Microchipping Nurse Emily SOUTHERN RANGITIKEI VETERINARY SERVICES LIMITED 233 State Highway 1 Bulls & 48 Tutaenui Road Marton A microchip is a small electronic chip, about the size of a grain of rice, which is implanted under the skin of your animal, whether a cat, a dog, rabbit, guinea pig—you name it— even birds! SNIPPETS The dog control act requires ALL dogs over 3 months of age to be micro- chipped (farm dogs are exempt), and we strongly suggest you microchip FEBRUARY 2018 your cats also, as studies have shown that they often roam up to 3 kilo- metres from home. We often get wandering cats bought into the clinic, Wow, what a summer we have been treated to this year! and without microchip identification it makes it near impossible to Hopefully you have all been able to enjoy the beautiful weather and not been return them to you, as we cannot determine whether they are stray or a troubled too much with the excessive heat. Our furry friends have certainly been beloved family pet! put under pressure as the temperatures have risen—we have seen lots of cases Vaccinations are your best protection 2 Microchips enable your pets to be linked back to you, so if lost, stolen of heat stress unfortunately. No doubt we shall all be complaining about the or injured and bought into the vet clinic, you can be reunited with your The end of an Era—Good Bye Dr Dave 3 cold and wet again before too long, so try to enjoy the summer while it lasts. best friends! Hi, My name is Ares, I'm the new face you are going to Definitely NOT for dogs 4 see in SRVS both large and small animal departments. I The microchip has a unique number which can be read by a special Case study: Burst bladder know you are thinking how to pronounce my name: scanner, similar to a barcode reader. This number is stored in our 5 Think of " Harris" without the "H". Don't worry if you register, the council’s register, and if you choose, the NZCAR (New Animal health checks 6 can't pronounce my name straight away, as long as you Zealand Companion Animal Register) with your contact details. don't call me "Arse", I will be happy! Heat stroke in dogs 6 We strongly suggest microchipping, so don’t hesitate to call if you have I graduated in China with a 5-years veterinary medicine How to keep your fluffy cat fluffy any enquires, or would like to make an appointment on 06 322 2333. 7 degree, and after working for half a year I decided to go to New Zealand for further studies and bring back the More than anything, we want to ensure your pets are healthy and can be returned back to you! Microchipping 8 knowledge to my own country. However, plans can't keep up with changes; I was trapped by marriage 3 years ago! I completed my Veterinary Degree at 1 in 3 pets will get lost. Without ID, 90% won’t return Massey University graduating again in 2017. I will be working as a mixed animal veterinarian for the first 6 months for both small and large animal departments. It will be my pleasure to meet you guys either on farm or in the Bulls clinic. In other news this month Dr Kate married her fiancé Danny—we are sure you will Dr Dave * Dr Amber join us in congratulating the Happy Couple, and we are also very excited to learn Dr Kate * Dr Libby * Dr Ares that Dr Kristina is going to have a baby in June, which is fantastic news! Give your dogs a treat on a hot summers day: Nurse Natalie * Nurse Emily Into an old ice cream container chop up a carrot, an apple, pieces of cooked beef or chicken—use your Nurse Karen * Nurse Lara imagination—what-ever your dog loves to eat. Then make up a meaty stock with either a beef or chicken Nurse Siân * Nurse Holly Sadly, this is the final Snippets for our amazing Dr Dave, who will retire in March. Words cannot express quite how much he will be stock cube and allow it to cool. Poor the liquid over the chopped veggies and/or meat and freeze. This 233 State Highway 1, Bulls dog-sized ice block will keep them occupied for ages while they lick away at their treat and help to keep missed, although we have made him promise to come them cool in the meantime! 