With the upcoming great New Zealand summer, we see a spike in cases of cardiac disease. This is due to increased exposure to heat. It is vital to be alert. Keep an eye out for the following signs, these are the early signs of heart failure:

1. Coughing (especially at nighttime)
2. Panting at rest (without any triggering causes such as heat or stress)
3. Respiratory rate >30 breaths per minute while sleeping
4. Exercise intolerance (sudden fatigue on walks or play)
5. Poor appetite
6. Weakness
7. Enlarged abdomen
8. Fainting

Those who own the following breeds, we would like you to be even more watchful please:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Poodle, Schnauzer, Chihuahua, Fox Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, Doberman, Boxer, Cocker Spaniel, Springer Spaniel, GSD, Great Dane, St Bernard & Irish Wolfhound.

It is best to have your elderly dog checked before summer.

December 2022

23rd            8am-6pm

24th            9am-1pm

25th, 26th, 27th    CLOSED

28th, 29th, 30th  8am-5pm

31st    CLOSED

January 2023

​1st, 2nd,3rd      CLOSED

​4th,5th,6th        8am-5pm

7th                    9am-1pm

8th onwards we are open our usual hours

Monday - Friday 8am-6pm

Saturday 9am-1pm 

Sunday and Public Holidays we are Closed

Phone 5211457

VSA
1 Te Apunga Place
Mount Wellington
Auckland 1060
09-320 5645

ARC AFTER HOURS
224 Albany Highway
Schnapper Rock, Auckland 0632
Call 09 281 5815

• Keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date. Catteries and kennels require that your animal’s vaccinations are current and usually the last inoculation given at least 2 weeks prior to the start date of your pets boarding.
• High temperatures. Elderly, very young animals and brachycephalic (short snout breeds such us Pugs, French Bulldogs, etc.) are really sensitive to heat. Avoid exercising them in the middle of the day and always provide shade and fresh water.
• Never leave your dog inside your car. Even with open windows, the car's temperature can cause your pet to suffer from heat shock, a life compromising situation which needs to be managed as an emergency.
• Chocolate and raisin ingestion. Chocolate and raisins, really popular at this time of year, are toxic for animals. Leave them in a secure place and call the clinic on 521-1457 as soon as you find out that they have eaten them. Treatment varies and is best initiated as soon as possible.
• Don't leave presents containing chocolates under the Christmas tree, dogs have an acute sense of smell.

One of our newest and might I add coolest products is PHOVIA!
Light therapy by Vetoquinol, PHOVIA uses fluorescent biomodulation to heal damaged skin. Through polychromatic light exposure, different layers of the skin are healed by various light wavelengths. A cascade of molecular reactions stimulates the process of healing.

Several nasty skin conditions can be treated with PHOVIA, such as deep pyoderma, hot spots, wounds, dermatitis, folliculitis, etc.
The 2 standout features of this product both involve time. The time it takes to carry out the procedure is short and the time it takes for the skin to transform is even shorter! The results really speak for themselves.

We recently had an unfortunate emergency case of a dog, called Milo, brought into the clinic after being attacked by another dog. Milo had a large part of the skin over his neck and shoulders ripped open along with other minor wounds. Once he had been stabilised, we decided to include PHOVIA in our treatment plan. Each week for the next month we had Milo come in for 2 back-to-back PHOVIA sessions. Along with good bandaging and of course the light therapy, we saw improvements in half the time it would normally take for such a wound to heal.
Milo’s progress was quite amazing, Phovia accelerated the rate of healing and the process is quick and done usually in the consulting room.

At Kohimarama Veterinary Clinic we also have a Class 4 physiotherapy laser which we use for trauma and muscular or arthritic pain. It also reduces post-operative pain and discomfort.

https://vetoquinolau.canto.global/v/VTQCommercial/s/SP0N7?viewIndex=0&column=video&id=juc84m76h51sd0rtnaglotbt2p

1) What are the signs of overheating?

- Excessive panting
- Drooling
- Fatigue
- Disorientation
- Overly reddened gums
- Hot to the touch
- Vomiting
- Collapse

2) Seeing the beginnings of overheating. What you need to do.

- Move your dog to a shaded and cool area that’s away from direct sunlight

- Provide fresh cool water and encourage drinking
- Pat down with a damp towel (do not wrap with the towel)

3) Lots of beach trips during beautiful sunny days

- Find a shady spot to settle in
- Let your dog have a swim to cool down
- Don’t go at noon when the sun is directly overhead, aim for early mornings or late afternoons
- Paw pads can burn on hot sand or sidewalks.

4) Travelling - what you should remember to carry

- Portable dog bowl
- Fresh water
- Spray bottle with water to spray your dog’s coat down
- Frozen treats
- Pet sunscreen if your dog is white and short-haired (apply around the nose and ears)
- Your common sense- Do NOT leave your dog in a parked car even for a few minutes

5) What you should organise in preparation

- Cooling mat (alternatively, a cooling vest or cooling collar)
- Paddling pool
- Haircut appointment for our long-haired friends

Have a safe summer everyone!

This time of the year we have baby birds brought into the clinic every day. Many of these birds need to be left in the environment in which they are found.
The chart below is a helpful guide as to what to do with baby birds or fledglings found in your garden.

 Please go to the website below for more instructions

https://www.wrennz.org.nz/baby-bird-rescue-advice

• Check your pets vaccination status.
• Check with the cattery or boarding kennel for their vaccination requirements.
• If your pet is on prescription medication, or food order it well in advance.
• Travel safely and have a great holiday!

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.