December 2024

24th            8.00am - 5.00pm

25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th    CLOSED

30th            8.00am - 5.00pm

31st            8.00am - 5.00pm

January 2025

​1st, 2nd,3rd, 4th, 5th    CLOSED

​January 6th onward we are open normal hours

Phone 5211457

Russell Tucker
Russell is the director and senior veterinarian. He is an American Boarded Specialist in Veterinary Dentistry and Oral Surgery.
Much of Russell’s time is spent treating dental patients for Kohimarama Veterinary Clinic and referral patients from other clinics. He also treats service dogs, as well as carnivores and primates for the Auckland Zoo.
When Russell is not at the Zoo, he is full-time at Kohimarama Veterinary Clinic.

Xenia Lopez
Xenia commenced full-time employment at Kohimarama Veterinary Clinic at the beginning of October after spending several years working for MPI. Xenia is re-entering general practice under Russell's guidance.

Vanesa Flagel
Vanesa was previously employed at Kohimarama Veterinary Clinic as a nurse and then as a veterinarian. Vanesa is known to many of our clients.
Vanesa no longer works full-time at the clinic but is employed as a locum.

During celebrations, friends, and family often gather in our homes. At these times it is easy to overlook your pet’s health and safety. To prevent mishaps for your companions you must recognise these potential dangers.

Kittens, young cats, and puppies are curious and playful and appear to see tinsel and ribbon as toys that need to be chased, pounced upon, chewed, or swallowed.

When swallowed, these “linear foreign bodies” can become entangled in the intestinal tract, leading to bunching of the intestines as the body tries unsuccessfully to pass the string or ribbon. The material can even cut through the intestinal wall. This is a life-threatening emergency requiring surgical intervention.
Wrapping paper can cause an intestinal obstruction if eaten, especially if it is made of foil or other indigestible material.

Do I have to worry about my pet playing in the Christmas tree?
Your curious pet can bring down the tree, so make sure it is set up securely and cannot fall if your pet decides to climb on board! Keep ornaments above tail height. Tree water can contain harmful fertilisers and /or be a breeding ground for bacteria that cause stomach upset should your pet decide to sample this new water bowl.

Do I need to worry about candles?
Candles should never be left unattended, as pets can knock them over with a flick of their tail. Use battery-powered candles.

Is there any food that I should avoid?
Sudden rich diet changes are likely to upset your pet’s stomach. Vomiting and diarrhoea are common medical problems that we see during holiday times.
If you want to give your pet a special treat, give them only a small amount of cooked lean meat. If you feed leftovers containing a lot of fat, your pet’s pancreas may become over-stressed and inflamed. Pancreatitis often requires hospitalisation and intensive medical treatment.
Make sure that any string or packaging that was used during the cooking of roasts is safely disposed of in a sealed garbage container.

If you have a dog don’t leave chocolates under the Christmas tree. Dogs have an acute sense of smell.
A little bit of common sense will help keep you and your pet out of the emergency clinic on Christmas Day.

Some groomers offer to “clean” your dog’s teeth while grooming. If they are just using a brush, this is okay, but if they are using hand dental scalers, they are damaging your dog’s teeth and misleading you into thinking that your pet has had its teeth cleaned.When you go to the dentist or dental hygienist, your teeth are cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler and then polished with ...

• 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!