48 Tutaenui Road, Marton back and visit on a regular basis. Everyone at SRVS wants to wish Dave a very happy retirement—we all Why not get adventurous—try them with a frozen banana (with the peel removed), or freeze baby food Email: [email protected] love you Dr Dave, thank you, we are all forever in your (without onion powder) in mini muffin tins to give a small treat now and then. You can even freeze eggs www.srvs.co.nz debt—Happy Golfing!! as a treat—toss an egg or two into the blender (shells as well) and blitz into a paste then spoon into an ice cube container and freeze. (Do not give more than 1 per day though, to ensure proper nutrient absorption.) Finally, why not try frozen natural yoghurt—just as good for their tummies as it is for ours! Freeze in muffin tins or in an ice cube container. Vaccinations are your best protection. Nurse Natalie HOW TO KEEP YOUR FLUFFY CAT well…… “FLUFFY” Vaccinations against serious infectious diseases can be life-saving to your little (or big!) mate’s health. Hot weather and long summer days can lead to the shedding of fur in cats. Lately you may have noticed the sofa coated in more loose hair and the floor scattered in hair. DOGS Long haired cats can struggle with the up-keep of shedding of their fur, and often will fall behind in grooming themselves properly. Diseases such as parvovirus, leptospirosis and canine cough are prevalent around New Zealand and are all diseases we Options that may help: recommend routinely vaccinating against. • Combs and brushes—there are many different types and sizes for different coats. The more you brush your cat the more : A highly contagious and potentially fatal disease affecting the gastrointestinal system. used to the process they become and the more tolerant they will be. Ultimately we want them to enjoy being brushed and Parvovirus you should look at brushing them daily. Symptoms include depression, severe vomiting, inappetence, abdominal pain, smelly bloody diarrhoea and rapid dehydration • Vet nurse clipping—if the job is too much for you and your cat just wont let you comb or brush them sedation, may be that leads to death. necessary for clipping of those tight knots . This can include the whole belly or a full clip of the coat. It is much more Vaccination: Puppies need to be vaccinated at least twice, 4 weeks apart, and receive their last vaccination at 16weeks (so preferable to you and your cat if a full anesthesia isn’t required as this can be expensive and gives your beloved cat un- they may require 2 or 3 vaccinations depending on the age at which the first vaccine was given). They require a booster one necessary risks. year later, then three yearly after that. • Hairball/hair care diets—Food that helps condition the coat and prevent fur balls (e.g. Hills HB diet) These diets have a higher oil content and help to move ingested hair through the system and not to ball up and cause an obstruction. • Cat Lax®—A delicious paste given to your cat to help reduce fur balls and keep the digestion system moving. Distemper and Infectious Canine Hepatitis are less common in NZ, but still exist– they are vaccinated as part of a Other reasons your cat may not be grooming itself properly are arthritis, a combination vaccine with the parvovirus vaccine DHPPI. sore back, over-weight, teeth issues, mouth problems, other health issues. Talk to your vet or vet nurse if you feel any of the above are a concern. Leptospirosis: Contact with farmland, rats or stagnant water increase the chances of exposure to leptospirosis which Finally don’t forget sunscreen for both our long-haired and short-haired causes severe kidney and liver damage leading to death. Symptoms include high temperature, severe thirst, lethargy, felines: Filtabac® and Filtaclear® creams are safest for cats to use on ears abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and jaundice. and noses for those sun bathers and should be applied liberally - especially Vaccination: Puppies require two vaccinations 4 weeks apart, then an annual booster throughout adult life. for those with white or very pale coloured faces Canine Cough (Kennel Cough): An extremely unpleasant bacteria causing a retching-type cough, sometimes accompanied with lethargy, inappetence and a high temperature. In Store Special Vaccinations: Puppies require two vaccinations 4 weeks apart (or a single intra-nasal vaccination), followed by an annual booster thereafter. Save over $20 per bag off of Both Parvo Virus and Canine Cough vaccinations are mandatory for dogs going into boarding kennels. E4800 Professional Working Dog Biscuits Now only $112.00 per bag [while stocks last] CATS Cats can also come in contact with infectious diseases including flu and infectious enteritis. The following widespread diseases are routinely vaccinated against as part of our 3in1 vaccinate. Feline Panleucopaenia Virus (Infectious Enteritis): Primarily affecting the gastrointestinal system, symptoms include bloody diarrhoea, depression, lethargy, inappetence, fever, vomiting and dehydration which can lead to death.