Posts by Hilary McCullough

Regular worming is essential for maintaining the health of your cats and dogs, and your family. There are a number of different worms that affect pets in New Zealand. Regular worming is essential for a number of reasons: New Pet Worming Guidelines Based on Risk Factors in New Zealand New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries…

Microchips are essential for reuniting lost pets with their owners. It’s as simple as placing a chip the size of a grain of rice under their skin, this can be carried out at any time but is often done at the same time as vaccination or desexing procedures and is quick and easy. If your…

Getting a dog is a big responsibility and having them well trained and socialised from an early age is essential.  We run regular Puppy Classes where you can learn about how best to care for your pup and we teach you the basics of training and socialising so your pup grows into a happy and…

Summer time is kitten season!  If you’ve just brought home a cute little bundle of fluff, here’s what you need to know.

One very common, and very avoidable, cause for a vet visit is when a pet has eaten an object that’s become lodged in their digestive tract (we call them digestive tract foreign bodies). The signs of an obstruction can vary depending on where abouts in the tract the object has become stuck, but can include;-Lethargy…

Last month we discussed how toxic antifreeze can be for our pets, this month we’re covering another common household product that can be fatal if eaten by our pets. Slug bait is used by many gardeners to control slugs and snails in vege gardens.  Unfortunately, the same ingredients that make slug bait attractive to slugs…

Cats are typically very territorial, and can find new places, faces, and scents quite stressful. Being bundled into a carrier and then driven to the clinic can make them understandably anxious. Here are a few ideas for ways to make your pet cat’s visit less stressful. Get them used to a carrier; and use a…

Winter is the time of year when everything freezes- but hopefully not your car!  It’s a good time for a reminder about antifreeze toxicity in pets. Antifreeze (or ethylene glycol) is a substance found in engine coolants that prevents the fluid from freezing.  It has a very sweet taste, so animals, especially cats, are very…