Companion Animals

Did you know it’s illegal to leave your pet in a car on a hot day and you can be liable for a $300 fine? The windows of your car act like a glass house and the inside temperature can get very hot, very quickly…

What is heat stress? The normal temperature of a dog or cat is around 38.5 degrees.  A rectal temperature above 39.4 is generally classed as abnormal.  When your pet overheats they may pant and be thirsty.  They may lie flat on a cool surface and seek…

Also known as Cervical Spondylomyelopathy or Cervical Stenosis for short. Affected dogs develop a wobbly gait due to pressure on the spinal cord in the lower part of the neck.  Often the hind legs are affected first.  How does it happen? This disease begins because…

Cats have two thyroid glands, which are located in the neck and play a vital role in regulating the body’s metabolic rate. Hyperthyroidism is caused by the overproduction of thyroid hormone and leads to an increased metabolic rate. The more thyroid hormone produced, the higher the metabolic rate…

Why do we blood test our pets before surgery?

Chocolate Toxicity The toxic ingredient in chocolate is called Theobromine – which is in the same family of drugs as Caffeine. Cooking chocolate contains a higher amount of toxin than milk chocolate. These drugs effect the brain, heart and muscle by the release of adrenaline…

If you are like me, the arrival of spring may have your eyes running and your nose blocked. It is allergy time. Likewise, we are seeing the usual seasonal increase in itchy dogs. For years we have used cortisone to suppress these symptoms but there…

Let’s get the Facts Early The Kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood and removing waste, as well as fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. As animals age, kidney function often declines. Chronic Kidney Disease can occur because of a variety of reasons including…

As with most things in veterinary medicine the improvements in patient care just keep on coming.At Highfield we have recently installed a new dental x-ray machine. 60% of the tooth lies under the gum and can only be evaluated by x-ray A dental x-ray allows…

This probably seems like a dumb question, but have you thought of what you are doing with your pets while you are on holiday?Those of you who are organized have probably got them booked into a boarding establishment.  For those of you who are getting…