December 2023

22nd            8am-5pm

23rd            9am-1pm

24th, 25th, 26th   CLOSED

27th, 28th, 29th  8am-5pm

30th, 31st    CLOSED

January 2024

​1st, 2nd             CLOSED

​3rd ,4th, 5th        8am-5pm

6th, 7th              CLOSED

8th , 9th, 10th, 11th , 12th         8am-5pm

13th     9am-1pm 

14th CLOSED

15th, 16th, 17th,                      8am- 5pm 

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

Manukau After Hours
15 Jack Conway Avenue, Manukau City Centre
Auckland 2104
Call 09-277 8383

Our main concern with pets is the way that they deal with heat.
Cats tend to enjoy warmer weather, but they still need to keep cool.
Dogs do not sweat like us, they rely on panting as a way of cooling down.
Remember, heat stroke is an EMERGENCY.

• Never leave your pet inside of a car, even if windows are partially open. The temperature will rise and will put their lives at risk.

• Check the temperature of surfaces. If it is too hot for the reverse of your hand, it is too hot for your animal’s paws.

• Exercise your dog at the beginning or end of the day. Avoid walking during the hottest time of the day.

• Provide shade and ways of cooling down. Make sure there is always fresh water available and add ice cubes to the water bowl, or use cooling mats. Signs of dehydration in dogs include sunken eyes, dry gums, lethargy, and in worst cases, they can collapse.

Keep in mind that elderly animals, brachycephalic breeds (short nose/flat face doggies), and animals with heart conditions are at increased risk!

Extra summer tips:

• Check your pet’s vaccination status. If boosters are needed, make sure these are done at least 2 weeks before going into kennels or traveling.

• Be careful with BBQ leftovers and Christmas food, as most of these will be too fatty for your animal and may cause pancreatitis.

• Be aware of chocolate and raisins! If your animal manages to ingest either of them, please contact the Clinic as soon as possible.

• Most lawn and garden products may be hazardous. Make sure that plants and fertilizers within the dog’s reach are non-toxic.

Coming into the summer, you need to be aware of some ear issues your pets could have. In dogs, yeast infections caused by Malassezia pachydermatis(yeast) organisms are extremely common. This is a normal yeast that lives on the skin, but with excess moisture entrapment or inflammation, this yeast can multiply and cause a greasy, brownish/grey discharge. The symptoms are head shaking, pawing of the ears, smell or odour, and head tilting or rubbing of the face on the floor when this infection causes discomfort. Seasonal allergies will cause more of a flare-up during this time of year. A good ear wash such as Otoflush® is a must to keep at home to clean out the debris that you can see. Ideally, it is best to clean the ears before they get overrun with yeast.
If, however, the problems persist, or if there is pain or hypersensitivity when touching the ears, bring your dog to the clinic for an appointment to have the ear canals checked. There could be a ruptured ear drum causing a persistent middle ear infection that would need specific medication to resolve.

For cats, the organism that most afflicts the ears is Otodectes cyanotis(ear mites). This causes otitis externa (inflammation of the outer ear canal). You may see a discharge from the ear.
The primary reason for this infestation is not keeping up with flea treatment. Most flea treatments will cover ear mites. Make sure to keep up with regular flea treatments.
If there is an ear infection, despite keeping on top of flea treatment, there is a possibility of atopy or food sensitivity. Less common reasons could be foreign bodies, ticks, or polyps in the ear canal.

Canine Atopy… what can you do about those bothersome itches?
Just like humans, some dogs are prone to spring allergies. Due to the excess pollen in the environment, you may see them start licking/gnawing their paws, rubbing their face on various surfaces, and rolling on their backs… all for a bit longer than usual. This constant itching may traumatise the skin and cause infection. To nip the itch in the bud, we recommend Cytopoint®. Cytopoint® is an injectable product that completely relieves itching for 4 to 8 weeks.
It acts on the itch receptors of the body, suppressing them so the brain is not signaled to chew/scratch/lick/bite. Thus, providing much-needed relief. Cytopoint® is safe to use in dogs of any age, and it does not have any adverse effects. Moreover, it may be used in conjunction with other medications your pet may be on. The injection itself is painless, administered under a fold of skin, thus making the visitations to the clinic quite straightforward.
Certain Omega fatty acids (Omega 3 and 6) provide some relief for many pets. Many dogs will also benefit from frequent bathing with special shampoos, sprays, or mousses, because allergens can be absorbed through the skin.
All of these products are available at Kohimarama Veterinary Clinic. You are welcome to come in and discuss them with the staff.

Over the last couple of years, we have noticed an increase in missed appointments.
The demand for consultation times over that period has also increased.
To prevent inconveniencing the practice and other clients, we do ask that if you cannot keep your appointment, please give sufficient notice to allow another client to fill that appointment.
Without sufficient notice of a cancellation, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to give you another appointment time on your preferred day.

How to manage fireworks fear in pets:

• Keep them inside and create a safe environment.
• Keep more water available than usual, as some pets tend to drink more when nervous.
• Take them outside on a lead if they require toileting.
• Make sure your pets are wearing a collar with ID tag or that their microchip information is up to date.
Drug free remedies:
• Synthetic pheromone sprays, like Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs: gives them a sense of well-being.
• Play calming music to reduce stress.
• Ears muffs to muffle sounds.
• Classical counter-conditioning – give them treats, offer your pet his favourite toys, or have your pet practice his tricks with you.
• Use calming wraps like ThunderShirt, that reduces anxiety by applying constant pressure to the chest.
Medications:

If your pet is nervous around loud, unexpected noises, a short-term sedative before the fireworks start may be ideal.

Most importantly: DO NOT USE ANY OF YOUR OWN PRESCRIPTIONS, as dosage may be potentially harmful.
Now is a good time to have a consultation with our veterinarians regarding fireworks fear. Every individual is different and if medication is needed, it might require trialling different drugs and doses.

Coming into spring… what do you need to keep an eye out for?
Your 7 years + pet may start showing a sudden deterioration in mobility. This may present as slowness in getting up after laying down for a while, not keeping up on walks as they would before, reluctance to play, or even as simple as sleeping a lot.
This negative gait change correlates with the change in season… so, let’s put a spring in your animal’s step!

How can you do that?
Let me introduce to you a product that is receiving great feedback from our older arthritic animals- an injectable monthly treatment that goes by the name of beransa (for dogs)/solencia (for cats).
Each dose contains monoclonal antibodies that target NGF or nerve growth factor thus suppressing neurogenic inflammation and reducing pain greatly. We must remember that osteoarthritis is a painful condition, and controlling the pain of an animal is the responsibility of every single pet owner. We have seen several cases now of dogs suddenly finding the urge to jump into the car after years of needing to be picked up or cats venturing outside and going on little adventures after being classified as an ‘indoor cat that mostly sleeps’.

Book an appointment to discuss further with us!