Class IV Laser enhances the natural healing process by reducing inflammation and pain, and often provides great results. We have had a Class IV Laser at Kohimarama Veterinary Clinic for several years. Appointments can be made with the nurses for a course of laser physiotherapy for your pet.
Can the progression of DJD be slowed?
There are drugs and nutritional supplements that are effective in controlling the destruction of cartilage in dogs with DJD. They work by:
• Improving the blood supply within the joint
• Preventing the formation of some of the harmful enzymes that potentiate the destruction of cartilage within the joint
• Promote the formation of fibrous tissue to heal damaged areas
• Promoting cartilage repair

Two very good products that we have in the clinic are Synovan™ and Synoquin™. Synovan™ helps by stimulating the production of joint fluid thereby improving joint movement.

Tips:
1. Have a night in; close all doors, windows, and curtains. Your presence will help relax your pet.
2. Take your dog for a toilet walk before dusk.
3. Drown out the noise with the TV or stereo
4. Food distractions
5. Act natural
6. Get assistance; plan if you need something to reduce your pet’s anxiety:
• Pheromones such as Adaptil™ and Feliway™
• A Thunder Jacket for your pet to wear
• Natural supplements such as Calmex™ and Pet Rescue Remedy
• Stronger relaxants will require a veterinary prescription and should be started well in advance of being required
Call the clinic for advice on what may be best suited for your pet.

We are open again on Saturdays. Our current hours are 9:00am to 1:00pm.

Thank you to all our clients for your consideration over the last 3 years of dealing with the Covid Pandemic, which enabled us to keep our clinic open. We are now back to normal clinic open hours and staffing levels and are again in a position to welcome some new clients to our practice.