Keep up to date with all our latest news, articles of interest, and case studies from the veterinary world around Hawke’s Bay.
Spore count summary After a cold snap and a downward trend in counts we have now seen a small jump with some recent warm weather. Not too many individual counts in high risk zones but a few small spikes present and still spores present in moderate levels at almost all of our monitor sites. Quick…
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Hastings Update Regional average spore counts have reduced again to 8500, there have been a few hotpots (80,000 on Omaranui Rd) outside of the farms doing weekly monitoring so the best advice is to monitor the spore counts on your pastures to assess risk more accurately. Waipukurau Update The trend at the moment is continual…
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Peter was rushed to our clinic a couple of weeks ago after being attacked by a dog, and suffering horrific wounds to his left ear. Kathryn, Libby & the Companion Animal team attended to Pete’s injuries under a general anaesthetic and found that unfortunately his ear was too damaged and would need to be…
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Lloyd Smith Training Workshop Lloyd will be demonstrating using his own dogs, including tips on how to train a young pup, and will be available to answer any questions regarding your own dogs. New Date: Friday 9 April Time: 9.30am – 4.00pm Cost: $10 PP **Vet Services will be providing BBQ Lunch**
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Red mites are small external parasites of chickens that live in the cracks and crevices of poultry housing. They are blood feeders and mainly feed at night but if there are large numbers they may be seen during the day. They then return to the housing during the day where they lay their eggs. They…
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Hastings Update: Regional average spore counts are around the 10,000 mark, with hotspots across the region indicating the risk is not over yet. Areas around Waiwhare/Taihape Road had hotspots reaching 45,000. Best advice is to monitor the spore counts on your pastures to assess risk more accurately. Waipukurau Update: Spores are still present although not…
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While overindulging during the Easter period may result in a few extra kilograms for us, the consequences for our pets are much greater. The accidental ingestion of chocolate can lead to serious illness or even death for our beloved companions. Chocolate contains theobromine which is poisonous and caffeine which is dangerous to all our pets.…
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Regional average spore counts are around the 25,000 mark, with hotspots across the region, indicating the risk is not over yet. One of the sites on Ocean Beach Road is still 115,000. Best advice is to monitor the spore counts on your pastures to assess risk more accurately. Hastings Results Waipukurau Results Further…
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Podgy Pooches & Curvaceous Cats Every pet has an ideal weight but almost 50% of animals coming into the clinic are overweight. This problem can be difficult to manage and is often overlooked, despite the well-known health risks including diabetes mellitus, arthritis, cancer and respiratory and heart disease. The first step to helping podgy pooches…
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In recent years there has been an emergence of grain free diets, and these have been advertised as the “best” way to feed your pet. We suspect this trend has jumped over from the increasing amounts of human gluten-free diets. These foods are often marketed as feeding your dog a “natural” diet or something that…
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Alpacas are very susceptible to the toxic effects of facial eczema spores and high risk periods occur during the summer and autumn. The spores, produced by the fungus Pithomyces chartarum, are broken down in the digestive tract releasing the sporidesmin toxin. The toxin is absorbed into the circulation and reaches the liver where it is…
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With the change of season and cooler nights fast approaching it’s time to consider how you will keep your working team warm this winter. Why it is important to keep your team warm over winter? In recent years there has been a real push to improve kennel conditions and to provide bedding and jackets…
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