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Does your dog have arthritis? Arthritis is a sneaky condition. It tends to creep up over time and our pets won't always show obvious signs until they are in considerable pain. The disease is caused by the wearing down of the cartilage that covers the bones at the end...

Pyometra - easy to prevent Pyometra is a serious condition that can develop in female pets that have not been desexed. It is more common in middle-aged to older dogs but cats are not immune from the condition. Over time, there are changes to a female's reproductive...

Why we recommend desexing Surgical desexing or neutering involves removing part of the reproductive system of dogs and cats so that they can't have puppies or kittens. In females it is known as a spey and in males it is referred to as castration. Why do vets recommend...

The cat burglar We heard about another pet who loves to steal clothing this month and her name is Brigit. Brigit is a six year old Tonkinese cat who has stolen many pairs of men's undies and socks in her local neighbourhood in Hamilton, New Zealand! Brigit's owner has...

Where's my sock? This is a tale about a missing sock. The sock was long, red and very smelly and one afternoon it went missing from a footy bag. The next day, Jake, the well-loved and playful labrador started to look a bit 'off'. He was quieter than usual and didn't...

What's an endocrine disease? An endocrine disease is a fancy medical term used to describe a disease caused by a hormonal imbalance. These diseases are pretty common and can unfortunately affect your pet's quality of life. Endocrine diseases can even be life...

How blood testing works Have you ever wondered what happens when we take blood from your pet? Most blood samples are taken from the jugular vein in the neck. This vein is large enough to provide a good sample and allows us to collect the blood as quickly as possible....

Top tips to help your senior pet We have compiled a list of the top things you can do at home to help improve your senior pet's quality of life: Diet: Older animals may be less able to cope with nutrient excesses or deficiencies, or changes in nutrient intake and...

What's off limits for your pet this Easter? Easter can be a dangerous time for our pets and there's a few things you need to keep off limits. Take note of the following! 1. Chocolate Chocolate contains theobromine, a derivative of caffeine that cannot be metabolised...

The link between smelly breath and heart disease Did you know that improving your pet's teeth could save his life? There is now clear evidence that dental disease is linked to heart disease. Plaque and tartar that accumulate on the teeth lead to infection of the gums....

What is SRR? SRR refers to your pet's Sleeping Respiratory Rate. The SRR is a very useful tool in recognising the onset of or monitoring left sided congestive heart failure (CHF) in both dogs and cats. Many of the common heart diseases lead to left sided congestive...

Recognising a broken heart With Valentine's Day in this month, there's never been a better time to discuss heart disease. Heart disease isn't easy to spot. It tends to creep up on our pets slowly over many months to many years. Being able to recognise some of the...

Does your pet really love you? Feeling a bit lonely this Valentine's Day? Never fear, that's why our pets are here! They are better than any Valentine's date. Ever wondered if your pet really loves you? Here's what you should be looking for: Cats Brings you presents -...