FIP is no longer a death sentence thanks to COVID-19

FIP is no longer a death sentence thanks to COVID-19 By Olivia Baker, BVSc, Otaki Vets Feline infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats that has until recently been considered a fatal disease. Feline infectious Peritonitis (FIP) is a viral disease of cats that has until recently been considered a fatal disease. It […]

Grooming 101: Double Coated Dogs

Grooming 101: Double Coated Dogs Two questions we are commonly asked is how do I manage shedding, and should I shave my dog? Some examples of double-coated breeds include Golden Retrievers, Corgis, German Shepherds, Huskies, Australian Shepherds, Pomeranians, and Labradors. There are of course many more. As the name implies, a double-coated dog has two […]

Is your pet safe to swim in our local rivers?

Is your pet safe to swim in our local rivers? During the warm weather, the river becomes one of the most popular places for people and their canine companions to cool down. Unfortunately, many waterways have toxic algae (cyanobacteria) lingering. It is important to actively consider if your favourite swimming spot is a safe place […]

Grass Awns

Grass Awns A stroll around the region will show many of our grasses seeding. This means the start of the season where we see foreign body reactions due to migrating grass awns. The difficulty with the migrating grass awn is that they often cause pain and illness which is difficult to diagnose. The grass awn […]

Garden Hazards

Garden Hazards With the warmer weather, we tend to want to spend more time in our garden. Our furry family likes to help us and at times this can put them in danger. There are some garden hazards for our pets that we need to be aware of: Compost Usually a mix of mouldy food […]

Lumps & Bumps

Lumps & Bumps Most of us spend some time stroking our pets on a daily basis and this is good practice for picking up changes. Running your hands down your dog’s body daily provides us with up to date information on any lumps and bumps. What should you do if you find a lump? Many […]

It is all in the Purr

It is all in the Purr Is there anything more enjoyable than hearing your cat purr as they lie curled up in your lap – it is such a satisfying sound! But how does this special sound of contentment happen? A cat does not have a particular body part that produces the purr but rather […]

Leptospirosis – Increased risk of infection

Leptospirosis – Increased risk of infection MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries) has warned that there is an increased risk of leptospirosis infections but what does this mean for you and your pets? This warning for animals and humans comes after all the adverse weather conditions experienced this year. Post cyclone Gabrielle, an increase in human […]

Cystitis in Cats

Cystitis in Cats Cats with lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), involves conditions in the bladder and lower urinary tract. All urinary bladder and urethral diseases will have similar symptoms: Bloody urine Straining to urinate (can easily be mistaken for straining to defecate), multiple visits to the litter box Urinating in unusual places ie outside the […]

Noise Fears

Noise fears Some of our pets display fear and anxiety responses to loud, unusual noises such as fireworks or gunshots and this can be stressful for us too. Identifying the triggers, recognizing the signs and looking for the best solution for your pet are the goals of this article. We all have the welfare of […]