Fireworks phobias

Fireworks phobias Does your pet have a hard time with fireworks? Here’s some hints and tips to help everyone get through (hopefully!) stress-free. Providing lots of mental and physical stimulation is the most important factor in reducing anxiety. Ideally try and get them focused on something else before the stressor becomes overwhelming. Ways to accomplish […]

What is Pet Insurance?

Which insurance is best for my pet? Insurance provides piece of mind that in the event of an accident or serious medical condition, you have the comfort of knowing that your pet has cover. Otaki Vets is not a financial advisor but we can help you with what questions to ask and what to look […]

Bones – Are they good or bad for your Dog?

Bones – Are they good or bad for your Dog? Dogs like chewing – we can all agree on that. We also all want the very best for our furry kids and so carefully choosing their food, toys and treats is important to their health and wellbeing. There are varying opinions whether chewing on a […]

Ringworm in Cats – All you need to know

Ringworm in Cats – All you need to know The name may be misleading, but this is a fungal infection, targeting the skin, hair and nails, feeding on dead cells. Some interesting facts about Ringworm: It is extremely contagious and can easily spread to other pets and the humans in the family. The disease is […]

Preparing your pet for Surgery – Pre and Post

Preparing your pet for Surgery – Pre and Post The pet parent plays a vital role in the pre and post surgical team. Part of the success of the procedure depends on the process followed by the pet parent. Pre surgery: Pre anaesthetic bloodwork is required to assess your pet’s kidney and liver function and […]

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 […]